Guest Column: A Post-Election Call to Entrepreneurs, by Seth Kahan
A Post-Election Call to Entrepreneurs
The election is over. Whatever your stance, one thing is clear: democracy has done its job. Now, it’s up to us—citizens and entrepreneurs—to carry the work forward. As the dust settles, I pose two questions:
- What good can come of this, either directly or indirectly?
- How do I want to support that?
These questions are a call to action, shifting us from reactivity to generativity. Entrepreneurs who understand needs, deliver value, and innovate to improve lives, are uniquely positioned to answer this call. Whether your candidate won or lost, the work ahead is the same: seize opportunities created by change and shape them into something valuable.
Entrepreneurs don’t wait for circumstances to align—they create alignment. They thrive amid chaos and uncertainty, turning friction into opportunity by embracing challenges instead of avoiding them.
During the pandemic, I held free Zoom conferences for CEOs to discuss how they would cope. Together, we tackled critical questions: How will we transition to remote work? How can we best serve customers in trying times? What new services will be in demand? How do we care for employees’ mental health and keep performance up? These sessions led to in-depth conversations with CEOs, helping me understand market needs and where my work could deliver the greatest value.
Elections, like markets, reveal needs. They expose gaps in services, unmet desires, and inefficiencies—the fertile ground where entrepreneurs thrive.
While large organizations often get the spotlight, small businesses and solopreneurs transform landscapes with their ingenuity and direct connection to the people and organizations they serve. We are nimble, flexible, and agile, able to pivot quickly and address immediate needs.
In crises, we deepen bonds with customers, enhancing relationships and identifying ways to serve effectively. This work is profoundly satisfying and can soothe our own anxiety in tumultuous times. There is nothing like delivering what’s needed, taking joy in real solutions, and being compensated for your contributions.
Consider the impact of a solopreneur delivering mental health support, a supply chain expert ensuring production continuity, or a freelance marketer helping organizations under stress communicate their mission effectively. These aren’t just businesses—they’re catalysts for change, reshaping the landscape through focused, responsive action.
When we ask, What good can come of this?, we shift perspective. We stop seeing change as a threat and start seeing it as an opportunity. Elections, regardless of outcome, bring waves of new priorities, policies, and possibilities.
Here are three places to start looking:
- Leverage Policy Shifts: Changes in administration bring new incentives and challenges.
- Address Highlighted Needs: Elections reveal divisions and unmet needs. Entrepreneurs can step into these gaps.
- Harness the Energy: Post-election periods see spikes in both anxiety and enthusiasm. Tap into this energy, channel it to create new products and services.
Once opportunities are identified, ask: How do I want to support that? This is where intention meets action.
- Create Solutions: Use your entrepreneurial skills to address problems directly.
- Collaborate Across Divides: Partner with those of differing views to find common ground. The best innovations often arise from unexpected alliances.
- Amplify Your Impact: Every client helped, every problem solved contributes to a larger wave of positive change.
As I’ve learned from my work with Grand Challenges, real progress doesn’t come from waiting for others—it comes from stepping forward. Whether you lead a team, run a small business, or work solo, you have the power to shape the future.
Ask yourself: What is my role in this moment? What do I see that others don’t? What can I create to make life better for someone else?
This is a time for leadership. You don’t need all the answers—just the willingness to pick up the torch and guide others in the search for solutions.
A beauty of entrepreneurship is its ability to transform even the smallest actions into significant change. In this post-election period, that transformation is ours to lead. Let’s rise to the occasion—not just to solve problems but to imagine new possibilities, build value, and make this a new chapter of innovation and progress.
© 2024 Seth Kahan – reprint with attribution allowed
Seth Kahan is an expert in leadership, large-scale change, and social impact. Renowned for designing and leading Grand Challenges, he has spearheaded initiatives in sectors that include finance, earth science, nursing, mental health, and medical ultrasound. Check out his podcast, Seth Kahan on Grand Challenges, offering inspiration, strategies and tactics for taking on big issues.
