As a businessman myself, I've been impressed with Andrew Yang's ability to apply the acumen of business to his political strategy, borrowing evenly from differing political philosophies to create a truly unique platform. I believe he is able to do so because of his experience in business. Here are a few interesting ways that he exhibits the mentality of a boss, and why I trust him to lead.
1) Hustle
If you're a fan of the show Shark Tank, then you know that Mark Cuban respects hustle so much that he won't back an idea - even if it's a good one - if the person can't prove they're willing to hustle. That's because hustle is fundamental to success, and it makes sense, because you have to make moves in order to get things done.
Andrew Yang has been running for president since 2017. He has already campaigned in Iowa several times, and we are a long way from the primaries.
2) Abundance mentality
Universal Basic Income is almost arrogant when you think about it. Straight cash money in the pockets of millions - he's enthusiastic about the possibilities, which is a very common trait among business people. In fact, the most memorable quote I remember from Trump's Art of the Deal was, "Think big."
One of the most important things about abundance mentality is that it allows you to see opportunity everywhere. One of my favorite stories about Yang was when he was walking by a group of journalists waiting for Beto O'Rourke and he just stepped up to the plate and announced himself present to take questions. It's shit like this that is fundamental to success.
3) Empowering others
Every flight you've taken, they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others, because of one simple truth: you must be empowered yourself first before you can extend that to others. This is why business leaders focus on lifting everyone around them in skills, tools, etc., because that literally translates into their ability to create wealth for the community, which is the ultimate goal of business and is a domino effect on success and therefore profits. This is why the healthiest teams are often the winning ones.
4) Identifying best practices
As part of market research, business people first look to the most successful organizations to see what works and failed businesses to see what doesn't. It's not just mimicry of success, it's learning. Many of Yang's policies are structured around policies in other countries who saw success or do better than the ones in America. This is basic strategy that informs many of his policies that seem counter-intuitive without this context. His position on Medicare-for-all, for instance.
5) A focus on viable solutions built around actionable goals and quantifiable plans
One of the things that makes Andrew Yang different from every other politician is that each one of his policies are based on goals that are possible, and he defines a clear path forward to achieve those goals. Is the solution achievable? What does it take to make it happen? How much do we need? Politicians never ask these questions, business people do. But they spell the difference between success and failure.
