Received wisdom says that the two subjects you must never raise with anyone you don't know well, and especially with potential customers and clients, are religion and politics.
Specifically, you mustn't reveal your own religious and political opinions. Even friends stay clear of these subjects for fear of spoiling their friendship.
Well, for a corporation wanting to appeal to the maximum number of people by offending no one, that might be good advice. For a family wishing to keep relations harmonious against the odds, glossing over differences might be wise. For friends who agree (or agree to disagree) about most things, not airing their differences is probably a good idea.
But can you imagine a political party not mentioning politics?. Granted, politicians have been known to skirt issues to get themselves elected, but the main objective is to attract supporters who agree with them and repel the people who disagree. Having clear opinions and policies and telling people what they are is the only way to polarise opinion in this way. The politicians with the strongest following are always those who polarise opinion.
Likewise, a church needs to be clear about the beliefs it represents. Again, this might be fudged to appeal to the masses, but that kind of support is transient and insincere.
The same principles can apply in your business, especially if you're in a business that involves relationships with real people. If you don't project the real you, how will you attract the kind of people you want to spend your time with? If you sell widgets you probably don't care too much who you sell them to (although you might sell more at higher prices if you concentrated on promoting them to obsessive widget fanciers).
But any business where you're expected to spend time dealing with customers or clients will be a lot more fun when you only have to deal with people who either agree with, or can agree to disagree with, you.
So; my religion and politics?
Atheist and liberal. Feel free to discuss!
Roy
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