Navigating Market Uncertainty and Authenticity in Turbulent Times
{ Nicholas Lazzaro }
WE CURRENTLY LIVE in a unique economy. As most readers might feel, there is a pinch in our broader economy. I have seen successful businesses fold, prices rise extraordinarily, and farmers struggling to make ends meet. This is a failed economy that has been created for the ultra-wealth and well-connected to exploit. The system you might say is working exactly as intended. As a business owner of 2 companies, Nick’s On_Site Detailing and Lazzaro Strategic Advisors both located in Millbury, we too have felt the pinch. I am here to tell you it is manufactured and not your fault. Currently the Trump Administration has doled out tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, loosened regulations for large corporations and levied tariffs on goods that small business owners and farmers are now footing. As an openly LGBTQ business owner it adds levels of complexity as we start to see major nationalist cultural shifts and patterns of emboldened negative behavior that spans into our communities like a cancer. I am here to let you know that we are stronger than the hate that is spewed, the challenges that are thrown our way and the broader economic turbulence we all are experiencing.
At this point you might be asking yourself, what makes this kid think he understands my problems? True. I can only speak for my own experiences. Starting my business during the COVID pandemic taught me that uncertainty isn’t something to fear—it’s something to navigate. We’re living through challenging times again, with social and political headwinds that can feel overwhelming. But here’s what I’ve learned: while we can’t control the broader climate, we can control how we show up every day and for WHO we turn out for. I am a firm believer that we all hold significant power in the outcomes we experience in our local communities. I learned this first hand when starting my business. I saw the power my outlook could have for my clients, my staff members and later how I could give back to the broader community.
Today, with Trump in office, and the slew of mudslinging we see in our state, and federal officials we need to be reminded that we are stronger as a community when we prioritize our humanity, our shared commonalities, and we turn out for one another. Folks in power want you to believe that you do not have a voice, a say or power. That is false. Individuals and community members have incredible power especially when we organize and support one another. It might seem daunting, exhausting or a waste of energy but trust me it is not. As someone who regularly has to work with our state and federal partners I can assure you they are terrified of an informed voter who asks questions.
What does showing up for your community look like, you might ask? It looks like supporting LGBTQ owned businesses when you can, it looks like supporting companies that support YOU, it means showing up to community events or volunteering for causes that are important to you. Every act, every dollar, every moment that you spend uplifting a fellow member of the community is an act of resistance. This is what soft power looks like. It’s part of what makes LGBTQ people uniquely equipped to lead, innovate, and serve your community. The same qualities that help you navigate a world not always designed for you—resilience, creativity, empathy, and courage—are exactly what make great entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Being a part of a capitalist society allows us vertical accountability if we choose to exercise it. When businesses don’t show up, shut out, and “pink wash” it is up to us as consumers and as a community to respond. This is soft power. We have the power to decide where our hard earned money goes, who should reap those profits and which products/ services align with our values. As a business owner I am very conscious of how my values align with the customers I attract. The best example of a community exercising soft power happened in June when African American and Black community members decided to boycott Target and shop strictly at Costco when Target dismantled their DEI practices. This led to the eventual sales slump that ousted long-time Target CEO, Brian Cornell, and the sales boom of Costco posting an 8.5% increase YOY. Some like to attribute this to their business strategies alone, but the evidence is clear. They included more customers in their business, and gained more traction in the market. Inclusion breeds innovation, growth and sustainability during a time of uncertainty, hatred and division.
As a society we have to realize that we have more power than you’d think, and that the powerful would like you to think you don’t. I am here to remind you, you do.