[Podcast Episode #23] Be Political - Overstepping Boundaries to Make Things Happen
Episode #23
What if the real test of your success isn’t just the health of your company, but the health of your city? In this episode, we challenge business owners to think beyond the balance sheet and take responsibility in the civic arena. From a Medici fresco to modern coalitions, we lay out a practical path to be political in the classical sense: serving the common good with humility and patience.
Some topics covered are:
- Why business owners should be political
- The original meaning of “politics”
- Lessons from Lorenzo de’ Medici
- Blending business, faith, and city impact
- 3 key questions to guide civic action
- Leading through collaboration
- Humility and patience in change-making
- Civic impact as part of your brand
- And more…
Episode Summary
In this episode of Get Your House in Order, Cris and Philip dive into a surprising but essential theme: why business leaders should be political. Not in the partisan sense, but in the classical, civic sense: taking responsibility for the city and society they operate in.
Cris shares the inspiration behind his upcoming book on Lorenzo de’ Medici. Unlike his grandfather Cosimo, Lorenzo expanded the Medici influence beyond banking into politics, culture, and city governance. A key illustration? A fresco in Florence’s Sassetti Chapel where business, religion, and politics all converge: a visual representation of overstepping societal boundaries to shape a better world.
The episode unpacks three guiding questions for every business owner:
Who is your city? Define the community your business impacts.
What is your agenda? Clarify what good you want to bring beyond profit.
How do you collaborate? Learn to lead peers and engage across sectors.
Philip adds historical and theological context, noting that the Greek word “ecclesia,” which Jesus used for the church, referred to a governing assembly for city welfare. For those with faith, this means the church, and by extension, business leaders, are meant to lead for the good of the city.
They urge business owners to move from personal success to civic contribution. That means embracing collaboration, developing patience, and resisting the temptation of political arrogance. Passion for change must be paired with humility, knowing that even well-intentioned agendas can cause harm if not thoughtfully implemented.
Cris reflects on their own evolution: from focusing solely on business and nonprofit work to seeing how involvement in the civic and political realm can multiply impact. Whether through sponsoring a local soccer team, supporting infrastructure, or organizing community outreach, entrepreneurs are uniquely positioned to create beauty in the city.
Because getting your house in order means seeing your city as part of your legacy.
Get a free copy of "Get Your House in Order"
Principles of success based on the life of Cosimo de’ Medici by Cris Auditore Zimmermann