As Bridgeport, Connecticut, teetered on bankruptcy's edge in the early 1990s, city officials had no choice but to deal with its massive problems. As one city politician put it, the city couldn't just shut its doors and move south. Of course, these differences and disasters don't mean government leaders can't share business's entrepreneurial spirit. And all successful organizations must strive for efficiency. But they are different.
Customers look first at what they can reap from government.
If citizens think of themselves as consumers, they will shop for candidates who give them the most services now for what they spend. In contrast, owners tend to take a longer term view. They look to make government work better, hiring public officials who can achieve the common goals expressed during elections. In addition, businesses earn money from customers buying products and services of their own free will in competitive markets. Inferior products or poor service typically means lost customers.