Conservative Smokeshow of the Day

One of the biggest things I've learned professionally is that owning a business requires a completely different mindset than simply having a job. I handle my own contracts, client relationships, accounting, scheduling, and marketing. Some weeks are exciting, while others are stressful enough to make me question why I ever left a regular office position. But every time I land a new client or help a small business grow, I remember why I started. My father's entrepreneurial spirit definitely rubbed off on me, and I understand his appreciation for hard work and economic freedom more than ever.

My political beliefs today are rooted in many of the same principles my parents taught me growing up, although I've spent years developing my own understanding of them. I consider myself a traditional conservative who believes in religious liberty, constitutional rights, personal responsibility, secure borders, a strong national defense, and an economy that rewards hard work. I generally believe that families, churches, local communities, and private businesses should have more influence over everyday life than distant government bureaucracies. I know not everybody agrees with that perspective, and I'm comfortable having respectful conversations about our differences.