Business moguls can learn from Trump: Winners never quit, quitters never win

Reactions were strong on Thursday as President Trump made good on another campaign promise to withdraw from the Paris climate deal. Leaders from other nations (including the Pope), elected officials, interest groups and business leaders, made this a difficult decision for the president. Even Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the president’s daughter, Ivanka, were reportedly advocating for Trump to reconsider his plan to exit the agreement.

Despite the significant pressure, the president presented a compelling case that his decision was the best move for the American people. As he offered his reasoning for withdraw in a Rose Garden speech, he described the deal as, “the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States, to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workers, who I love, and taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories and vastly diminished economic production.”

{mosads}Supporters were inspired by this latest bold move by Trump. Speaker Paul Ryan called the Paris agreement a “raw deal for America. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell described the decision as one “protecting middle class families … from higher energy prices and potential job loss.” Many other free market groups joined this chorus of supportive voices too.

Unsurprisingly, despite Trump’s “America first” foundation to support the withdraw, critics were furious and blunt in their sharp rebuke. Among the world leaders and industry titans that made disappoint known, there were two specific reactions that were particularly notable. SpaceX and Tesla Chief Executive, Elon Musk and Disney CEO Robert Iger used the withdraw as their excuse to resign from the president’s bipartisan Strategic and Advisory Forum that was designed to guide the White House on policy matters.

Musk and Iger are not the only leaders to have resigned from the business advisory council. In February, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick dropped out citing differences over immigration policy.

While the latest resignation stunt was likely intended to demonstrate how much they care about the environment — it may have the opposite of its intended effect. In politics, as in business, things do not always go the way one hopes, or plans. Walking away is rarely a successful strategy as it is always easier to change things from the inside or in a position of power or influence.

When assembling various leaders for the forum, Trump called the group the “best and brightest” knowing full well that many were ideological opponents. Giving these individuals a platform and a voice will shape better public policy, and ensure more voices are heard – even if they are, at times, dissenting.

Despite the last-minute lobbying, the Paris deal announcement was hardly unexpected. Musk even singled that he would resign the day before if the president continued down the path to withdraw. In his Laws of the Public Policy Process, Morton Blackwell advises, “Don’t fully trust anyone until he has stuck with a good cause which he saw was losing.” It is sound counsel – those who are persistent can eventually win, those who give up, can lose trust.

While Trump similarly left the bargaining table of the Paris climate agreement — he left the door open to pursuing new environmental solutions and a renegotiation of the Paris deal on more favorable terms. He stated specifically, “I’m willing to immediately work with Democratic leaders to either negotiate our way back into Paris, under the terms that are fair to the United States and its workers, or to negotiate a new deal that protects our country and its taxpayers… I will work to ensure that America remains the world’s leader on environmental issues, but under a framework that is fair…” Trump has not quit on climate policy.

Trump has left the door open – while critics try to slam it shut. Leaders who are truly committed to growing the economy, creating jobs and protecting the environment, should keep up the fight from the inside and maintain their seat at the table.

As future debates are sparked, the decision to leave the table is likely one these leaders will regret. Regardless of how it was intended, the departure can be perceived to be much more about politics than policy.

When facing perceived failure, leaders can be guided by Vince Lombardi, “Quitters never win, and winners never quit.”

Dan Rene is a senior vice president in the public affairs practice at LEVICK, a strategic communications firm. 

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.