Earlier this month, myself and a couple writers from The Minnesota Republic had the opportunity to attend CPAC in Washington, D.C.—the premier gathering for conservatives across the country. As we toured the conference, we experienced firsthand the energy, debates, and big-name speakers that define the event. But one of the most exciting moments came when we had the chance to engage directly with some of the biggest voices in conservative media.

During a panel featuring members of The Daily Wire, I stepped up to the microphone to ask a question about integrating personal values into business. The response was both insightful and entertaining, offering a candid take on entrepreneurship, leadership, and maintaining principles in the corporate world. Below is a transcript of that exchange, capturing the wit, wisdom, and humor of the discussion.

Jeremy Boreing:
I’m going to take questions from you guys. Ben has a policy where, if you disagree with him, he wants you to come to the front of the line. I have the exact opposite policy. The more sycophantic you are, the more I want your questions. So please, if you like me—or even love me—front of the line!

Alright, let’s take our first question.

Luke Rexing:
Awesome, thanks, guys. My name is Luke Rexing, and I’m actually a subscriber—so thank you for what you do! I’m also getting into cigars but haven’t tried one of those yet.

Jeremy:
Tonight’s the night! Yeah, pass this back.

Luke:
Yes! Let’s go. Thank you.

Micheal Knowles:
You can just Venmo me about $15!

Luke:
Sounds good.

Jeremy:
That’s fine. Whenever you have a moment… Please be 18.

Luke:
23.

Matt Walsh:
I think it’s 21 now.

Luke:
Yeah.

Luke’s Question:
As a young conservative who wants to focus on business and an entrepreneurial spirit, how should I go about integrating my views into my business?

Ben Shapiro:
Well, I think it depends on the kind of business you’re starting. There are certain principles that are just baseline conservative, like being honest in business and not trying to cheat people.

In my faith—the Jewish faith, as you may have noticed—the first thing God is said to ask you after you die is: Were you honest in your business dealings? It’s one of the core teachings. As you know, we like the money!

When it comes to actually forming a business, the hard part—and Jeremy can speak to this more than I can, since he does a lot of the hiring and firing—is being objective enough to assess what’s working and what’s not. You’re not doing anyone any favors by keeping people in the wrong position for too long. That’s one of the hardest parts of running a business—removing emotion and making efficient decisions.

For your business to be successful—to employ people, provide goods and services, and sustain itself—you have to make those tough calls. It requires a certain level of emotional detachment. And, ultimately, if an employee fails or isn’t the right fit, that’s on you as the employer. Most of the time, if something goes wrong, it’s because the wrong person was put in the wrong role. Your job is to place people where they can succeed.

Matt Walsh:
Can I add something? You’re talking about integrating your values into your business, but I don’t know exactly what your business is—maybe you mentioned it, and I wasn’t paying attention!

But in terms of integrating values, as Ben said, just live according to them. What I don’t think you need to do—and probably shouldn’t do—is brand your business as the conservative version of whatever it is. You don’t have to market it as “the conservative [fill-in-the-blank] business.” Just run your business well. If you’re living by your values, then your business is already aligned with them.

Luke:
Sounds good. Thank you, guys.

Jeremy:
Thank you.