Part of the Possible

Colin Powell, The Reluctant Warrior

In the last decade, former Secretary of State Colin Powell may have found himself feeling like a man out of sync with the times.

With the news of his passing yesterday, I found myself reflecting on the profound impact he had on so many over such a long career. Regardless of one’s politics, there’s probably at least one clip of “the reluctant warrior” that speaks to you in some way. That’s because, in many ways, his life was quintessentially “American” – making him one of the great relatable public figures.

The son of Jamaican immigrants, he was raised in the South Bronx. A product of public schools, he was also the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to have commissioned through ROTC. He served 4 presidential administrations but he was no peacetime political General. As a young officer he cut his teeth in Vietnam, which we can speculate informed his later leanings toward diplomacy and containment over military action.

But even as I sit here and reflect on his life and service, my thoughts aren’t consumed with his military and diplomatic achievements. Rather, I’m remembering a calm, confident voice who consistently challenged others to aspire to more – more than base partisanship; more than monolithic thinking; more than blind allegiance to an organization. He challenged us to think differently and to think optimistically.

Indeed, we’re strongest when the face of America isn’t only a soldier carrying a gun but also a diplomat negotiating peace, a Peace Corps volunteer bringing clean water to a village, or a relief worker stepping off a cargo plane as floodwaters rise.
Colin Powell

It’s not unusual for the veteran community to be backed into a corner at the beginning of any new conflict. We are often expected to cry havoc and support swift and violent action against our latest enemy. When we push back against that narrative and call for better diplomacy, we are dismissed out of hand; our opinions suddenly of no political value.

Luckily I grew up in the time of Colin Powell. He rose to incredible heights without ever sacrificing the ability to challenge assumptions. That calm, confident voice was perfectly positioned to inspire an entire generation of future leaders to think a little harder, pause a little longer, and push back when needed.

But at the end of his time with us, he may have felt like his ideas were out of date. We’ve seen the pendulum swing far of late. His brand of servant leadership is no longer en vogue.

For now.

The thing about pendulums is that they swing back. It wouldn’t have been long, in the grand scheme of things, before Secretary Powell would have found himself back in sync. And that’s why, even though he probably felt the disconnect, he wasn’t deterred from remaining active.

I think whether you’re having setbacks or not, the role of a leader is to always display a winning attitude.
Colin Powell

The optimism of a Colin Powell is contagious. I met him in Columbus at the grand opening of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum – and at 80+ he was still…electric. He was still ready to fight for a cause.

That’s the thing you should know about reluctant warriors: they are still warriors. They will step into the ring, they will enter the fray, they will show up when others don’t. Our nation is never lost as long as we can look around and find ourselves a Colin Powell in our ranks.

So, I hope in the wake of his passing that you remove your politics from the moment. Reflect on what it took to serve along his path. Imagine the belief necessary to accomplish it all, and try to tap into a bit of that optimism for yourself. After all, we need another Colin Powell to answer the call from time to time.

The Most Dangerous Idea in Politics

Let me tell you about Andy and Annie.

In early 2017, I was still working as a district staffer for my local Congressman. Reflecting the style of our boss, the office staff prided itself on working with folks of all stripes – and all political leanings – to help them solve problems as best we could. In that role, I met with a lot of people. Too many to count.

But Andy and Annie stick out to me still. They were young, idealistic volunteers and relatively new to the advocacy realm when we met. We were in similar places in life, and many of the causes important to me were close to their hearts as well. And as a relatively moderate Republican, I didn’t give two hoots that they were registered as Democrats. Who cares? Ultimately, partisanship isn’t a big deal when you’re serving a higher cause.

By the time of this meeting, early in the Presidency of Donald Trump, the three of us had met a number of times. We’d talked directly about their issues and positioning their organization for success. I even gave them tips on how to help their peer-level volunteer advocates get connected with other members of the Ohio delegation. We had a pretty good rapport.

But early to mid 2017 was a…fractious…time for the country. With all that’s happened in the interim, it may be difficult for you to recall just what was going on at the time.

Domestically, we were bombarded with stories about the inauguration and subsequent protest events, complete with riotous activity in the capital area. We were also entering tense debates over taxes and healthcare policy. Internationally, we were confronting the ongoing Syrian civil war, the swelling of ISIS in Iraq and, notably, an ascendent North Korea on the brink of a major weapons development (the ability to launch nuclear tipped ICBMs that, in theory, could reach the US Homeland). Generally speaking, it was an anxious time for a lot of folks (with more than a few interesting parallels to today).

In the middle of all that I got a call from Andy and Annie asking if they could come in separately from their normal organization meetings. Of course! I was happy to spend some time with them.

From the moment they walked in, the meeting assumed a different tone than normal. Far from sanguine, both Andy and Annie were visibly distressed. Knowing they weren’t the types for needless affectation, I quickly took them to a quiet office so we could get right to the substance of their visit.

“Aren’t you worried the country won’t be here in a few months?”

Andy came out of the gate with that question. I was taken aback. These weren’t alarmists I was dealing with. These were folks I’d known to be optimistic, happy warriors eager to make a difference in the world. But in a matter of months, they’d changed drastically. It was startling.

I asked them to explain a little more about what they meant by the question. After all, it was a bit of a doozy.

Over the course of the next hour, they walked me through the roller coaster of emotions they’d experienced since the election and through to that meeting. Wired into partisan messaging, they were in a fit of politically-induced pique. But there was something more to it. I’d always known Andy and Annie as hopeful people investing in the future.

And then Andy hit me with another doozy of a question: “how could I sit there and not fear that man in the White House?”

“The Republic is bigger than any one man, and I know we’ve got a bright future ahead.”

I don’t know where the answer came from – it was almost an autonomic response. But I remember feeling an immense peace as the words left me. At that moment, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was, in fact, not worried about any of it. And you know the funny thing? I still feel that way.

I think about Andy and Annie all the time. I think of their progression to that last meeting we had. Sadly, that day in Spring 2017 was the last time I heard from them. I’m not sure if it’s because my answer was unsatisfactory, or if I’d somehow turned them away unintentionally. On tough days, I find myself hoping they left the office that day feeling even the slightest bit renewed and less worrisome. But I’ll probably never know the rest of the story.

In the intervening years, the republic has – in fact – endured. Bigger than any one man, we’re still here, and lots of us are still trying to make the world a little bit better for the next generation.

Unfortunately, in the last few weeks, I’ve noticed a familiar trend among my peers. That same angst that plagued Andy and Annie is seemingly rearing its ugly head again and equally afflicting friends of mine along the political spectrum. I’m seeing more and more posts that the “country is doomed” or “we won’t be recognizable in 2024.” I’d challenge you today to push back on that narrative.

By no means has our nation achieved perfection. We never will. But the point has never been that we reach that point of utopia, rather that we continue to strive toward a more perfect union. Unfortunately, today’s rhetoric is dismissing the idea of a bright American future. We’re seemingly casting aside the prospect of American innovation and ingenuity. That singular belief, from my perspective, is the most dangerous idea worming its way through our national discourse.

In my book, that dog won’t hunt. Trace it to tribalism, chalk it up to partisanship, hell just say it’s a generational symptom of millennials. But the truth remains, those who cannot envision a brighter future will never aspire to creating one.

We owe it to ourselves to check that belief when we catch it. We owe it to those coming up behind us to redouble our efforts to spur positive, thoughtful collaboration between people from all walks of American life. We owe it to our forebears to live up to what they’ve always shown us: the experiment is bigger than any one of us. It’s a worthy cause.

Tricks for Remaining Authentic in Politics

The surest route to influencing others is through earning and maintaining their trust. As an aspiring advocate, investing the time necessary to present yourself authentically before decision-makers, can set you apart. Just as importantly, it can protect you from the topsy-turvy nature of hyper-partisanship.

But just how do we do it? Just how do we opt in to authenticity?

Stay in Your Lane

Every industry in our society is built on the principle of specialization. It’s a key pillar in capitalism. I pay for the services of a plumber, a lawyer, or a doctor for the same reason: they have knowledge, skills, and abilities I don’t. The same is true in the world of advocacy. Stick to your specialty – the issues you know and care about most.

You are never expected to be an expert on every issue. Unfortunately, many of us fall into the trap of responding to headlines and controversy – pulling us into debates where we can neither dutifully inform others, nor can we build the critical reserves of trust well need in the future.

Simply put – it’s OK to not have an opinion on every subject. That’s not your goal. Keep the main thing the main thing and you’ll go far. This kind of work takes practice – and a great deal of vigilance. But if you want to stay true to yourself in politics, it’s an important lesson.

Take Your Issues Seriously, But Not Yourself

It’s a little bit funny to see folks take on a certain air when they engage in professional advocacy. Their language changes, their style of dress becomes more conservative, and they aspire to a flawless delivery of their rehearsed talking points.

There’s a great scene in The West Wing that captures this perfectly. In it, President Bartlet is listening to a succession of advocates who each stand to call for an amendment that would ban flag burning. Each advocate seems committed to a sense of one upmanship in the pursuit of grandiloquence. Unfortunately, they’re not reading the room – they’re losing his attention in real time.

We are far more effective as advocates when we accept our flaws. A bit of humor calling out our own foibles will go a long way in growing the critical relationships we’ll need long term. Be professional, be polite, but quit striving for perfection. You’ll never get there and you’ll miss your audience along the way.

Ditch the Sarcasm and Tell Your Story

This last point is aimed at the internet activist crowd.

We expend a great deal of energy in modern politics trying to score cheap points by embarrassing opponents. It’s especially true on social media where character limits push us into language patterns that can fit on bumper stickers. In those environments, our sarcastic tendencies propel us in the pursuit of “owning” others in rapid fire debates.

If you want to spend your free time in that particular brand of malarkey, feel free. But if you want to move the needle on your issues, that style doesn’t work in the real world.

Brevity and openness is rewarded by overworked and underpaid staffers. We should be laser focused on inviting others into our lane of specialization. Your language should be natural and welcoming, not focused on being the most clever in the room and “winning” a debate.

The best way forward on this is to focus on storytelling. You don’t need to try to lay traps to snare your target. Share your story in an open, and honest way and you’ll catch more of their attention.

Remaining authentic in politics and advocacy serves you and your issues. It helps maintain your sanity and focus in a constantly changing field. It also helps your message maintain clarity along the way, making your issues more accessible the longer you’re at it.

It will be hard to shift into these approaches. They run contrary to much of our natural tendencies; avoiding gossip, allowing an imperfect version of ourselves in the room, and prioritizing winning friends instead of debates. But for the would-be advocate, these are principles that will help you gain momentum and build endurance in the field.

3 Tips for Writing Your Congressman

So, there’s a lot happening in Washington right now. If you’ve been following, you’re probably suffering a bit of whiplash from the negotiations of an infrastructure plan, a massive $3.5 trillion appropriations bill and the looming debt ceiling.

Honestly you shouldn’t feel bad if you’re a bit confused by it all – even the pros’ heads are spinning. Unfortunately, these times of confusion are often when you’ll see calls to action from the advocacy organizations you support. As the debate rages, opportunities arise for activists to participate. At the same time, these massive bills and all that back-and-forth can make it seem daunting for the average Joe or Jane to weigh in.

If you or your fellow advocates are looking for a sure fire guide on effectively communicating with your congressman, these three tips work in busy times and slow alike:

Be Bold

For about a decade I spent a lot of time each week reading correspondence from constituents. The most frustrating times were when I devoted that time to a letter and walked away not quite knowing what the sender wanted. They’d write around an issue without leaving a clear “ask.”

I’d argue that you’re best served putting your ask at the very top of the letter. This is an old trick in the Marine Corps – we call it the BLUF, or Bottom Line Up Front. We do love an acronym in DOD, don’t we?

The BLUF frames the ‘why’ of your communication. It lays out the decision you’re trying to prompt, and allows the remainder of the letter to stand as context for that request. To be bold in your correspondence, build in a BLUF.

Be Brief

Did I mention I spent a lot of time reading correspondence? The average member of congress will receive thousands of letters, emails and phone calls every week. Legislative concerns are sorted amongst a DC staff while the District staff leans into issues where constituents are seeking help with agencies. There’s some cross-pollenating along the way and both offices often end up dwelling on similar letters throughout the week.

Good staffs work to respond to all of those concerns, helping their member of congress absorb and and reply to as many as humanly possible. The challenge comes when well-intentioned advocates blend issues, concerns and stories into a narrative that drags on and on. For instance, I once received a fax from a fellow who sent a missive that ran to about 75 PAGES.

Length aside, the narrative in the letter meandered between oddball questions and far-fetched claims, ultimately leaving several staff baffled over what he was seeking. In that case, a 5 minute phone call revealed that he needed help getting a new social security card.

I don’t know what it is about contacting your legislator – but so many of us assign it a level of significance in our own minds that we become inclined to act, write and speak differently in the action of it. You’re not expected to contribute a new paragraph to the Declaration of Independence. You’re best served by clearly, and concisely stating the context that supports your BLUF.

Remember that elected officials, and their staffs, are still human. To reach your goals faster, respect their time and be brief.

Be Available

But even when we are brief and to the point, there’s often a need for follow-up and good old fashioned relationship building to get across the finish line. Despite the common sense behind that concept, you may be shocked to know just how many folks neglect, or willfully choose, to not include their contact information!

Whether it’s a letter without a return address, an anonymous email, a mass produced postcard, or a comment on a social media post, there are countless activists out there not leaving the door open for the elected official or their staff to respond. Contrary to what you may believe, there’s no master list of all the residents in a congressional district. The staff can’t snap their fingers and find out just who needs help.

And more than just leaving sound contact information, I think you should go a step further and offer a reason for follow-up. If you’re contacting them about a legislative issue, invite the member to tour your business or organization or to meet with your volunteers. Too often we wait until an issue arises to build those opportunities for engagement. What an opportunity missed! Instead, write your representative with an intention of bringing them into your fold. Be available and watch your influence grow.

BONUS: Tell Your Story

Ok, I said three but you get a bonus today. Always, and I mean always, remember that you’re not expected to be a technical expert on every aspect of a problem. What you bring to the table is how that problem confronts you in your daily life and a unique perspective on what could be done to mitigate it.

Get out of the habit of living in the weeds of legislation – there are lots of folks living there. Get in the habit of building an effective, quick story that captures your problem. You’d be surprised how a 30 second story can move a decision-maker into your camp.

So what do you think? Will these three tips will help you get over the hump and send that short letter? Leave a comment and let me know!

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When Pressure Becomes Your Poison Pill

There is no “right” way to follow someone into a public restroom and record the event. Ever.

Sometimes it amazes me how far people will go to wreck their own causes. And if you don’t know what I’m writing about today, here’s a quick summary.

This past Sunday, US Senator Kyrsten Sinema was back in Arizona to teach a standing course she offers at Arizona State University. Activists in the area found a way to enter the secured building, disrupt her class, and then harass her while following her into a public restroom. The entirety of this incident is unequivocally wrong – and equally disturbing.

Maybe I’m a bit close to this because I’ve been on the receiving end of these techniques. More than a few times, my previous bosses had to face political opposition that chose scare tactics instead of pursuing effective advocacy strategies. Those efforts involved harassment when the elected official or candidate was at a public event, haranguing them while out with their families, and in the worst cases, following them to their residences. These malcontents would go to incredible lengths – stalking staff over social media, tracking travel patterns and attempting to create dossiers on their “targets.”

More than a few times, I had to report offenses to the Capitol Police for investigation. Sometimes, the actions prompted investments in new security measures that created additional barriers to access. But every time, it diminished the effectiveness of the activists’ message.

I won’t debate the rightness or wrongness of these tactics – because there is no debate. We as citizens have a right to redress grievances, to protest, to demonstrate and boycott when we see fit. We do not have a right to endanger others.

What I will express here is this: applying pressure in this way is the surest path to eliminating your access.

Advocates would do well to remember that politicians – even those with whom we disagree – are people first. When elected to office, you don’t sign away every bit of privacy with your oath. You definitely do not sign away your personal safety – not even a smidge.

This is a business of ideas and debate, not hatred and abuse. The debates are often heated, and mistakes will always be made. But willful actions like we saw on Sunday will harm your cause.

When representatives are forced to curtail their schedules, restrict access to their offices, and hire security, the only people who lose are advocates. Elected officials will do quite a bit to protect their staffs, and move mountains to defend their families. When you threaten either, those restrictive measures come easily.

There is a line, beyond which the pressure you are applying to a public official becomes a poison pill. Unfortunately some organizations are willing to take that pill to score a political point. I just wish they’d read the label because the side effects are pretty nasty.

What happened Sunday was unacceptable. Third party bystanders were recorded against their will – violating their privacy. A woman’s sense of security was eroded. And elected officials across the country are going to spend some time figuring out what new measures they need to consider to protect those closest to them.

So I’ll say it again: There is no “right” way to follow someone into a public restroom and record the event. Ever.

Working With Your Worthy Rivals

Two weeks ago, you heard from Tyler Fehrman with his first post on Part of the Possible. This week, he’s back with observations on why working with his rivals has made all the difference. Enjoy! – LC

Tyler is a clean energy advocate from central Ohio. Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Some of the best advocates I have ever met have been folks from the other side.

President Abraham Lincoln famously assembled his group of top advisors as a “team of rivals” – highlighted in the book by Doris Kearns Goodwin by the same name. Lincoln’s team consisted of three men who had challenged his bid for the Presidency, called him terrible things, and attempted to ruin his chances at ever taking office – along with countless others who had “beef” with one another in the same vein.

Abraham Lincoln’s focus was on delivering results for the nation, and he knew that if he simply operated within an echo chamber he wouldn’t be able to achieve those changes. So, he diversified the voices that surrounded him – and, when they inevitably disagreed, he would make time to interact with them individually and iron things out. Keeping a team of this type together was a feat that nary a politician in today’s world could accomplish – even though it arguably should be one of our top goals.

In my own experience within the field of advocacy, I have often encountered people who work for the “other side” – they have the viewpoint opposite mine and, in some cases are working directly against me – who have been some of the strongest and best advocates for a cause I have ever encountered. The natural human reaction to these individuals is typically to detest them – to hope for their failure, and never to engage with them. After all, they’re the enemy – aren’t they?

I took this approach for a long time. I’d encounter my opposition, set my sights on the failure of their mission, and refuse to personally engage with them. My focus would shift away from my cause – and, instead, onto theirs. This made me a poor advocate. After all, advocacy demands attention and dedication – especially in the turbulent political environment many of us work in today. By shifting my focus onto anything other than what I was working to achieve I was doing myself, my cause, and the people who depended on me to champion that cause a great disservice – I made myself a poor advocate, and made my opponent a better one.

When faced with a formidable opponent it is easy to write them off as “the enemy” – and, I will tell you that, sometimes, they are. During the House Bill 6 Repeal campaign, our opponents were – quite literally in some instances – violent towards us, threatened us, and had no intention of ever letting up – sometimes, the opposition really is “the enemy,” but only when they’ve chosen to do what I’m talking about today and refuse to stay focused on their cause. In advocacy it is not uncommon to encounter those who – even when extended an olive branch – refuse to interact with us and they, just as I used to, set their sights on our failure instead of their own success. We make the mistake of assuming that our success depends on someone else’s failure – something that is very much not true.

Throughout my career I have been given the opportunity to befriend my opponents on numerous occasions – and those individuals have consisted of everyone from those who I disagree with on foundational issues to those I have relatively small political disagreements with. The times I’ve chosen not to take this opportunity are the ones I regret most – as I mentioned before, they made me a poor advocate. However, in the instances where I’ve taken the opportunity to engage with my colleagues on the other side of an issue, I’ve not only become a stronger advocate of my cause – but, I’ve also made quite a few friends.

Currently, I work in the renewable energy industry – handling public affairs and community engagement for a wind and solar power developer. There is a lot of noise around renewable energy – somehow the idea of economic development, job creation, sustainability, and stewarding the planet have become hot-button political talking points by the blowhards in ivory towers.

This attitude has trickled down into people’s daily lives – right out of the television set in the living room that’s tuned to whatever preferred 24-hour news channel is spewing vitriol in any particular home. It creates animosity and division – and, in a lot of instances, has caused some folks that I – honestly – probably agree with on about ninety-five percent of issues to think that I’m the bogeyman from the big city, working to industrialize rural America. In reality, I’m a kid from Knox County – still mostly clad in jeans, boots, a flannel shirt, and an old ball cap – who just happens to believe that renewable energy can save communities in need.

Just recently I was in a very contentious meeting where some folks from the opposite side showed up to voice their concerns about a project I’m working on. The conversation (if it can be called that) was heated – and I realized that we weren’t going to get anywhere by simply yelling our talking points back and forth. The people first mantra popped into my mind – and, instead of continuing to go back and forth, I simply took a seat next to one of the folks who was very upset with my work.

What started as a heated exchange turned into a calm, meaningful discussion – questions were asked and answered from both sides, dialogue was respectful, and everyone seemed to feel much better – though we largely still disagreed. I realized that I had been given misinformation about some of them, and – I hope – they realized they had been given some about me as well. At the end of our conversation I told the group that my goal, when I leave any room, is to be able to call any of the folks who disagree with me and ask them to sit down for a cup of coffee, a midweek lunch, or an evening pint – so we can get to know each other. We may never agree on one particular issue – but, chances are, we agree on something – and that’s a catalyst for creating change together.

I regularly talk about my dedication to the idea of “people first” – it is my guiding mantra for everything I do. When I’ve chosen people first over pettiness and viewing my opponents negatively, allowing myself to become distracted from my charge to keep, I’ve been given opportunities to make larger progress than I ever would have imagined.

This has opened doors, both personally and professionally, and I’ve found myself sitting in conversation with folks who I would likely never have engaged with. I’ve had lunch appointments, strategy sessions, beer summits, and lengthy conversations with individuals who I didn’t think I had anything in common with and, hell, I now count some of these folks as close friends and allies. I’ve even found myself working alongside some of the folks I have previously worked against – and those alliances have been the most effective ones.

Abraham Lincoln was a great man – not only because of what he accomplished for a nation teetering on the edge of destruction from within – but because he accomplished it by working with a group of people that had once seen their personal mission as being to destroy the other. I struggle on a daily basis with the temptation to write my opponents off – to consider them as nothing more than opposition – and I imagine that’s something that I’ll always be prone to falling into because of the way I was programmed (coming up in Ohio politics is a hell of a ride, y’all). But, if we all chose to fight that urge and – instead – actively look for opportunities to engage with our counterparts who have differing views, I think we can accomplish amazing things.

When we seek to understand other perspectives, engage with one another, and build a culture of dialogue – then and only then will we see real progress achieved. It really is all about building a team of rivals – and putting people first.

What’s Your C.A.P.?

Last week, I posted a poll on LinkedIn asking folks what turns them off in modern politics. I gave three options because, in my book, the barriers in front of most of us boil down to three categories: Cost, Access, and Partisanship. And just because I know you needed another acronym in your life, I want to bring you into the world of C.A.P.

I see these barriers in individuals and organizations alike. Often, we perceive them as external barriers – those we cannot control. But I’d argue that, largely, they remain internal barriers – and extremely influential ones at that. Each of these categories grows to near Goliath proportions, driven there by our own discussions of politics, advocacy and the inherent values of participation therein.

Not surprisingly, and considering today’s environment, nearly 90% of the respondents identified “toxic partisanship” as the leading barrier. Even if I couldn’t have predicted the degree of that landslide result, I think we’d have been hard pressed to find a way for partisanship to not walk away with this particular trophy. But does that really tell us anything new?

Not really. It’s not like partisanship is new – it’s been with our Republic since the very beginning. Yet today, politics is more ingrained in the daily life of the average American than ever before. We have greater access to the world around us, including the world of politics. That exposure is bound to increase our sensitivity to the more caustic aspects of our system. But what of the other results?

Only 11 percent identified my “cost” category as their leading turn-off (delightfully disguised as ‘money & fundraising’). I thought, for sure, there would be a higher response rate for this category. With all the talk of money in politics, and the cyclical attacks from all sides of the spectrum on the influence of dark money groups, one could have made a reasonable assumption that the cost of participation would rack up a few more points.

But the most telling result – of my admittedly non-scientific poll – is that not a single individual, no not even one, identified “access” as a barrier to participation. I stress here, again, that these results are not scientific, but let’s not let that get in the way of a pretty great story. Of the folks who viewed the post (thousands), not a single person was compelled to say they felt like they didn’t have access to their representatives.

Talk about a silver lining.

In a time of massive partisan divide, where folks are bombarded with messages for and against their local elected officials, at least to some degree, they feel like they can still get in the door.

There’s a lot to be said these days about the state of our democratic institutions. Folks groan about the gridlock of our system. They bemoan a bureaucracy that moves at the speed of government. They even cry foul and claim disenfranchisement when “their guy” loses. But despite all of that, deep down, they still feel like they can access their public servants. Astounding.

But, here’s the shortcoming of a single question, non-scientific survey of a limited sample size. If I were to ask you whether or not you have ever felt as if you lacked access, you might just offer up a different response. I’d argue the problem would be compounded for some of the advocacy organizations through which you serve.

I’ve seen too many organizations write off an entire political party because they fundamentally believe that members of said party just won’t care about their issues. It’s a massive barrier to advocacy – if an under acknowledged one. The most damaging part though, is that access is largely a self-imposed barrier in these scenarios.

Our challenge is to proactively evaluate each of these categories to understand the C.A.P.s we place on our own advocacy efforts. What issues are we avoiding because they seem too toxic and partisan for our involvement? How are we working to grow long term relationships that will guarantee us access in times of critical need? How are we encouraging our advocates to support candidates? What resources are we willing to bring to bear ourselves?

As is so often the case, these simple questions are usually the best place to start. If we are not regularly and aggressively reviewing our internal assumptions around these C.A.P.s, we’re selling our agendas short. We’re capping our own potential – and that just won’t cut it.

So, what about you? What’s your C.A.P.?

The One Where They Pivot

There are just some days when you feel like Chandler Bing trying to squeeze a sofa up a stairwell. No matter what you do, nothing is working the way it should. You’re trying to “PIVOT!” but circumstances keep getting in the way.

Without stretching the metaphor, I’ll just go ahead and admit that yesterday morning was one of those “PIVOT!” moments in my own work.

Here’s the background.

Each year, a large trade show is held for my industry just minutes from my own home. The trade show attracts tens of thousands of people looking to purchase equipment, learn new tricks of the trade, and share a bit of fellowship over some of Ohio’s finest agricultural products (looking at you Dairy Producers milkshake booth).

Well, this year our organization tried to arrange some special programming for day two of that show (yesterday). We were working with other organizations to educate our members on a new market opportunity emerging within the green economy, and sharing the political insights folks may need to navigate the confusions around evolving policies.

So what was the problem?

Well, it rained. A lot. So much that when I arrived at the show grounds at 8 am, ready to tackle the day’s programming, I found out the outdoor trade show had been canceled for the day. I’m talking vehicles stuck in the mud level of precipitation here. Oof.

You see, we were even flying in a policy expert from DC to join our board members for the public programming we’d planned. We had expended significant resources advertising the programming. And something far beyond our control upended our day. Far from a blowout opportunity to showcase our work, we were left floundering, searching to capture some (any really) value from the day.

(Let’s not even address the fact that the rain kept us from getting our coffee supply.)

Thankfully, we have a nimble nature built into our organizational culture. Without the need for extended deliberation, we stretched our resources and traded live events for recorded interviews. We were able to get the raw products we’ll need to communicate our message to all of our targeted stakeholder groups far beyond this one event. That content can serve our mission for weeks to come. And as a plus, our DC guest got on an earlier flight home.

Was it everything we wanted? No. Could we define it as a ‘win’? Absolutely not. But was it a failure?

In advocacy organizations, it’s not always the case that you can adapt on the fly. We focus so much on perfection, that we often ignore the value of simply being present. But when your plan gets washed away – sometimes quite literally – it’s critical to step back and remember that advocacy comes in many forms. Sometimes, you’re going to have to settle for ‘good enough’. Sometimes, you just need to win the moment and not the war.

In the moment your plan fails, it’s time to pivot. And if you ever need someone to remind you Ross Geller style, you can reach me at luke@partofthepossible.com.

5 Things You Should Know About Government Shutdowns

In the past 10 years, our federal government has endured a government shutdown on three separate occasions (disclaimer: I worked for members of Congress through all three). As we rapidly approach September 30th, we face the very real prospect of another shutdown in 2021 – and that’s not me trying to be hyperbolic.

Through the lens of the gamesmanship on display in current news coverage, we seem to be approaching an all too familiar impasse. Federal spending for the coming year faces a September 30th deadline that congressional Democrats are eager to meet – attempting to avoid a SNAFU that could embarrassingly derail their prospects in the 2022 midterm elections. Simultaneously, congressional Republicans are balking at the prospect of passing a suspension of the national debt limit which may be reached in mid-October.

This week, in order to force the issue, majority leadership in Congress is calling for the debt limit increase to be joined with federal spending legislation. Some are describing the move as a “dare” to Republicans, hoping to saddle the minority party with fault in the case of a shutdown.

With all of that typical DC drama unfolding before us, it’s often difficult to boil down just what it really means for those of us not working in the halls of Congress. How will this impact us? What will it mean for our advocacy organizations? Why should I care?

If you’re looking for clarity on the topic, here are the top 5 things to know about shutdowns:

1. Yes, Members of Congress will still get paid.

You’re about to see quite a few memes running around the internet about Congress making sure they still get their own salary even if the government shuts down. The truth is, they don’t really have much say in the matter. Congressional pay is broadly protected under Article 1, Section 6 of the Constitution – even at times when their own disagreements fail to fund the rest of the government. And as much as that may rub us the wrong way, you’ll have to take it up with James Madison and the amendment process if you want to change it. Doing so may just provide the incentive needed to overcome the invective in D.C.

2. No, The Agencies Won’t be Answering Their Phones or Emails (Mostly).

This is the most challenging impact for those in need of government services during a shutdown. Non-essential employees are literally required to turn in their government devices during a furlough. While they are furloughed, they cannot address the work they would normally do – including processing your passports. If you are in need of a critical service from a government agency, your options for help will be extremely limited – even through your Representative’s office. Yep, you guessed it, staff for members of congress are not all counted as “essential” employees. So, get busy and send your urgent paperwork in now.

3. No, We Don’t Save Money During a Shutdown

Just because the government doesn’t spend during a shutdown, doesn’t mean we save money. In large measure, it’s more expensive for the broader economy if a shutdown occurs. Economic activity is decreased or delayed, and in recent occurrences we’ve lost out on billions of dollars in GDP. If you don’t believe me, take it from the Congressional Budget Office.

4. Your Advocacy Efforts Will Come to a Standstill

Forget your agenda. There’s no air left in the room during a shutdown. All other, non-essential legislation comes to a screeching halt. Congress won’t be looking to solve other problems, the topics they do cover will be all budgeting, all the time. That means if we hit the September 30th deadline without a spending package, you will have to adjust your strategy. Position your volunteers to call for action on the budget or continuing resolution so they remain primed for action after the storm. You can continue to help volunteer advocates feel connected to the process AND keep them motivated to get back to the hard work after the impasse.

5. No Matter What: Defaulting on Our Debt is MUCH WORSE Than a Shutdown

The Chair of the Federal Reserve has called the prospect catastrophic. If the federal government signals to the world that we are unable, or unwilling, to honor our debts, the foundation of modern money systems will erode. The reality of such a failure is so grim that Congress has come together continuously to pass such measures in a bi-partisan manner. So, what if they don’t this time? Consumers will face higher interest rates, investors of all kinds will confront crashing markets, and the long economic hardship of COVID-19 could become a fond memory for many.

You may be asking: why are we even playing with this fire? Well, the two biggest chips to play in Congress are spending plans and debt limits. They are incredible tools to rein in extreme proposals from your opponents – if handled properly.

With the ever growing expenditures of the Federal government, this kind of gamesmanship isn’t going anywhere. We seem to face credit ceilings all the more frequently when we spend like drunken sailors (apologies to drunken sailors everywhere). The Budget cycle never really stops. Responsibility in citizenship needs to occur long before these dramatic clashes.

It’s time for the grown ups to weigh in – and that means citizen lobbying. Instead of calls for ideological purity, we should be calling on our elected representatives to work toward solutions every day. Otherwise, we’ll continue to face these hard realities.

People First

Today I’m thrilled to welcome a close friend who’s sharing his first post on Part of the Possible. Tyler Fehrman is a proud girl dad, passionate advocate, and believer in people. He considers helping individuals – learning their stories, building relationships, and finding common ground – his sole purpose in life. His background is in public service and clean energy.

Tyler has a simple reminder for would-be advocates today: don’t forget the people behind your issues. I hope you’ll consider commenting on today’s post and letting Tyler know what you think by leaving a comment! – LC

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be involved in public service somehow – though, I may not have recognized the driver at first. Most kids my age told folks they wanted to be a cowboy, an astronaut, a super hero, or a rock star. Not me, though – I was the odd one. When asked, I told people “I want to be a politician.”

Most of us shudder at that word these days, as “politicians” are considered an above-ground appendage of the seedy underbelly of the darker parts of the world – fraught with scandal and corruption, seen as snake oil salesmen in ivory halls. As I grew, that changed – I went from wanting to be a “politician” to wanting to be, when I learned the more appropriate term, a public servant. This has made all the difference.

Since I began my career, I have had the privilege to work in various government agencies and private organizations that have all had a singular mission: to serve people. Seeing the inner-working of public policy and administration, learning the niche audiences served by various organizations, and witnessing firsthand the struggles of people I likely never would have encountered otherwise opened my eyes to a much bigger, more complex world – one far larger than the world heralded by media outlets and “politicians” that fits into shiny, ideological boxes.

A dear friend of mine used to constantly repeat the line from the Dylan Thomas poem that reads: “rage, rage against the dying of the light” – it was his anthem, used to guide and direct his work. He explained how he understood it to me once, and it – in a way – became mine before being later distilled into a much-simplified version that still guides me today.

To “rage, rage against the dying of the light” was a charge to keep – a call to wage war against all of the things seeking to distract us from our true mission, a command to fight for what is right and beautiful and good in the world no matter the odds. This phrase has been, as I mentioned, distilled for me – to a simple, two-word adage: People First.

In today’s world we are constantly faced with division – whether it be via politics, religion, simple opinion, or any number of other much smaller things. Our culture seems to thrive on outrage and gravitate towards moving further apart, instead of coming together. It seems as though not many are as committed to “rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Now, I don’t want to be the typical post – crying for “togetherness”…that’s something you can read anywhere, any time. However, I do want to encourage all of us to move towards a passion for putting people first. Regardless of your line of work – whether it be advocacy, public administration, car sales, labor, political campaigns, or something entirely different – our chief purpose in the world, I truly believe, is to serve others.

For those of us inside the public policy world, how could there be another purpose? All of politics and policy is centered on people – how it affects their daily lives, how it impacts their business, how it matches their view of the world, and how it creates progress for the future. Without people, there would be no need for public policy – or public servants to implement it.

If we really want to be successful inside the advocacy space, we must focus on putting people first. If you’re advocating for a diversified power grid (like me), advocate for a diversified power grid to meet the needs of communities and impact the lives of those who live in them – people first. If you’re advocating on behalf of sentencing and criminal justice reform, do so by focusing on the countless stories of individuals wrongly incarcerated – people first. If it’s lower taxes, immigration, trade unions, education, vehicle electrification, or conservation you advocate for, do it in a way that places the impetus on positively affecting the lives of individuals and telling their stories – once again, people first.

Instead of serving political parties and ideologies – like so many of our counterparts do – and chasing the almighty dollar, let’s focus on how what we do each and every day impacts the daily lives of those within our spheres, whether they’re on our side or not. We all want to achieve great things – and, I’m here to tell you that those “great things” are best achieved when we focus on serving others, impacting and changing lives, and committing ourselves to “rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Want to feel genuinely good about what you do, and remain passionate about the cause you champion? Start by putting People First.