Category Archives: Leadership

Moments of Leadership – the one where you just keep going

Going slow isn’t a failure, giving up is.

It can only go so badly…

It’s important, from time to time, for advocates to be reminded that their lobbying meetings can only go so badly. The reality of our work is that the worst response we can typically get is “no.” But sometimes that’s not the low water mark of a meeting. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve workedContinue reading “It can only go so badly…”

Quit Apologizing for Living

I know the Thursday posts on this blog are typically devoted to advocacy. But I was caught in my tracks yesterday by a conversation with my spouse, and frankly it’s stuck in my craw. So this is a bit of a rant. In short, we were chatting about the challenges that working parents face withContinue reading “Quit Apologizing for Living”

You Win with People

A few years ago, I was working for a member of Congress who decided to leave office before the end of his term. It was an absolutely wild experience. Just months earlier, it seemed he was on an entirely different trajectory. But on an autumn day he announced, without fanfare, that he would be leavingContinue reading “You Win with People”

Give ’em hell, Harry

It’s challenging enough to not remember President Harry S. Truman simply through the prism of “FDR’s successor”. It’s nearly impossible to not fall into the trap of discussing his role in ending the second World War and stumbling toward the Korean War. His terms in office so saturated with conflict, he is often quoted byContinue reading “Give ’em hell, Harry”

BONUS Post: The Browns & Leadership

If we’re connected on social media, you probably know I’m pretty excited that the Cleveland Browns have broken an 18 year streak by making it to this year’s NFL playoffs. I’m a lifelong Browns fan. I came by it honest, being indoctrinated into the faith by my parents. It certainly hasn’t been the easiest crossContinue reading “BONUS Post: The Browns & Leadership”