This week I got to do what I love most in my work – train aspiring advocates. And this time, that training session was focused on an exceptionally bright, and engaged group of college students. What they lacked in direct experience with political issues, they were eager to make up for in vim and vigor.Continue reading “What to Say When You Don’t Know the Answer”
Tag Archives: Resilience
The Do’s and Dont’s to Survive Political Division and Help Your Cause Succeed
As I’ve chatted with advocates and volunteers since the most recent US election, one thing is clear: no one really knows what to expect in 2023. Many Americans are looking around and scratching their heads. Even those who were pleasantly surprised by the outcome are coming to the realization that we dialed up two moreContinue reading “The Do’s and Dont’s to Survive Political Division and Help Your Cause Succeed”
Stories from Congress: the one where a guy handed me a spine
Yes. He handed me a spine. I’ll say that again. Yes. A spinal cord. A protester once handed me a spinal cord. There I was, offering a friendly smile, and the guy hands me a model spinal cord – thinking he was about to embarrass me into agreeing with him on an issue. You haveContinue reading “Stories from Congress: the one where a guy handed me a spine”
Need a boost for your sense of optimism? Start here
“I want to know how you can be so optimistic.” I don’t know why, but this has become a common thread in my conversations lately. As I’ve been briefing advocates on the current political landscape, and helping friends make sense of the recent election, a thought like this almost always creeps into the conversation. UntilContinue reading “Need a boost for your sense of optimism? Start here”
How Do We Hold Politicians Accountable?
There are no short cuts, no easy buttons, and no magic formulas to get the job done. All our field promises is an infinite game of changing players that offer new challenges each and every day.
Keeping Your Head on Election Day
But Election Day isn’t a finish line – it’s a starting block. It’s the anticipation of the starting gun for a foot race. It’s getting into position to act. Successful advocates distinguish themselves by realizing that, and visualizing how they’ll react when the starting gun fires.
Success in Advocacy: Clear is Greater than Clever
Being too clever can shut the conversation down long before we ever finish talking
Success in Advocacy: “Just be Human”
These are the basics, the fundamentals, any advocate needs to find long term success. Basically, just be human.
Success in Advocacy: Right-sizing your wins
… no matter what happens on the battlegrounds of politics, successful advocates have to bring their causes forward in the reality of governance.
Why You ALWAYS Need an “Ask”
The stories I could tell you. Over 8.5 years working for members of Congress, there were a LOT of constituent meetings. These were opportunities for concerned citizens to engage directly with their elected representative – or that representative’s staff – to share a slice of what was happening back in the district. Sometimes they wereContinue reading “Why You ALWAYS Need an “Ask””
Part of the Possible 