“What I have to say just won’t make a difference.” If I had a nickel for every time a beginning advocate tried to hide behind that little lie we tell ourselves! This minor piece of self-doubt leads to big losses for the causes that are most important to us. Because it helps keep us fromContinue reading “Make Your Point & Make it Matter”
Tag Archives: Storytelling
Volume Does Not Equal Value
“We have to get in front of them again.” “We need more people in this meeting.” “They really need to hear this from a lot of people.” “Say it louder.” These are a few of my least favorite lines to hear from advocacy organizations. Even though they’re not always wrong. There are absolutely times inContinue reading “Volume Does Not Equal Value”
Last Week in Washington
But if you want to really stand out as one of those volunteer advocates, and build your own credibility, you have to remember that you are in charge of the agenda.
What Do I Do When I…only have one minute to make my case?
The real win in a moment like this – when you have a minute or less to talk about your issue – isn’t getting the listener to ‘yes.’ Success is getting them to say ‘I want to know more.’
Advocacy MASTERCLASS: How to Tell a Powerful Story with John Torres
“Whether they’re the villain or the hero, you want your audience to value the characters.”
Can you plan too much as an advocate?
I had to do it again this week. I had to share with folks just why I can’t stand talking points. It’s personal. At this point it’s almost as if I’m on a vendetta against bullet pointed communication in general. And before you tell me, yes, I know and recognize that this is a strangeContinue reading “Can you plan too much as an advocate?”
“What do I do when…?”
One of my absolute favorite things to do professionally is training aspiring advocates. For me, there is no replacement for stretching the relationship building muscles and helping folks understand just how natural it can be to stand up for their cause. The trainings I do almost always center on the importance of practical application becauseContinue reading ““What do I do when…?””
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”
Success in Advocacy: Clear is Greater than Clever
Being too clever can shut the conversation down long before we ever finish talking
Part of the Possible 