If you can’t tell someone why you’re running in 30 seconds or less, don’t run.
Here’s today’s tip: If you can’t tell someone why you’re running in 30 seconds or less, don’t run.
One of the first things we talk about in our free online course is how to answer three questions: Why Me (why I’m the right person for the job), Why Now (why THIS is the time for me to run) and Why This Office (why THIS is the job for me). Anytime somebody asks you a question on the campaign trail, it always comes back to those fundamental questions.
You’ll start out with pages of notes. Take some time away by yourself and just get everything you can out of your head and on paper. After some copy-editing, these pages will be the genesis of your campaign messaging.
Handwritten notes are one of the most powerful tools you have. And they’re cheap!
Here’s today’s tip: Handwritten notes are one of the most powerful tools you have. And they’re cheap!
Growing up, it felt like pulling teeth when my mom made me write thank you cards. For some reason I hated it. I was grateful for the gifts but something about it…laziness probably, just made it a process I really disliked. Far too many times, I didn’t properly express my gratitude.
In the last few years, especially as social media became a larger part of my life, I actually started getting much better at writing cards. Part of it was that with so few people sending written communication these days, it was a way for my words to stand out.
There is no greater enemy to your campaign than your own ego.
Here’s today’s tip: There is no greater enemy to your campaign than your own ego.
If you’re running for office, you’ve probably got a pretty healthy ego. Otherwise you wouldn’t be telling everybody that you’re the best possible option for the job. While ego rightfully carries a negative connotation, it’s an important part of each of us and when kept in check, can be a positive force.
But good lord I’ve seen it wreck campaigns. You’ve probably thought of several examples since I started talking from times you’ve seen a person’s ego lead to failure. Jobs, marriages, children, friendships. Every facet of our lives can be compromised if our ego gets out of control.
When you run for office, so many of your normal ego-checks are no longer in place. At least they’re often less effective. Your best friend may have always been able to pull you back when you were getting to full of yourself. But now that you’re a candidate, it’s easier for the devil on your shoulder to tell you, “He just doesn’t understand campaigns.” Or, “He’s just getting jealous of all the attention I’m getting and the cool title I’m fixing to have.”
Every facet of your campaign should be infused with a sense of urgency. No lollygagging.
Here’s today’s tip: Every facet of your campaign should be infused with a sense of urgency. No lollygagging.
A lot of people equate urgency purely with speed. Speed is obviously important in campaigns but just looking at urgency as a tempo measurement comes up short of what I’m talking about here.
I mean that you must be purposeful. If you’re needing to knock doors or put up yard signs, speed and urgency may be synonymous. However there are plenty of campaign activities that may require urgency at a slower pace. More deliberate and thoughtful. You’re still being purposeful but the manifestation of urgency looks different to the outside observer.
Think about Special Operations forces and how they work. They are so incredibly swift but they would be the first to tell you that, “Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.” They understand that you need to be urgent with every action but that speed is only one component of being effective.