Unforgettable
The 5 most unforgettable things I learned by working with Matt for the summer.
5. The Leadership Institute is an amazing place and every conservative that ever plans to be a candidate or work on a campaign, at any level, should enroll in as many LI courses as possible.
4. Accessibility is easy, to important people that is. I've learned that if you want to meet someone important, and you have some excuse to talk to them, all you have to do is call with a purpose, be confident, and be vigilant. There are few people in Washington too important to meet with normal folks. A piece of advice Matt gave me: once you schedule a meeting with someone that you'd love to really get to know (this doesn't apply to dating), take a picture with them. Then, a month later you have an excuse to meet again so they can "sign the picture." Then go back again for them to sign a copy of their book.
3. Academics - just don't do it. A lot of top politicians are winners of huge academic fellowships, like the Rhodes. Prez Clinton, Sen. Feingold, Sen. Lugar, Sen. Sarbanes, Sen. Vitter, Rep. Jindal -- all Rhodes scholars. I'm pretty darn sure they all know real big words and could explain complex social or economic theories. But, they don't. Because normal people don't care, or if they do, they either feel that the academic is pompous or feel themselves inferior for not knowing what's going on. Either way, no vote. I've learned it's best to use your smarts in policy -- use your substance and your smile in politics.
2. Gotta love it. Politics, that is. I've learned that campaigning and the world of politics isn't for everyone. For example, policy wonks probably won't have fun on a campaign. Running a campaign or being a candidiate seems to me two of the most exhausting jobs imaginable (once you consider all the things that should be happening). If you don't love it, you'll drown. But what's not to love?
1. Communication is key. It doesn't matter that the conservative attitude or philosophy is more sound than liberalism if they out-communicate us. Are ideas are only as good as we communicate them, because communication is the only path from idea to implementation. This is why the Great Communicator is so great -- Reagan was the first conservative able to effectively communicate conservative ideas, and it worked, we had a revolution. Of course, I also learned how we might out-shine our liberal competition; for example, with repitition, sincerity, negativity through a surrogate, etc. -- and most importantly emotion, contrast, connection, and credibility (Message=EC^2).
Thanks Matt.
5. The Leadership Institute is an amazing place and every conservative that ever plans to be a candidate or work on a campaign, at any level, should enroll in as many LI courses as possible.
4. Accessibility is easy, to important people that is. I've learned that if you want to meet someone important, and you have some excuse to talk to them, all you have to do is call with a purpose, be confident, and be vigilant. There are few people in Washington too important to meet with normal folks. A piece of advice Matt gave me: once you schedule a meeting with someone that you'd love to really get to know (this doesn't apply to dating), take a picture with them. Then, a month later you have an excuse to meet again so they can "sign the picture." Then go back again for them to sign a copy of their book.
3. Academics - just don't do it. A lot of top politicians are winners of huge academic fellowships, like the Rhodes. Prez Clinton, Sen. Feingold, Sen. Lugar, Sen. Sarbanes, Sen. Vitter, Rep. Jindal -- all Rhodes scholars. I'm pretty darn sure they all know real big words and could explain complex social or economic theories. But, they don't. Because normal people don't care, or if they do, they either feel that the academic is pompous or feel themselves inferior for not knowing what's going on. Either way, no vote. I've learned it's best to use your smarts in policy -- use your substance and your smile in politics.
2. Gotta love it. Politics, that is. I've learned that campaigning and the world of politics isn't for everyone. For example, policy wonks probably won't have fun on a campaign. Running a campaign or being a candidiate seems to me two of the most exhausting jobs imaginable (once you consider all the things that should be happening). If you don't love it, you'll drown. But what's not to love?
1. Communication is key. It doesn't matter that the conservative attitude or philosophy is more sound than liberalism if they out-communicate us. Are ideas are only as good as we communicate them, because communication is the only path from idea to implementation. This is why the Great Communicator is so great -- Reagan was the first conservative able to effectively communicate conservative ideas, and it worked, we had a revolution. Of course, I also learned how we might out-shine our liberal competition; for example, with repitition, sincerity, negativity through a surrogate, etc. -- and most importantly emotion, contrast, connection, and credibility (Message=EC^2).
Thanks Matt.
posted by Boz at 6:28 AM
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