I’m just a simple country boy from Colorado. But I learned a thing or two on the farm. And twelve years of winning political battles.
I learned that hard work is often the difference between winning and losing.
Successful campaigns aren’t made of magic; rather they are built with hard work and discipline. In campaigns (just like real life) there will be times when you will face somebody smarter than you, slicker than you; someone with more money, more experience or a well-connected family. That’s life – there’s not much you can do about those circumstances. But you can control your effort. You can work a little harder, go a little farther, be more willing to do the little things – the tasks no one else is willing or able to do. It makes the difference.
After hard work, you must have attitude and be enthusiastic about your campaign or issue. You will not win if you do not believe you can – and should – win. Among political insiders today, it’s fashionable to be a critic, to tell you why “you can’t” do something. Finding a way to get it done takes brains and guts. Too many people in politics don’t have enough of either.
My grandfather once told me, “riding the fence can give you a mighty sore crotch” – that was his colorful way of saying “make a decision.” It takes guts to make a quick decision. It takes judgment to make a good one. In politics, you need both.
Tab has coached CEO's, candidates and elected officials.
If you believe you can win, make good decisions and work hard, you still need a plan or focus. You must know where you are, where you’re going and how to get there. Experts and pundits talk about “strategic development and quantifiable objectives,” – that’s just a fancy way of saying: “make a plan and measure progress.” Whenever possible, keep it simple.
Finally, there is loyalty. Cynics and pessimists think loyalty is outdated, that “selling out” or pivoting is the way to get ahead. But I believe that a good team will beat a good individual almost every time. And teams don’t work without trust and loyalty. Real loyalty is a two-way street, that’s why it works.
Hard work. Enthusiasm. Judgment. Focus. Loyalty. A strong hand has five parts (fingers) that must work together to be effective – a strong philosophy does too. And that’s what you get when I shake your hand and commit to your organization, issue or campaign.
