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Archive for January, 2020

Lesson 531 Divided Democrats?

Posted in Integrated Marketing, Leadership, Lessons Learned, Planning, Public Affairs, Strategic Communication on January 27, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Are Democrats positioned to win the 2020 election? Here is what the party should have done before the primary season ever began:

  1. The national party should have begun with a “nation branding” statement about the founding of America, their vision for how to unite the country, and steps to recapture world leadership.
  2. Basic talking points should have been written early on about why the current president must not be re-elected. These should have been used by every Democrat all season long.
  3. Each candidate’s team should have been asked to shout the party’s branding statement and never-Trump talking points at every event.
  4. Each team’s plan for addressing bread and butter issues would still have been central to the campaign… i.e. healthcare, climate change, middle class wages, education, safety, energy, etc.
  5. Town hall briefings, covered by news media, should have replaced the crowded and too frequent debates.
  6. National debates between front runners could still be staged later in the spring.
  7. And criteria could still be developed to determine exactly what it will take to win, and also get things done.

Without this kind of coordinated planning can Democrats still get their act together? Maybe so. But my analysis suggests that party leadership and democrats everywhere should be worried.      

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Lesson 530 A Republican Forever

Posted in Branding, International, Leadership, Lessons Learned, Public Affairs, Strategic Communication on January 20, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Here is a list of comments from an interesting conversation with two lifelong Republicans:

  1. Many of Trump’s actions have helped business: Eliminating environmental restrictions and reduced taxes.
  2. An increase in overall number of jobs happened on his watch.
  3. The economy is doing well overall.
  4. He reduced the number of immigrants, who have been taking our jobs.
  5. He also increased what NATO allies pay for their membership.
  6. As lifelong Republicans, we see no reason to change now.
  7. As for ethical issues, every president has carried lots of baggage. This one is no different.
  8. Every politician that made it to the presidency did so because God had a plan for them. This president supports “right to life,” and speaks in support of Evangelical groups.
  9. But, admittedly, we hate his tweets.

For the above reasons, these Republicans found it easy to overlook:

  1. Asking foreign countries to help with his re-election.
  2. Treating his staff as a dictator would.
  3. Delaying aid to a foreign country that was specifically approved by Congress.
  4. Lying constantly, even when it is not necessary.
  5. Making comments every day that further divide the country.
  6. Increasing the country’s deficit without concern.
  7. Personally profiting from the presidency.
  8. Denying scientific findings about the ravages of climate change.
  9. Declaring that only he can fix the world.  

After winning a hard-fought revolution against a monarch the last thing our founding fathers would want is an autocrat in the White House.  So no matter your politics… and even more than agreeing on impeachment, maybe what we all really need right now is a president who will make good things happen at home and abroad, and never cozy up to dictators.

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Lesson 529 Presidential Flaws

Posted in Uncategorized on January 14, 2020| 1 Comment »

What you don’t want in any leader!!

  1. A president or CEO who has no understanding of what the founders of your institution or country had in mind.
  2. Thus, has no vision for how to build an exciting future out of why it already is truly exceptional.
  3. Has an authoritarian and/or unethical personal history… and always required constant praise.
  4. Or always assembles a management team that is willing to support him or her no matter what.
  5. Or uses a leadership style based on fanning fear… dividing people into hostile groups.
  6. Or uses cruel language with the intent to intimidate critics and adversaries.
  7. Or refuses to use allies to build mutually beneficial partnerships… believing that only he or she has the answers.
  8. Or is most comfortable in the company of autocrats and dictators… and whose own behavior reflects it.
  9. Or who uses constant lying to confuse news reports… and also divert the public’s attention.
  10. Or who won’t embrace the research, scientific findings, and advice of established experts.

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