Getting into the Right Mindset to Campaign — Commit to Being Committed

As I sit down to write this, I’m reminded of my own journey when I considered running for local office. It was 2016, and after two long years working on presidential campaigns I felt there were still many unresolved issues our Congress and presidential candidates seemed unable or unwilling to address. I spent the next 18 months working on campaigns, teaching organizations how to engage people and encourage them to take action at the local level — to fill the gaps with new laws and policies Congress wasn’t addressing.

That’s when I started thinking it might be time to practice what I’d been preaching and run my own campaign. As you can imagine, it was no easy decision. I spent weeks going back and forth in my head about whether or not to run. I had a growing family with young kids who needed my time, and running my own campaign would mean even more time away from them.

For many of us, getting into the right mindset for campaigning can be daunting. We may feel overwhelmed by the thought of dealing with people, shaking hands, kissing babies — or, in today’s digital age, sending emails and posting on social media. But here’s the thing: politics requires dealing with people. To be effective you have to know how to motivate people to action, even if you’re not a “people person.”

So what can we do to get into the right mindset? A few suggestions:

• Shake off negativity. Don’t let negative thoughts hold you back. Focus on the positive side of running for office — making a difference in your community, inspiring others to take action.
• Smile. Positivity makes a difference. When I’m stressed or overwhelmed, a few deep breaths and an upbeat playlist help me shift gears. Greeting a friend or a new acquaintance with a smile puts that relationship on the right path from the start. There are reams of evidence showing that simply smiling while you’re on the phone exudes positivity and can change the outcome of the conversation. That’s where “smile while you dial” comes from.

But getting into the right mindset isn’t just about feeling good or avoiding stress. It’s about being committed to your cause. Make no mistake — you must be committed if you want to inspire others and bring about change.

So what’s the main challenge holding you back from committing to your campaign? Is it time? Money? Not knowing what it takes to win?

Take some critical thought to clear or alleviate those blockers. Don’t worry about solving them in the next hour, or even the next day or two. Just acknowledge them and move forward.

For some people, the decision not to run is the right decision. Not running can be a valid answer for a particular person at a particular time in their life, and that’s okay. There’s no shame in deciding now isn’t the right time. The key is to be honest with yourself about your motivations and priorities.

So how do you clear those challenges? A few suggestions:

• Define what matters most. What are your core values and principles? How do they align with your campaign goals?
• Set realistic expectations. Don’t set yourself up for failure by expecting too much in too short a time. Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.
• Seek support. If you don’t know what you don’t know, surround yourself with people who believe in you and who have the information you need.

In the end, getting into the right mindset is about being committed to making a difference — not just winning an election. When we focus on what matters most, set realistic expectations, seek support, and clear our minds of negativity, we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

So take some time today to reflect on your own journey. What’s holding you back from committing to your campaign? How will you clear those challenges and get into the right mindset for success?

Remember: it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being committed.