Winning Edge

Applying "One Statistic, One Story, One Solution" to Education Reform: One Strong Statistic: $22,000 in funding per student in PennsylvaniaSupporting number: Nearly $7 billion in school district reservesOne Compelling Story: Pennsylvania's education system story arc:More funding, more teachers, more programsYet outcomes keep getting worseEnrollment down, spending upTest scores decl

The 10 Call Rule: How 1 Hour a Week Transforms Fundraising Zig Ziglar's principle: "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great"Persistence matters more than perfection in fundraisingProblems with delaying fundraising until election years:Skills get rustyMissed opportunities to build a war chestThe 10 Call Rule: Block one hour each week specifically for f

The Noun Exercise - Finding the Right Story: Challenge: Identifying compelling stories that illustrate policy impactsSolution: Use the "Noun Exercise" from Kindra Hall's book "Stories That Stick"Three-Step Process: Identify the PeopleList individuals affected by the policy (e.g., fracking workers, small business owners)Look for specific individuals who come to mindIdentify the Plac

Regional Approach - Tailoring the Message: Consider regional perspectives (Bucks County vs. Westmoreland County)Simplify complex issues like RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative)One Strong Statistic: "Pennsylvania's CO2 emissions dropped 10.8% from 2022 to 2023" Bucks County (Moderate/Suburban) Framing: Acknowledge environmental concernsHighlight clean electricity progressEmpha

One Strong Statistic: State spending has grown 40% in five years to $50 billionCreate contrast: Government grew 40% while average paychecks barely changedFocus on memorability over precisionOne Relatable Story: Compare personal income growth since 2020 to government spendingMake numbers personal: "Do you make 40% more than in 2020?"Show impact on working familiesOne Clear Solution

Florence Nightingale's persuasive approach to reforming military hospitals: One StatisticNeed clear, memorable numberHelp people realize seriousness of problemExample: 2,800 preventable deaths in one monthOne StoryBrain wired to remember storiesCombine with striking statistic for powerAllows listeners to update their thinkingOne SolutionFocus on clear, specific actionMake it achiev

Franklin's "Join, or Die" snake cartoon became America's first political cartoonSimple image of snake cut into parts representing coloniesBecame 18th-century version of viral memeFranklin's visual persuasion principles:Keep it SimpleCreate visuals understood in under 5 secondsAvoid complex charts or detailed graphsUse What's ThereLook for powerful visuals in your environmentReferen

The Scrooge Story Strategy Dickens' insight: People are moved by stories, not statisticsA Christmas Carol changed public opinion and led to real policy changesThe Scrooge Story Strategy - Three-Part Framework: Look BackShow where we've beenCreate nostalgia and hopeDemonstrate change is possibleLook DownHighlight current challengesCreate a sense of urgencyShow what's being lostLook

The election is over and here's what to do next. For Candidates Who Didn't Win: Keep the NetworkMaintain connections with supporters and donorsSend handwritten thank-you notesGive Yourself TimeProcess the resultsAppreciate skills gained and lessons learnedConduct a Post-mortemDocument what worked and what didn'tRecord details while freshTake the LongviewView this as one chapter in

Scott Sagan's quote: "Things that have never happened before happen all the time"Amanda Ripley's Survival Arc:DenialDeliberationDecisive ActionOODA Loop for rapid decision-making:Observe the situationOrient yourself to think about changesDecide on a course of actionAct on your decisionStrategies for unexpected campaign situations:Tough Question: Use two points or story plus insight