They are finally catching on.

Don’t get me wrong. There are still plenty of them that don’t get it. But, there’s hope.

It’s hard to break out of a cycle that’s been the norm for more than 200 years. Ever since the earliest of presidential elections, political campaigns have focused on one thing: the candidate. “Let me tell you about me. See how capable I am. Did I tell you how much better I am than my opponent?”

No wonder we can’t stand politicians.

Defying The Norms, Yet Defined By A Scream

With Howard Dean’s 2004 campaign paving the way, Obama’s team openly and vulnerably embraced the thing every presidential campaign should revolve around, and made it their one focus.

Americans. After all this is our country, and our government. The president may run it. But we own it, and that means we decide who runs it. It’s the beautiful part about this whole democracy thing.

Joe Trippi is a name familiar to those in politics. He’s worked on more than 100 political campaigns, and he was one of the very first to “get it.” In his book “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Democracy, The Internet And The Overthrow Of Everything,” Trippi discusses his stint as Campaign Manager on the Dean For America campaign.

The whole book is filled with gems of insight and inspiration from a man who helped change the face of political campaigns forever. Each story, anecdote and musing is filled with Trippi’s priceless experience and wisdom. However, there’s one passage I always return to when I pull the political memoir off my shelf.

This is the difference between the Dean for America campaign and every other presidential campaign of the past 20 years. Every other candidate has started out by saying — Look at me, aren’t I amazing?

But every time Howard Dean got up to speak, every time his campaign staff got on the web to blog, the message was Look at you, aren’t you amazing? And they were; 60,000 people committed to a new democracy.

Aiming At The Right Target

Picking up where Dean’s campaign left off, Obama redefined the meaning of a grassroots campaign.

In today’s world, we are a community of bloggers and twitterers and texters. Obama and his staff recognized that there are countless ways we take in and soak up information. Instead of forcing us to receive a campaign message on their terms, they delivered it on our terms — our thousands of unique, individual terms.

Art for the artists. Technology for the innovators. Poetic prose for the readers and writers. They adapted their message and presented it through thousands of different mediums. And, guess what….an incredible thing happened. A campaign all about hope gave people hope - hope for the future, hope for their country, but most importantly, hope and belief in themselves.

Most failed political campaigns are unsuccessful for one reason. It’s usually the reason for any failed marketing or advertising campaign. Missing your target.

The Obama campaign nailed a perfect bullseye. It’s the people, stupid.

This round’s reminder: Blog Action Day.

Recently…Not Even Close to ‘Unobstructed’

So, okay, the last few weeks have not been easy ones. My husband and I have been faced with some hurdles that require significant leaps of faith in order to get over them. Really, the only bright spot has been that, in our new marriage, we have each other to lean on.

All this “upheaval” has truly gotten me out of sorts. I’ve quit blogging all together, but, even worse, I’ve quit any of my personal writing all together as well. The only kind of writing I’ve accomplished in these last few weeks is freelance assignments — and that’s only because they produce income. Even then, it took entirely too much effort to get those articles written and submitted.

So, what have I been doing instead? Not much of anything except wallowing in self-pity. It has been pretty pathetic actually.

This morning, after I finally pulled myself out of bed, made way downstairs and fired up my Mac, there was a kick in the ass waiting for me. As soon as I moved my mouse, and my word clock screen saver disappeared there it was…an iCal alert. Not one of my weekly or monthly reminders, though.

“Write a post for Blog Action Day.”

More Than Enough And No More Excuses

When I am hungry, I eat. When I’m thirsty, I head to the refrigerator. When I am tired, I make my way to a comfortable bed. I have a roof over my head and car in my driveway. I have a husband who would give me the world if it was his to offer. I have a dog, and a cat and a closet full of outfits for every kind of occasion.

I sometimes forget just how rich I really am.

“No one should be able to say, ‘I don’t have a reason to talk about poverty.’”

I made my pledge at blogactionday.org weeks and weeks ago. In just its second year, the blog topic for the this year’s big day is poverty. The idea is to encourage bloggers everywhere to post about the same issue on the same day. It’s an incredible way to shine a big spotlight on a topic that really deserves to bask in the likes of Shea Stadium lighting.

The tricky thing about poverty is that it’s a lot more than just being hungry or homeless. There are so many dimensions — many of those dimensions being things we too often take for granted……While most of us celebrated the new millennium in style, thankful that Y2k bug decided not to bug us, almost one billion people came into the twenty-first century unable read or write, or even sign their own name. [source]

I have no excuse, no reason for not writing. A few strokes of crappy luck, a couple of raw deals here and there and a self-absorbed attitude don’t justify any of it. I live in the land of opportunity. But more importantly, I have the means to take advantage of all that opportunity. I have enough of what I need, and more than enough of what I need to make my dreams and aspirations a reality.

The written word is a powerful, inspiring, compelling, beautiful thing. And, it’s what I do for a living, revel in on a personal level and now, thanks to that iCal reminder, give to others who so desperately need it. Opportunities are everywhere, and I cannot wait to delve deeper for ways I can help.

We All Deserve ‘Enough’

In writing this post, I have had this one, simple, six-line verse in the forefront of all my thoughts and musings. I feel like it could be a good mantra for the Blog Action Day organization and all they strive to do. Life isn’t perfect, and isn’t always pretty either. Instead of letting the ugly moments leave you with an ugly attitude, put them to use in recognizing all the beauty in your life — and in sharing that beauty with other lives that need it.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Good-bye.”

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

By: Bob Perks

We discussed so much in our brief hour, but the thing that struck a chord with me more than the rest was Ben’s focus on the importance of visualization and oralization. He read right through me on this one.

Learning to Give Yourself Credit When Credit is Due

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Sounds pretty easy, huh?

I’ll share my little seceret with you: for me, it’s been a lifelong struggle.

I don’t want to give the impression that I am down on myself, having absolutely no confidence. In fact, it’s very much the opposite of that. I do believe in myself and my work, and have always been confident in my abilities. The place I often run into trouble is letting the tiny details have too much power and influence over that confidence.

Confidence with a small mix of trepidation. Yeah, Ben hit the bullseye on that one. It almost becomes this taboo notion within myself….that crossing a certain line of total confidence makes me arrogant.  Ben really opened my eyes and showed me that doesn’t have to be the case.

Ben Challenge to Me and My Challenge to You

“I’ll just have water.”

Just? What good does this work serve? Absolutely none.

It’s a word that I eliminate from my writing. If it slips in their during an expressively written first draft, I’ve edited it out by the second draft. Now it’s time to remove it from my life completely. I think you should do the same.

One step closer to where I want to be…

Winner Winner

If you haven’t heard anything about Big Jason Henderson and his Largest Blog Contest Ever, well you probably haven’t been paying close enough attention to marketing trends and happenings on the internet. AND, if you do anything remotely related to marketing for a living, well, you better catch up. I suggest subscribing sooner rather than later.

When I first perused the contest page, I drooled over his list of prizes that include quite a few consulting packages from some big wigs in the online business world.

Me: just getting started building a freelance business and a presence online

Big Wigs: have the knowledge and experience to teach anyone how succeed in their online business

= Big Wigs’ advice is a must-have for Me.

Yes, I won something! I was over the moon when Big Jason emailed me. Tomorrow morning I am happily accepting my kick-ass prize…drumroll, please…

1 hour of private consulting with Dr. Ben Mack

And, if you’re not familiar with Dr. Ben, then you SERIOUSLY need to catch up. You can do the leg work on this one.  Just Google him.

My new husband and I are off to Chicago for our honeymoon tomorrow.

I’ll be back to writing next week and will have lots to say.