The Creative Campaign of the Century
Disclaimer: I did cast my vote for Obama. However, this is not a post about politics. This is a post about the creative marketing strategies of a well-run campaign. My political opinions and beliefs are of no consequence as I discuss the logistics of Obama’s bid for president.
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.
Connecting With Your Roots
In The Right to Write, Julia Cameron includes a chapter about “roots” as related to writing life.
In order to bloom, all of us need a root system. Just as a regular practice of writing roots us firmly in our lives, a regular life roots us firmly in our writing.
Sometimes I get so swept up and taken away by all the creativity pumping through my veins. Do you get that? Inspiration overdrive, baby. I get tuned in and this state-of-mind can last a few minutes, a few hours or even a few days. And, when I am in creative-mad-woman mode, it’s hard to pull myself away. But, I have to - and so do you.
My wedding is in 9 days. For the last eight months, August 23, 2008 has been this sanctimonious day on my calendar. Crazy how a day can cause normally rational people to get downright irrational at times. (I’m mainly referring to myself). So much focus on that one single day. I recently realized what was happening.
The deeper I sank into the trenches of the wedding hoopla, the more roots I was severing. If I kept going at this pace, I’d have no lifeline back to reality - and to the real importance of my wedding day.
Replenishment
I’m blessed with some wonderful people in my life. Four of them will stand next to me as I marry my best friend and the love of my life.
Three of those ladies live in Denver and must have sensed that I was slipping away into wedding insanity. They put me on a plane and treated me to bachelorett fun, Denver style. (The fourth is preggo with twins :))
Nurturing roots of a regular life sure is a whole hell of a lotta fun! Girls, thanks for the much needed break and the memories that will stick with me forever. You gave my roots a much-needed boost.
My Guest Post at DIYBride.com
Khris Cochran is the wonderful author of the DIY Bride book and blog. I snagged a copy of her book in a giveaway she had, and have been inspired by it ever since.
Khris was gracious enough to let me share how I was able to create 175 of my wedding invitations for only $102. You can read my post here.
How Is Creativity Important In Your Life?
Linda Dessau posted an article at Creativity Portal a few days ago. The article, “What Does Creativity Bring To Your Life?,” is based on interviews she did with 19 different artists. And, it got me thinking about what creativity means in my life because it is such a huge part of everything I do.
In Linda’s article she identifies a number of themes that popped up throughout her discussions. Some stick out more than others, and some truly hit home.
Creativity brings a spiritual connection
Julia Cameron talks about how writing is not an act of pontification, rather one of revelation. I think you can extend that descriprion to include all practices of creative expression. It’s that idea of letting go — letting go and letting yourself become a channel for creativity.
When you can step back far enough and take your ego out of the picture, the creative process becomes this incredible path of discovery - even for the artist. Surprises wait around every corner of enlightenment.
Creativity brings a return to home, a “normalcy”
As my wedding day approaches, I find myself with less and less time to explore all the creative outlets that I love. When I finally find those intimate moments to put my creativity to work, I am immediately at ease, back in my element. When I am away from creating for too long, I become somewhat like this grumpy toddler who’s been toted all over town on mom’s shopping excursions, and wants nothing more than to go home to the place she knows best. For me, that is creativity.
Creativity brings a sense of self-worth and identity
Who am I without my creativity? It is how I make my life and my happiness. Creativity is who I am. I am fulfilled when I write or paint or create something exceptionally special. But really and truly, I am just satisfied when I am writing or painting or creating something. The process is what makes it special for me.
Creativity heals me
I am truly amazed at how powerful self-expression can be when you are hurt or suffering. Truly amazed.
Creativity brings happiness, energy and power
Are there days when you feel so inspired and so fueled by creativity that it almost overwhelms you? Sometimes I will find myself flipping through a magazine or perusing some website, and all of a sudden it’s like someone flipped the switch for my creativity. And they didn’t just flip the switch to ON, they turned it to the highest setting I’ve got. Do you know what I’m talking about? Holy cow, what a rush.
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So, what does creativity bring to your life? Do you identify with any of the themes that Linda listed in her article?
It Is Finally Here….
The first two and a half months of my “official” freelance career. Two and a half months of my heart and soul poured into the slick, vibrant pages. BOOM Jackson.
I cannot begin to tell you how much fun I had working on this project. Every interview, every phone call, every word, every edit - all of it - was a witness to my leap of faith and my love of writing. I not only gained appreciation for my craft, but found a new respect for my hometown.
What an amazing way to start this new adventure.
Tonight, the magazine will be officially rolled at the Downtown Jackson Partners Development and Marketing Extravaganza. Can’t wait!
A couple of previews for you. One to show my joy and fulfillment, and the other, a peek at my favorite article.
