Organizing to Win: The Art & Science of Running for Office
If Democracy is worth fighting for, then it starts with each of us. Organizing to Win: The Art & Science of Running for Office is the audio version of the top-selling book teaching you how to manage a campaign, and run for public office. From messaging and fundraising to voter contact, scheduling, and public speaking, Jimmy Tickey teaches candidates, staff, and volunteers how to organize a political campaign.
Written - and narrated - by Jimmy Tickey, a trusted political voice, providing guidance to local, state, and federal campaigns. Blending political strategy with public service, Jimmy Tickey is the Vice Chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party and elected member of the Democratic National Committee. A campaign manager, elected official, party leader, and staff member to government officials, Jimmy understands firsthand where politics meets policy: organizing.
Each episode will teach you how-to discover your purpose, unlock potential, and harness power by entering the political arena. Are you ready to meet the moment?
Episodes
17 episodes
Introduction
Our democracy hangs in the balance with a billionaire-class making decisions to give tax breaks to the richest corporations; while the programs working families count on are slashed. Prices for essential items rise, as everyday people work hard...
Two Ears and One Mouth
In thinking about running for office, it helps to be rooted in your community. Being born and raised in the town comes with advantages like a known network, but if you are not from the town, then get involved first – don’t just parachu...
What's Your Why?
Authenticity is derived from feeling a passion for your purpose; that you are enthusiastic about your purpose! As a political candidate, you don’t need to come out on your first day of campaigning with every policy position, but you need to hav...
Life of the Party
One does not decide to just run for office and suddenly they are on the ballot. There are a few ways to get onto the ballot, and we will discuss the importance of getting involved in your local political party just as you got involved in your c...
Decision to Win
At this point in your political campaign, you’ve taken inventory of what drives you in this authentic journey to make a positive difference in your district. You have thought about what office you may run for, and know what kind of rac...
Visibility is Viability
Representative democracy is a bedrock American principle that, when fulfilled, guarantees every person a voice in this citizen government. When you have a diverse array of individuals making decisions about policy impacting families, you create...
Hello, Candidate
Running for office is an entrepreneurial effort as you are building an organization from scratch. This requires a vision, human capital, resources, and a goal-oriented plan to meet benchmarks with a timeline. Being a candidate demands being cre...
Universe of Data
Investments in technology by national parties have allowed campaigns to access voter databases that provide valuable information. What you do with that data is the science behind your campaign, and it will make all the difference as you keep it...
Reaching Voters
Meeting people where they are means speaking to them physically where they are: on a doorstep, at an event, online; and emotionally where they are: their perceptions, feelings, and frustrations. In fact, good campaigning is mo...
Comfortable Shoes
Door knocking is an opportunity for you to look a voter in their eyes and welcome their participation in public policy, and there is no better way than it coming from the candidate at the voter’s doorstep. Once you start door knocking, you will...
Asking for Money
You think you can’t ask someone for money, yet you can ask someone for advice, a favor, even for a vote. The truth is you are starting an enterprise with this political campaign, and you need to have funds to make it operate. Fundraising should...
Plan and Budget
Raising dollars for your campaign is important, but whats more important is how you are spending each dollar, and at what frequency. You don’t need to be a financial expert to realize that every week you will have money flowing into yo...
Communications 24/7
You will be discussing your candidacy in various ways every day, whether it’s seeing someone in the market, knocking on a door, or speaking at a forum, and you should bring these conversations back to your central theme, or top-line message. In...
Please Say a Few Words
Public speaking tells a story with a beginning, middle, and an end, ultimately asking for action. Good remarks will emphasize what you stand for and remind people who you are as you are running for office. Since you are an authentic candidate r...
Campaign Management
Chaos is defined as disorder, but a good campaign manager will manage political chaos into organization, where everything has a place, everyone has a role, and every day is maximized with the plans for mobilization, money, and message. In this ...
Welcome to Headquarters
Your campaign headquarters is your home, and you have guests—volunteers—coming over every day, so you need an inviting place where people want to be. Secure a campaign headquarters as a gathering place for staff and volunteers, as well...
Surprises, Setbacks, and Spin
With a fractured media environment, people believe whatever they see while scrolling on their phones must be true as they are surrounded by an ecosystem of messages that match their already held beliefs; an agreeable algorithm. Your on...