Don’t get me wrong. Dove Body Wash is a wonderful product. But back in 2015, I switched to Olay. It had nothing to do with the quality of Dove. I announced we were parting ways in a Facebook post (where all my opinions go to die!).
- Dear Dove Body Wash, I’m ending our relationship. It’s not you, it’s me. I don’t have time to devote to you anymore. I can’t stand in the shower holding you upside down. Olay’s flat cap is much more endearing.
The manufacturer had changed the container. The flat lid became a pointy cap that I couldn’t balance upside down on the shower shelf. And I didn’t have time to waste in the shower waiting for the thick liquid to dispense. It just didn’t work for me anymore: right product, wrong delivery.
I was reminded of that switch recently. I asked a local political candidate why he’s choosing to run against his colleague, the incumbent.
“I like him, and I respect him,” he responded. “I have nothing against him as a person. He’s just the wrong person for the position.”
Finding the right packaging for your product makes a difference. Today, as I enter year three of High Grounds Consulting (launched on March 1, 2022), I’m reminded of that. I wanted to serve those who would benefit from expertise developed over more than three decades in journalism and conservative public policy. So far, it’s been more than rewarding.
It’s come with lessons, too. As I look back on the past year, three are important enough to share here.
1) You get what you pay for. The hymn goes, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Too many conservatives believe that simply being on the side of right guarantees victory. WRONG. Winning takes more than platitudes and the moral high ground; it takes investment in the long game and in good ideas. The other side knows this: Funding turns ideas into action. You have to promote ideas and message them to the right people to win. Of course, you can support your politician. But consider, too, who’s fleshing out the issues you support, then put your money on them.
2) Row in the same direction. We’re on the same side, for crying out loud! As Ronald Reagan would say, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” (He also said, “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally – not a 20 percent traitor.”) Sabotage, subterfuge, exclusion and subversion by fellow travelers will build resentment, extend the journey, and even sink the boat, so that everyone loses. Meanwhile, the opposition surges ahead.
3) Don’t be transactional. Know when and who to ask for help, and when you’re asking too much. Be respectful of friendships and don’t exploit them. Know how to take credit and when to give it. Connect people who could be helpful to each other. Respect confidences. Show gratitude. Remember the people who help you and be mindful of those who won’t.
One of my greatest talents is my “connection” ability: staying connected, connecting like-minded colleagues, and using my lifetime of lessons and experiences to help others. I’ve been a confidant, a cheerleader, a strategist, a life coach, a networker, a communicator … tailoring the “package” to the need. The success of the past two years tell me I’m helping.
Now: How can I help you?
Benita Cotton-Orr established High Grounds Consulting in 2022 after a 19-year career in public policy that followed a 14-year career in journalism.
