WIN YOUR SURGE

END-TO-END

Mark Pfeifle shares his top strategies for a successful campaign that he used to lead the communications effort for President Bush’s “surge” of U.S. forces in Iraq and that were the foundation of his internal communications initiatives to de-legitimize al Qaeda.

Go to the Source

Ask questions. Don’t be a Big Shot – Be Humble – Always give Honest, Thoughtful Counsel to Decision makers

Write a Plan and Execute it

Boss’s Buy-In in Writing is “Get-Out-Jail-Free-Card”

Align Validators with 50/20 Plan

Identify the 50 People, Outlets, Thought Leaders You Need to Communicate With – and the 20 Ways You’ll Engage Them

Develop Your Message

Tell Me A Story:  Personal, Emotional, Factual, Localized, Powerful and Relatable – with a Call to Action

Get all Bad News out

 immediately on YOUR terms

No Paper Tigers

Local Game Plan First – Without It You Have Nothing

Always Be Training

Find Opportunities & Mentors – Learn from Strengths and Weaknesses

Note Successes

Honor it, Build On It and Grow

Drill Down on “We Don’t Do That”

“Help” Bureaucracies Find Solutions

Former White House Chief James Baker’s Rule

Don’t Start Any Fights You Cannot Win; Win All Fights You Start”  

Plan Agenda, Prep Meeting, Get Buy-In, “Any Questions?”

Okay, Let’s Go!

Know Your Limitations

Surround Yourself with People with Skills and Experience that Complement your Capabilities

Find Enemy/Opponent Weaknesses

Exploit Every Minute, Hour and Day

If You Screw Up, Fess Up

Learn from It and Carry On

Enjoy the Experience

As a Happy Warrior for The Cause – Study, Prosper and Welcome the Next Challenge

© 2023 Mark Pfeifle. All Rights Reserved.