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Government

Winning Edge

Commonwealth Partners

Giving you the tools to lead and influence in the policy arena.

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  • 22 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 4 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • Dec 3, 2025 · 4 min

    #64 How to Start a Story People Want to Hear

    The hardest part of storytelling is knowing where to begin. Most people start with way too much setup… or none at all. Use one simple formula to fix it: “So…” + Specific Time + Person + Action + Place + Goal/Tension Why it works: your listener instantly knows what’s happening and why it matters. A good opening line buys you attention for the next 90 seconds. Keep stories tight: 90–120 seconds is enough to land a point. Script your first line, test it, tweak it, and use it everywhere. Download the one-page summary: [PDF Link Here] Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

  • Nov 12, 2025 · 2 min

    #63 Focus on What We Control

    Summary Over the last 25 years, American politics has swung back and forth like a pendulum—every “permanent majority” has proven temporary. From Bush’s “thumpin’” in 2006 to Trump’s return in 2024, one truth stands out: no single win defines the next one. This episode is a reminder to focus on what we can control. Key Points 2000: Florida recount and a divided nation. 2004: Talk of a “permanent Republican majority.” 2006–2008: Democrats surge back under Bush and Obama. 2010–2024: Power ping-pongs between parties nearly every cycle. Lesson: Politics never stays still, and neither should your campaign strategy. Takeaway The best strategy isn’t predicting the future, it’s preparing for it. You control how many fundraising calls you make. You control how well you prepare and practice. You control how deeply you connect. Quote of the Week “Work with what you have control of and you’ll have your hands full.” — Admiral James Stockdale Source: Stockdale, Courage Under Fire: Testing Epictetus’s Doctrines in a Laboratory of Human Behavior (Hoover Essays Book 6), pp. 7–8. Listen or download the one-page summary: [PDF Link] Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion. For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

Showing 21–22 of 22 episodes