Train hard, play to win.
✽ 1. Even If You’re Not On The Team, You’re On The Same Field
Our politicians didn’t get their job on their own, they had a huge team behind them, professionally and personally. Sometimes supporters may feel they do all the work, while the politicians get all the glory. However, everyone is on the same field, some are playing the game, some are working the crowd. All are important.
✽ 2. Teamwork Is Essential
If I can see further than anyone else, it is only because I am standing on the shoulders of giants. Sir Isaac Newton
No one can do everything on their own. As supporters we learn to work together. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes we climb to the top, and sometimes we catch others when they fall.
✽ 3. Take Risks, and not be afraid to fall
A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. Albert Einstein
The politicians and party leaders are the ones out there taking the risks, because they know we’re backing them up. If they don’t know they can rely on us, they might take less risks.
✽ 4. Cheer loudly, even when you’re losing
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right. Henry Ford
You’re team might not be winning at the moment, but keep enthusiasm high, keep supporting your team. Sometimes, if you act as if you can, you can convince everyone else too. In politics perception can become reality, if you desert your party because of a few bad polls, that becomes reality.
✽ 5. Cheer loudly, when you’re winning
When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat. Nelson Mandela
Just because your team is winning, keep shouting, shout louder. People have short memories, and the accomplishments need to be kept fresh in people’s minds.
✽ 6. Train hard, but make life seem effortless
I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” Muhammad Ali
You have to put in the work if you want the rewards. To be good at something takes practice. But practice is where you can learn, make mistakes, fall down, and get up again until you get it right.
In the current climate where the media is anti-Left, don’t say “the media is against us, we can’t get our message out” keep trying new ways, and if you try enough ways eventually one of them might work.
✽ 7. Know your strengths; Know your weaknesses
I will force the enemy to take our strength for weakness, and our weakness for strength, and thus will turn his strength into weakness. Sun Tzu
If you attempt to do something you haven’t trained for, you could get hurt, and so could others. Know what you’re good at and what you’re not. This is where teamwork comes into play.
✽ 8. Develop your skills
I always had to keep improving my skills in order to remain competitive and keep winning. Edwin Moses
There is always another team training harder, and learning new things. The Right-wing are already campaigning for the 2013 election, so you must stay up-dated with your skills and everyone else.
✽ 9. The Game isn’t over til the final siren
The opera ain’t over till the fat lady sings. Dan Cook
A half-time lead doesn’t mean you can take it easy, someone else is training better, training harder, and they are catching up fast. Also, being down at half-time is no indication of the final score.
Polls 18 months before an election are irrelevant, it is only half-time. Keep cheering. Keep supporting.
✽ 10. Be Prepared and Look your best
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
If you are going to do backflips in a miniskirt, make sure you’re wearing your best underwear.
Never argue with a moronic Right Wing troll, they drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. And if an un-decided voter is watching, they will think both sides are as bad as each other.
Every conversation with someone who is un-decided or a swing voter, even if about something completely non-political is a chance to make an impression.
Gabrielle Union in Bring It On (2000), image used for illustrative purposes, and use does not signify that anyone connected with this movie would endorse this post or blog
Turn Left 2013 