OK, So I Didn’t Get Elected Pope . . . Speaking of
Motivation
by Barry Maher
Published on this site: July 8th, 2005 - See
more articles from this month...
What I’m about to say may surprise some of you. And I’m
sure it will absolutely astonish the traditional news media.
But I’m starting to think I have a real shot at being
nominated to the Supreme Court. Apparently, I’m well
thought of in extremely high places.
A while back, in fact, I received a message on my voice mail
informing me that I had just been nominated to serve on the
Republican Presidential Committee. Would I please call their
toll free number immediately? When I called and asked who
had nominated me, the woman who took the call told me that
the nomination had come from the Republican Congressional
Committee. And I didn't realize those people even knew that
I was alive.
"So who on the committee nominated me?" I wondered.
The woman wasn't sure. She did know that the committee thought
it would be invaluable if a key national business leader like
myself would lend his name and agree to serve.
"You know I never thought of myself as a key national
business leader," I said.
"Well, that's the way we think of you here."
WOW.
She explained that there would be no time commitment, so
exactly what my service might entail was a little vague. But
there would be a press release, announcing my appointment
to my local paper. And agreeing to serve would give me a chance
to meet top Republicans like the Speaker of the House, "perhaps
even President Bush," and give them my thoughts. So I'd
have access to them on the issues that concerned my business.
They'd also appreciate it if I could contribute from $300
to $500.
"But if I can't come up with a contribution just now,”
I said, “I can still lend my name to the cause and be
on the committee and meet President Bush, right?"
"No." No amplification, just a flat no.
"So my name won't help you without the money?"
"We need your name AND the money."
"But without the money you won't use my name."
"Are you a Democrat?" she asked suspiciously.
"Would the Republican Congressional Committee nominate
a Democrat to serve on the Republican Presidential Committee?"
That's when she hung up. I'm not sure how that might affect
my status on the committee. I expect I'll hear from President
Bush himself in the next couple of days. We key national business
leaders shouldn't be wasting our time dealing with subordinates
anyway.
Now in fairness, I'm not sure the Democrats’ fundraising
strategies would be any better (if they had anything to sell).
And I should mention that the Republicans have apparently
now scrapped these Republican Presidential Committee phone
calls. Nowadays, according to ABC News, they’re calling
“key business leaders” and telling them that they
have been nominated for something called “the National
Leadership Award.” It’s every bit as good a deal
as the Presidential Committee, just $300 to $500.
And you may already be a winner.
Barry Maher speaks, writes and consults on communications,
motivation, management and sales. His books include “Filling
the Glass,” honored as “[One of] The Seven Essential
Popular Business Books” and “No Lie: Truth Is the
Ultimate Sales Tool.” Contact him and/or sign up for
his newsletter at http://www.barrymaher.com/
or call him at 760-962-9872
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