Make Your Own Moment!

Jul 28, 2008 by Suzy Ogé    No Comments    Posted under: Inspiring

Just a few days ago, Barack Obama made history in Berlin.  The images of Obama delivering his speech at the Victory Column and the crowd of 200,000 will not soon fade away, by design of course.

The entire overseas trip bore a close resemblance to a state visit.  In Berlin, Obama followed in the footsteps of previous American Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Regan, as nearly as he was allowed to anyway.  Many compared the event to a rock concert.  Some critics commented that the speech was too vague, but they missed the point entirely.  He nailed it with both audiences, in Europe and the US.  In Berlin, he addressed the audience as Europeans, expanding his reach beyond Germans, and gave them what they came for, an opportunity to see the man they crave as the next American President and to hear his eloquent and inspiring speech in person.    While the International Herald Tribune estimates that 4-6 million Americans live abroad, it is unlikely that all 200,000 living in Germany were in attendance to greet Obama.

So, what did Obama’s overseas trip and speech in Berlin achieve with voters at home?  Obama’s mission was to look presidential, to be presidential in the eyes of voters and boost his reputation in foreign affairs.  The warm welcome Obama received from Merkel, Sarkozy & Co. is an indicator of his acceptance if not whole-hearted endorsement from these world leaders.  Mission accomplished.

Sure, politicians are notoriously opportunistic, but Obama’s strategies are worth co-oping for yourself for two reasons.  First,  Barack Obama has taken the practice of “visualization of success” to another level.  To have come this far in the presidential race, Barack Obama can obviously visualize himself as President of The United States.  He recognizes that in order to actually become President more voters need to visualize him as President Obama too!  This trip provided provided plenty of visual imagery and sound bites to help people along that lack imagination.

Secondly, Obama’s strategy of being proactive is always worth copying!  He didn’t wait for an invitation or a situation that he could hope to react to in a spectacular way.  Instead he went on the offensive and set the scene for his own success.  What are you waiting for?  Make your own moment!

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