I went to a leadership breakfast summit. The messages were inspiring. It was worth getting up at 5:00am and driving to town in the dark. There was a large banquet room full of people that thought so, too.
The speaker who inspired me the most in this season of change was Doug Armstrong. He is the retired manager from KTVB TV station. He did some rewiring and is now the Chaplain of the Idaho Senate. (That’s a great story for another day.)
What inspired me the most was his approach to making decisions – and what that could look like in this highly charged political environment. I thought to myself, I could share this in a blog. I think it is neutral enough that everyone can hear it and not be offended.
So here goes…
Doug Armstrong is a newsman and regards highly Walter Cronkite, as did many Americans in Cronkite’s day. Why was Cronkite revered? Because he said, “In seeking truth you have to get both sides of the story.” That was reflected in his reporting – it was balanced.
Get Both Sides Of The Story
Another tool Doug uses in his decision making comes from Dale Carnegie: “Gather all facts and the decision will make itself.” Some might call it a pros and cons list.
The last tool Doug uses is a reflection on what would Jesus do? That is the compass in his life. A similar reflection would be “Be true to yourself. Don’t follow the crowd.” After you have done your research, what are the values important to you?
Details Will Make The Decision
I like the tools Doug uses in making life decisions. He succinctly expressed a process comparable to my own. Mr. Armstrong continued his presentation on approaches to how people vote. He calls these approaches The Four P’s:
- Party – People vote for the party they identify with. In this season, with so much division in each party – what does a party really stand for? Individual candidate values become more important.
- Personality – How charismatic are they? How genuine do they seem?
- Publicity – How much advertising do you see? The seven undecided states are being inundated with commercials, social media, and billboards. It could make you want to unplug. Unfortunately, publicity includes negative advertising – because it works.
- Policy – What is the platform for their campaign? What are the “promises” they are making? Compare what they say to prior voting positions. In evaluating policies, what is more important to you? For me, I am concerned about tax and fiscal policies. Those impact the economy – something I watch closely.
In this election, try using the tools that Doug Armstrong uses:
Walter Cronkite – Seek the truth. Get both sides of the story.
Dale Carnegie – Gather all the facts. The decision will make itself.
Follow your compass – Be true to what is important to you.
In this season, we may be voting for the Least Worst candidate.