Readers know that I'm a career-politico and a student of the 2008 Election. The last two years have offered many lessons for those seeking new jobs and/or engaged in career transition. I've shared my own perspectives during the last year: check out the views expressed by Harvard Business Online (The Managerial Triumph of Barack Obama)
John Quelch's post in Business Week is one of three "ivy-covered" views of Obama's victory. It reads like a comment on my Lessons from the National Interview; here's a summary of his points that circle back to inspire anyone involved in personal marketing:
- Obama's personal attributes were fleshed-out and visible to voters: interpersonal & communication skills; composure; his compelling story
- He engaged support from the ground-up; perhaps the Harvard-educated Obama was inspired by the idea of the "learning organization," advocated by a professor on the other side of Cambridge, MA – Peter Senge.
- Dominated the use of technology – multiple websites; the blogosphere, You-Tube, podcasts, and an incredibly effective infomercial (33.5 million viewers)
- The campaign targeted an inclusive array of voters; went beyond likely voters and discovered the power of early voters.
- Message of hope delivered during time of doubt and despair resonated with possibility
- Obama had some noisy gremlins in his closet; he dealt with them early-on and in a poignant and transparent manner. When the Republican Party of Pennsylvania pulled them out of the closet In October 2008, they were marked as "past season."
- TEAM – The team Obama assembled to market his candidacy and run the campaign was outstanding. Quelch rightly points to the selection of Joe Biden as VP – a choice that filled Obama's foreign policy gap and reassured voters about Obama's judgment.
