I have the perfect story I will call that 1% challenge.
I live in a beautiful little city of Santa Clara in Southern Utah. Like you, I have served my community throughout the years in many different capacities. This last summer, I decided that I wanted to run for City Council. I went into the city building to sign up to be on the ballot. I was told that I was too early. I was surprised and said, too EARLY? Yes, I was told, you can come back in two days to sign up. I proceeded to say that I already paid for a vacation to Europe 8 months ago, and I leave tomorrow. Well, you will have to sign up by this date, when you get back. I reluctantly replied okay, as I thought to myself, I will only have one day to sign up when I get back!
On our way home from this amazing European Vacation, my friend and I experienced several obstacles. Her brand-new bag was ruined, cracked, and a wheel was missing, the lines for passport check-in were extremely long and we stood in line for hours to get through. When we finally made it to our gate, an announcement came over the intercom that our plane was delayed. Travel is no longer for the faint of heart!
When we finally arrived home, it was the last day I could sign up for City Council and it closed at 5:00 p.m. The next morning, I took my flight information for proof that the flight was delayed, and out of my control. The city recorder said a deadline is a deadline. Even with this proof, you cannot add me to the ballot? I was told that I’d have to run another time. At age 65, running for office at a later-time, didn’t feel like a good option. I mean, gee, I am not a spring chicken anymore!
I was told I could sign up and run as a “Write-In” candidate. I’ve served on many campaigns in the past, and I knew that a “Write-In” candidate has about a 1% chance to win. Who wants those kinds of odds?!
This brought me to a very important question.
* Do I have the courage to put in the other 99% effort to win?
I started to strategize ways I could make this happen when the odds were against me.
I ordered and bought large and small signs, and I had friends who helped me place them in strategic areas. It was a little strange to see myself on these signs, but it was important for people to recognize me.
I decided that I could do this if I campaigned the old-fashioned way and met people face-to-face. I went to the County building and paid $50 for a huge map of Santa Clara. It was big enough to show all the streets and house numbers. I challenged myself to walk the whole city of Santa Clara and I knocked on doors each day except Sunday. I averaged 6-7 miles of walking per day. If you have the step app, it’s about 14,000 steps per day. When I came home from a subdivision or street, I would highlight that part of the map to keep track of where I had been.
When people answered their doors, I would mention I was that crazy lady on those signs out there! They would then realize that is where they’d seen me before. It helped the short conversation as I handed them my door hanger with all my information on it. If people were not home, I had a personal post-it note I wrote the previous day, saying that I was sorry to miss them and hoped I could earn their vote. I enjoyed meeting the people of Santa Clara, that I wanted to represent some day.
This experience was a win-win situation. I realized that even if I didn’t win, I met my goal to walk the whole city, I met many knew people and I got good exercise. I am proud to say that my efforts paid off and I won a seat on the city council.
Next time the odds are only 1% chance for you to be successful at something you desire, ask yourself to remember these important points.
- Determine that you can see your success.
- Feel yourself doing what you desire.
- Have the Courage to take action.
All of us can be crowned with courage if we take these steps!