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Okay my friend, let’s talk about something unexpected – campaign strategy as a business masterclass. Stay with me here! ✨

The Real Tea: Why I Picked Up This Book

You know how the best business advice sometimes comes from the weirdest places? Like when your abuela’s cooking tips suddenly make your project management click?

That’s exactly why I grabbed “The Year That Broke Politics” by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager, and Isaac Arnsdorf. Not because I’m into politics (trust me, I’m not), but because presidential campaigns are basically startups on steroids – and there’s SO much we can learn from them!

Lesson #1: Your Right-Hand Person is Everything

Here’s what caught my attention right away – before doing ANYTHING else, Trump found his operations genius: Susan Wiles.

Think about it like this: You wouldn’t open a restaurant without a chef you trust, right? Same principle. She handled the fires, found the right people, and advised on areas where she was the expert.

Your takeaway: Before scaling, find YOUR Susan Wiles – that one person who complements your weaknesses and keeps things running when you’re focused on the big picture.

Lesson #2: Study What Worked (And What Didn’t)

The team spent serious time analyzing:

• What worked in 2016 ✅
• What totally flopped ❌
• What their competition did well
• Where the competition was weak

It’s like when you’re planning to open a taco stand – you don’t just guess! You check out every taquería in town, see what makes people line up, and notice what makes them walk away.

Simple action step: Grab a notebook and write down 3 things that worked in your business last year and 3 that didn’t. That’s your starting point!

Lesson #3: Find Your Forgotten Audience

This part blew my mind – instead of going after everyone (rookie mistake!), they identified super specific groups that nobody was talking to. Young men who felt overlooked. Rural communities that felt forgotten.

En serio, this is Marketing 101 but hardly anyone does it right! It’s not about reaching everyone; it’s about deeply connecting with someone.

Try this: Who’s NOT being served in your industry? What group feels forgotten? That might be your goldmine.

Lesson #4: Meet People Where They Actually Are

When Barron Trump suggested podcasts over TV ads, it was a game-changer. Why? Because their audience wasn’t watching traditional TV anymore!

Think of it like this – if your customers are all on WhatsApp, why are you spending all your time on LinkedIn? 🤔

The campaign also hired two twenty-somethings to run social media. Sometimes fresh eyes see what we can’t!

Real talk: Where does YOUR audience actually hang out? Not where you think they should be, but where they really are?

Lesson #5: Turn Your “Weaknesses” Into Strengths

Whether it was the McDonald’s french fries moment or the garbage truck situation, they stayed true to their brand and turned potentially negative moments into viral content.

You know what? Your “too casual” style might be exactly what makes you relatable. Your accent might be what makes you memorable. Stop trying to be corporate if that’s not you!

Lesson #6: Network Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does!)

JD Vance wasn’t even on the original VP list! But people in Trump’s network kept bringing up his name. That’s the power of having advocates in different circles.

Mi consejo: You need people talking about you in rooms you’re not in. Build genuine relationships, help others first, and watch how it comes back around.

Lesson #7: Build on Strong Foundations

When Kamala Harris took over the campaign, she inherited a shaky foundation – divided teams, unclear messaging, limited time. It’s like trying to renovate a house while living in it during a hurricane!

This reminds me why we need to build strong operational foundations BEFORE we scale. You can’t fix the plane while flying it, amigo.

Your Tiny First Step Today 🚀

Pick ONE lesson from above. Just one! Maybe it’s finding your “Susan Wiles,” or identifying your forgotten audience, or finally showing up where your people actually are.

Whatever you pick, take 15 minutes today to brainstorm how this applies to YOUR business. No fancy business plan needed – just you, a piece of paper, and honest thoughts.

The Bottom Line

Look, I’ll never run for office (can you imagine? 😅), but these strategic lessons apply whether you’re selling empanadas or enterprise software. It’s all about:

• Building the right team
• Learning from wins AND losses
• Finding YOUR people
• Staying authentic
• Leveraging your network

Remember: You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from completely different industries. So stay curious, keep learning, and remember – we’re all just figuring it out as we go!

¿What surprised you most from these lessons? Hit reply and let me know – I love hearing how you’re applying this stuff to your own journey!

Cheers,
Gaby