Brent Nyitray
Fairlington Blade
Let the mutherfuker burn!
jnc4p
Kevin S. Willis
Michigoose
lmsinca
markinaustin
Arcanaut
novahockey
quarterback
ScottC
yellojktThe Post ran a Style-section article on lobbying.
I thought I’d pass this along. The key point is the importance of understanding the Hill’s culture and developing relationships. That’s tough for someone like me, as I’m such an introvert that it doesn’t come naturally. Not shy (necessarily) but the ability work a room full of strangers is draining. Others I know just feed off that. I’m much better at going into an office and talking policy and proposed solutions. But even that’s tough, until I realized, that “oh crap, I know this stuff better than anybody here. And I don’t know shit!”
But it’s relationships and trust that make this work or not, and if I can’t do that I wonder if this is the best fit for me. But the strategy, and the rules and knowing what’s happening is a lot of fun.
Filed under: lobbying |
All Things in Moderation 
Describes me to a T, NoVa. I do great in groups of 4 to 6. Going to a party of 20+ people where I know few of them is rough for me. Moving to the UK was the best thing for me as introversion is the norm. If I was going to get to know anyone, I’d have to work outside my comfort zone.
BB
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Rosanne and I are both introverts, too. We are perfectly at home dealing with clients and small groups. We have good friends, another couple our age. He is a B School Prof – graduate advisor in Marketing – about to retire. He turns 70 a couple of months before I do. She is a double PhD in Music and Marketing and used to consult on how to use music to drive selling, now retired and playing competitive bridge. They, too, are introverts. We used to see each other twice a month. Now we see each other once a year. What happened? Our mutual friends were a couple wherein the female was an extrovert who planned all of our social lives together. They moved to Boston.
We used to go to big neighborhood parties. Two years ago, our next door neighbors retired [IBM] and bought a lakehouse in east TX. POOF! “Our” extrovert scheduler and amateur party planner was gone!
We still have our neighbors over, as many as 4-6 at a time. We cannot imagine planning a BIG gathering – we would get tired thinking about it.
We will have immediate family and 2 friends for TG.
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FB is spot on with the group thing. 4-6 is my sweet spot.
A few years ago one evening we were triple booked for holiday parties. Either recently married (maybe engaged) either way — I had just gotten comfortable at one party, when it was time to go to the next one. and repeat. it was awful. but she’s an extrovert and just didn’t understand why i was in the fetal position by the end for the night.
but, after explaining it, we no longer do that. it’s one and done. and my wife is really good at making sure i have some down/alone time.
But we like to throw big parties. I guess it’s different for me if i’m hosting — maybe b/c its “my turf”.
I also make a conscience effort not to latch onto somebody at a party and monopolize their time/attention.
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NoVA:
Mine is 2 – 4, because once somebody interrupts me when I ‘m talking I just shut down. But, like you, I used to host large parties at our house–got figure! I always thought that it might be because, when you’re hosting, there’s always something to do.
And, Mark, I’ve noticed the same thing about needing extroverts to arrange things. It’s been exacerbated this past year now that I’m the only “single” in my circle of friends–I really need to work to stay in the mix. Which is probably a healthy thing for me to have to do!
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