"All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin."
--John F. Kennedy, Inauguration Speech, January 20, 1961

I am 28 years old.  I've never been a political activist.  I'm not even really an extrovert.  My humble and somewhat shy Midwestern upbringing is a creed with the motto "to each his own".  As a result, I'm not exactly the kind of person you'd usually see shaking hands and kissing babies trying to be elected.

But I've taken chances before.  I work in sales.  Not exactly the kind of profession for a shy introvert who thinks convincing people to do something is a little bit rude and intrusive.  I'm more the anti-salesman.  I keep the conversation going until people convince themselves that they need what I'm selling.  But would this sort of subversive style of persuasion translate in a campaign?  My gut answer is no. 

For some ridiculous reason, however, I've made it a goal to run for public office.  Maybe I just like to torment myself.  Maybe my subconscious likes to watch me twist in the wind until I come running back to my comfort zone with my tail between my legs.  Maybe, though, just maybe I've convinced myself it's an opportunity to do something bigger than who I currently am, to grow beyond myself and help change the world around me.

Regardless, one fact is very clear.  I am wholly inexperienced in political campaigns.  Don't get me wrong, this isn't some cockeyed ideal to get elected in a year, or even two or four or even more years from now.  This is a long term goal, not a Sarah Palin seat of my pants and in over my head style goal.  I'm deluded, yes, but not that deluded.  I know Africa is a continent and I can't even see Nebraska from my house.

Here's my initial groundwork in operation Moldy Squirrel (I checked and the DoD has yet to use this name for a field operation in either Iraq or Afghanistan):

1. Read.  Everything I can about organizing, recruiting, fundraising, and just getting my message out there.  Oh, and I'll probably want to read something about forming a good message too.
2. Volunteer.  You learn best by doing, right?  The City Commission elections here are in 2009.  Might as well hitch my cart to one of the candidates and get a firsthand education in the whole process.
3. Study.  Democracy for America Training Camp.  Camp Wellstone.  Take time off to study and learn with the best.
4. Talk.  I am an adequate speaker and have little trouble in front of crowds.  I am not a seasoned persuader nor do I argue well.  Again, the whole Midwestern "to each his own" mantra poisoning my work.  I need to learn to talk to people and communicate my message with them succinctly and effectively.
   

Of course, this is only the first four feet of a thousand mile journey I've made for myself.  These four bullet points alone will not get me anywhere until they all have been mastered from repeated trial and error until I have an effective system that works for me.

Only after I've put in hundreds of sleepless nights and countless hours of overtime, only after I've stuffed thousands of envelopes, dialed thousands of numbers, and knocked on every door in town twice, and only after I've gained the respect (and notoriety) of those around me, then and only then will I be ready for my own campaign.  Like I said, I'm in this for the long haul.  I'm in this for the endless hard work, for the marriage crushing nights away from home, and soul wrenching dirty work of political ground warfare.

But, most of all, I'm in this to do more than sit on the couch and yell at Fox News.  I'm in this to make a difference in my little corner of the world.  Afterall, isn't that how any good thing has ever been done ever?