Awaiting the State of the Union

As we await the newly re-elected president's address to congress and the nation, we look for some major initiatives to come out.  And what are most people saying they will be?

• Tax / Deficit / Budget reform
• Gun Control
• Health Care strengthening

Everyone wants to know, what will those reforms be?

The Presidential State of the Union in 2012 - AP

The bigger question to ask is, will any of it actually happen?

With a deadlocked congress, an unwilling Senate and an obstinate House... there is only one way to get anything through.

Over reach

Lay out the case for every single possible thing you could ever want.  A political version of an eight year old's Christmas List.

Then negotiate down.

The compromise will be exactly what he wanted in the first place - another raising of the debt ceiling for a period of time, a few reforms to gun licensing (enough to keep the purists at bay and the stalwarts happy), and maybe a budget...

How can this strategy work for your organization?  How can you get what you want by asking for too much?  But even more importantly...

What is your organization asking for in the first place?