The Stone Mover: Awakening and Empowering the Advocate in All of Us

By Mark Riso

Advocacy in public policy is all about moving mountains as it relates to understanding that it’s all about the stone. Ultimately, in the public policy arena, we are all lawmakers who can move mountains when we accept that we are all empowered in a democracy. Nothing is unattainable…and the key to moving the mountain is our passion and focusing on the stone. I’ve been an advocate/public policy professional/lobbyist my entire personal and professional life – it’s been a way of life that I would encourage anyone to explore. Here’s more about what I think…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781796050264

Mark Riso

Mark Riso is a national public policy professional, lobbyist, and public speaker, with over three decades of public policy - advocacy experience on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. – with an expertise in the legislative, regulatory, and political processes. His insight into the world of advocacy at the national, state, and local levels, will inspire and challenge you to understand the advocate in you.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Mark Riso.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019917549

ISBN:       Hardcover                     978-1-7960-5028-8

                 Softcover                       978-1-7960-5027-1

                 eBook                             978-1-7960-5026-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 03/03/2020

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

800394

38255.png

CONTENTS

38260.png

Preface

Introduction

Involvement: A Nation Has Your Back

The ROI in American Politics

Put on Your Social Media Big-Person Pants

The Political Power of a Cupcake

Don’t Tell My Mother I’m a Lobbyist

I’m an American Picker

The Advocate

The Political Speed Round

37872.png

PREFACE

37867.png

W HEN I DECIDED to write about my experiences following over three decades of service in our nation’s political and public policy processes on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, I sincerely intended and hoped to educate and to inspire, stimulate, provoke, challenge, and awaken thought in terms of the advocate that I believe is in all of us but forgotten or never realized. You see, for all the anger—of which I’m well aware—leading to the negativity toward the work in our nation’s capital, I’m supremely confident and believe in the purity of the kinship of this nation’s founding ideals.

I understand that in these times, and considering current events, this is a bold statement perhaps, most likely lost on many. Yet that, in and of itself, highlights my point. It’s about commitment. Regardless of any actions taken by either body of Congress, any regulatory agencies, the administration, and state legislative and regulatory bodies, our nation has built-in checks and balances brilliantly designed and structured to navigate any rogue behaviors. One must recognize and appreciate, as well as be comfortable and work with these balances while embracing the vision of our nation’s ideals, thereby leading to opportunities to begin to move a mountain.

By virtue of our citizenship and those seeking citizenship, we’ve all been afforded a generous lifetime opportunity to not only get involved but also to achieve as a result of the freedom of involvement. We all have a stake in and responsibility for those opportunities. I’m proud to have been a part of many public policy success stories in Washington DC that have made a difference in the lives of many. I’ve also been part of many stories whose success have not yet been realized. I look forward to our continued work.

As I wrote in the beginning, my goals in writing this series include inspiring, provoking, and teaching thought. The goal is to lead embracing one’s understanding and ownership of one’s soul, the bright pathway in the pursuit to success through public policy based on our nation’s vision. And it’s all very real based on my experiences.

What I’ve found while writing this series, though unexpected and to my great and pleasant surprise, is that this time of self-reflection has ignited more inspiration in me, provoked more thought in me, rejuvenated stimulation in me, and taught me more about myself. Which is perhaps subconsciously the real reason I’ve done this. It’s been a healthy journey, and I look forward to expressing my thoughts in this book series The Stone Mover.

I was driven into a career of advocacy for only one reason: the purity to make a difference and to do good. This book series is not an attempt to persuade or influence anyone that the processes in Washington DC are pure, though many wonderful causes most have never heard of have succeeded based on advocacy. That is more than a shame, but it is reality. My career has been ultimately positive. Though I’ll admit to a fault, I truly love the games of politics. And while I’ve succumbed