THE WINSOME CANDIDATE

By Dan Snell

From his experience and history of working for the Reagan campaign to meeting 5 US Presidents and serving in local politics, Dan has a love for the people he serves and the way politicians connect with their constituents.

The definitive Winsome Guide to winning in politics from both sides of the aisle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BEYOND PUBLISHING
• Release date: Feb 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781637925898

Dan Snell

'America's Winsomeologist', Dan Snell, has walked and shared a journey of success as well as encouraging others toward their dreams and goals. Snell's life of looking for the good in each person, and in every day and life situation via a 'see others first' outlook has garnered him great success and a lifelong legacy of personal and business relationships that echo throughout the world.Dan Snell grew up in small town USA. That Nebraska, heartland of America, upbringing set the foundation for the spirit, outlook and 'can do' attitude that today brings forth this winsome way message. Snell has achieved success in the world of business, sports, politics, public speaking and ministry. His interest in public service led him to be active in politics and community service for the last 30+ years. Along that journey he's met and shaken hands with five US Presidents, held elective political office for 10 years, developed leadership and economic development programs. He also served to lead campaigns for other winning candidates. Dan understands and believes what true 'winsome' public service is about and has lived that out and taught that successfully.Professionally, Snell garnered top awards in sales and management. Earning over 10 President's Clubs for top achievers, once being awarded the 'Best of the Best' in healthcare sales at Kronos, his unique, enthusiastic and winsome style helped all around him succeed. Dan understands and carries a clear understanding of the energy, creativity and the 'work smart' style that it takes to win the day and be a true champion in sales and sales management. Snell's faith stands as a foundation for many of his life principles. The experiences and fruit of those beliefs inspired Snell to speak at major men's, family and fathering conferences. He was the co-founder of a national ministry to serve stepfamilies, the largest family demographic in America today. Dan co-hosted the 'first-of-it's-kind' ever national radio program to step families, called 'Blended Family Today'.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

When you see something that needs to be done, and no one is willing to do it, step forward and be the Leader, Son.

~ L. D. Snell (my dad)

America is set for renewal. A revival of public service. It begins in your WINSOME heart!

You have opened this book because you have an interest in politics, which was public service in its origin, seems to burn in your heart. Perhaps you are hungry for something different than what you see today in Washington and even in your local home associations. And you want change for a different world than you have been experiencing. You are not alone.

A recent national poll tells us:

Seven out of ten people are fed up with politics and politicians.

Three out of ten doubt that the future for their children will be better,

90-percent-plus are fed up with news and commentary from polarized networks (CNN, FOX, etc.)

We have walked through so many new experiences in these last 40 years. We experienced unprecedented disasters and events both positive and negative. Americans have always looked to their leaders, from the president on down to their local mayor to provide a strong, steady, and calming hand.

America has experienced swings of highs and low with their patriotism and faith in government.

That brings you and I to one of the reasons this book was written: we are currently living in a true roller coaster ride when it comes to politics. Our foundation as a nation, as individuals, as families, and in our abilities to feel good about ourselves and our future, is impacted by leadership from the White House to the leaders on Main Street in your hometown. From the boardrooms to the kitchen tables, nobody feels the confidence we should have.

The economy, national security, healthcare and health events, education, and the spirit of the country, are faltering and stumbling. People see our national leaders as living a woesome way of daily soundbites.

We see true lack of leadership from Washington’s political climate. The ideas of elected officials working together for the nation’s good left us. That Washington brokenness has sadly become our leading arena of woe some behavior. This includes both political parties and media at various levels. Working for one’s own specific agendas has become the norm: the other side must be bad, so my side can be right. We see our capitol as a place that no longer fosters leadership and unity, but instead, is a place of negativity and a ‘make wrong machine’ style that shouts daily and from every news outlet again and again, They are bad, and I am good.

That is why I wrote this book, and you and I are together on another winsome journey. To renew the American Spirit. To lift up and encourage people. Foremost, encourage just one person this moment—and that is YOU—to believe in America again, in leadership, and what you can do; to get engaged and hold in your heart, mind, soul and efforts the lessons of the Winsome Candidate. Will you join me in this journey?

The concepts of The Winsome Candidate are gleaned from years of being a student of politics, leadership, and worldwide people who have impacted lives—people like Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, Robert Bobby Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Abraham Lincoln, Tip O’Neill, Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and more.

I also hold real life experience. I spent five terms and 10 years in an elected office from multiple appointments and serving on boards. I learned each and every moment. I learned that I am but a servant. A public servant.

I was asked in 1980 to chair Ronald Reagan’s primary campaign in Lancaster County, NE. I was young. Reagan was 69 and was considered old, and they wanted young people to support him. Today, he would be the youngster. As I write, both presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, are 74 and 77, respectively.

In my personal circles, I was blessed to have the mentorship, loyalty, and trust of some very good leaders, of men and women who saw something in me and wanted to help. I carry them in my heart. I thank them often when I remember a quote, an encouraging moment, a teachable moment, or even a challenge or reprimand.

I also continue to be an admirer of the giants, leaders, and public servants, and I learn from the greats of society who poured their lives into inspiration, motivation, and leadership—like, Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, W. Clement Stone, Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, Steve Harvey, Tony Robbins, Joel Osteen, Beth Moore, John Maxwell, Louise Hay, Les Brown, Mel Robbins, Eric Thomas, Brendon Burchard, Tom Ziglar—the proud son of Zig Ziglar—and so many others. While I lay no claims to standing alongside these giants of positivity and inspiration in any way, there is, without a doubt, an ‘enthusiasm deficit’ in our world today. The Winsome Candidates offers ideas that you can use to grow your involvement in your local community, state, and nation.

The Winsome Candidate is in your hands to develop in you a fearless boldness: the desire to improve life at the local, state, and national levels. In each of us, there is a moment where we sense a call to arms. That call could be a school board, a city office, a local board, a state, or national office, or it might even come by serving as a volunteer on a local committee. When you feel that small, still voice, step forward!

You may be holding this book in your hand because:

You are searching for a path to get engaged in public service.

You’re helping a candidate run for office and want to share a good concept with him/her.

You see local and national politics of today and say, There has got to be a better way.

A friend or relative handed you this book and said, Read and go run for office.

You just saw something on your cell phone and said to yourself, Enough is enough!

You’re at church, a community club, or neighborhood group and politics arise.

You heard that, on average, winsome candidates get elected two-to- one over negative candidates.

You want the positivity and energy you heard me express on a TV or radio broadcast.

We just met at an event, an airport, a restaurant, or coffee shop, and we connected.

You heard about this ‘winsome’ retreats sweeping the country and wanted to be a part.

You’re looking for a different approach to leadership.

You are sitting in an audience. I am speaking on the stage. Let me sign your book!

Whatever the scenario, America’s best years are ahead! And we begin today. Right now.

Our society lacks the joy, excitement, and enthusiasm about our leaders, when we should truly feel it. We seem to measure and support the woe some and negative comments or moments that pop up via social media—Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, Twitter, or other sites—too often.

Throughout the book, you’ll discover WINSOME-ISMS that might become set points, key memory makers, or concepts that truly stick with you or candidates as a campaign goes forward.

One such WINSOME-ISM is the three-letter acronym, WLM, which stands for Winsome Leadership Moment. Which means we are witnessing a moment where a leader chooses to be positive, encouraging, and solution-oriented, versus being the woe some method of attack, blame, degradation, denial, or deflection. Too often, we do not celebrate positive leadership moments, big or small. Inside, we feel it, but something says do not show your excitement– and I say, tell that voice to jump in the lake.

The next time you see a candidate focus on the positive and be upbeat and winsome, stand up and say, Yes… I’m seeing a winsome leader at work! A WLM! Celebrate yourself and leaders on this journey! As communities and a nation, we will thrive and shine once we fully get the winsome way planted in our hearts, when we focus on the seven letters of WINSOME—as we will outline in this book. A WINSOME CANDIDATE will stand out!

Look back at this last year of campaigning. If you, your family, your friend, your spouse, or someone close to you went negative on someone running for office, ask them, What is the good in your candidate?

Right now, you are reading this book and are, perhaps, wanting a breakthrough from the too-often negative shackles of politics and society. Research shows only about two in ten people will truly speak positive words aloud. Those other eight—and I believe you do not want to be a part of them, because you’re reading this book—are conditioned to lock down and bridle their enthusiasm for happiness or even a big