So you’ve been thinking about cable and your city for a while now. You think it’s a good idea and you’re thinking of telling your boss, electorate, whomever.
Here’s a few helpful hints before you do:
- Develop a sense of humor about yourself. If you don’t, everyone else will.
- Grow a thick skin. Deeply related to the previous hint. People will have all manner of things to say about you. The nice things they’ll say to your face.
- Know your numbers. If you’re lucky, the people you’re up against won’t know theirs. If you’re even luckier, they will.
- Never underestimate the power of fear and ignorance. That’s what you’ll be up against. Constantly.
- Show people this website.
- Ask for help. The network of cable advocates is growing quickly and we’re all in the same boat. Plug in to that network and lean on it.
- Be honest.
- Be up front with the stupidity of the idea. Then show why it’s not stupid.
- Be patient. At first it will take months to convince just one person. But within months, you’ll learn how to do it in weeks. Within weeks, you’ll learn how to do it in days. Within days, hours. Within hours, minutes.
- Have fun. Cable’s fun. You like fun, don’t you?
- Use pictures.
- Forget about what you’d use cable for. Inspire people to imagine how they’d use cable if they were making the decisions.
- Know cable’s limits. Don’t suggest cable can compete with a subway.
- Challenge cable’s limits. Figure out how cable could compete with a subway.
- Talk to everyone.