Winning Edge

#16 Cheerful Persistence


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  • Imagine being a Republican elected to Congress in 1978 during Jimmy Carter's presidency
  • The Republican caucus was full of well-intentioned but beaten-down members who had been in the minority too long
  • Newt Gingrich faced repeated setbacks in trying to gain a majority in Congress
  • Despite election losses in 1980, 1982, and 1984, Gingrich and his allies chose a path of cheerful persistence
  • Gingrich wrote in "The Making of a Majority" that cheerful persistence was a survival skill
  • They worked cheerfully every day to accomplish what they could and adjusted when faced with failures
  • In today's shifting political landscape, the lesson remains: succeed by cheerfully persisting, shaking off losses, and focusing on what we can control
  • Our strength lies in our ability to adapt, fight, and cheerfully persist – this is our Winning Edge


For more insights on navigating political challenges, refer to the accompanying one-page PDF.



Winning Edge gives you the tools you need to lead and influence in the political and policy arenas. Every other week, Winning Edge releases short (approximately 5-minute) spots—or “snacks”—focused on one of four areas: fundraising, media, policy, or persuasion.

For more, visit our website: www.thecommonwealthpartners.com.

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Winning EdgeBy Commonwealth Partners