A Look Ahead

Well, after the giant dumpster fire that was my 2018 reading list, I’m setting the bar at 55 books this year. For a book to be “counted” that means reading the first page, the last page, and every page in between. No skimming, no summaries, no cheating.

While I’ve been known to finish the year with a quick re-read of Seth Godin (short) masterpiece “The Dip” … I ordinarily do not let the length of the book or the time it will take to finish influence my selections.

This year, I’m starting off with The Life of Elizabeth I by Allison Weir, albeit not the super cool leather bound edition pictured below.

Check out the rest of what I’m reading this year on my Medium post here: https://medium.com/@nicoleschlinger/a-look-ahead-what-ill-be-reading-in-2019-nicole-schlinger-book-reviews-25611f057968 

What are you looking forward to reading this year? Leave me a comment or shoot me an email.

Thanks,

Nicole

Nicole Schlinger, President of Campaign Headquarters

I’m Not Mad About It

Not long ago, Politico Magazine published an interesting article titled, “The Hardest Glass Ceiling in Politics.”

 

It’s an interesting read, focused on Republican and Democratic women involved in politics. Throughout the article, a Republican female consultant from Iowa is quoted anonymously.

 

Given the context of the article, I felt the need to speak out that the person quoted in this article is NOT me. In fact, I lead a team of mostly men, and the women on my team are anything but tokens.

 

 

There are times when I am the only woman at the table, and that’s fine.

 

Nicole Schlinger Greg Abbott
Quick shot with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

My clients are smart enough to want me at the table, so that’s where I’ll stay.

 

Looking for smart, capable people who are experts at winning campaigns? Give us a call 1-888-722-4704.

Thanks,

Nicole

Nicole Schlinger, President of Campaign Headquarters

Fun Friday – What We Do Is Rewarding

For your Fun Friday this week, I’m sharing some happy news from Brooklyn. Campaign Headquarters was recently  named as a Reed Award Finalist for Best Use of SMS (Republican), Best Live Phone Call, and Best Use of a Telephone Townhall.

 

The real reward is helping elect great conservative candidates to office.

Thank you to all the clients who have chosen us for your important work,

Nicole

The Best Thing to Happen to Productivity

You may have heard me talk about Bullet Journaling, especially if you’ve been following along over on my Medium page, where I’m documenting my current reading material.

I’m not sure why it took Ryder Carroll so long to write this book, but I’m glad he did.

Essentially, Ryder Carroll wants you to use colored pens, recopy things when you migrate from one notebook to the next, take time to decorate and set up your notebook so that your mind can truly soak in and process all of the information.

The Bullet Journal method encourages you to just put everything in one place and keep it there.

Need more of a push to get you started?  The New York Times recently posted an article titled, “The Case for Using a Paper Planner.” 

 

From my experience, over the years, taking the time to gather and put those ideas in a special place I can reference again and again is priceless.

Now, I take issue with his belief that you must use a fixed notebook, in which you do not add or remove pages. I carry detailed, permanent reference materials and logs in my notebook that would take hours to recopy (at no real value).

Nicole Schlinger’s actual bullet journal

I’d encourage you to give it a try, or at the very least, give Ryder Carroll’s book a read.

Thanks for following,

Nicole Schlinger, President of Campaign Headquarters

Nicole

Start Your New Year Off Right

Now that we’re getting settled into 2019, I thought I’d give you the perfect way to start your year off right – with 5 good books for you to try.

If you’re new here, you should know I’m a book lover and I am constantly looking for good recommendations and enjoy sharing a few thoughts of my own. In fact, I started a Medium page solely dedicated to book reviews. Be sure to follow it here https://medium.com/@nicoleschlinger 

Anyway, here are my Top 5 reads from last year – you should pick these up today.

1. Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue, by Ryan Holiday

Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue
An NPR Book Concierge Best Book of 2018!A stunning story about how power works in the modern age–the book the New York…www.amazon.com

2. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup – Kindle edition by John Carreyrou. Download it once and read…www.amazon.com

3. Sales Differentiation: 19 Powerful Strategies to Win More Deals at the Prices You Want by Lee B. Salz (Nicole Schlinger book review coming soon!)

Sales Differentiation: 19 Powerful Strategies to Win More Deals at the Prices You Want
“If we don’t drop our price, we will lose the deal.” That’s the desperate cry from salespeople as they try to win deals…www.amazon.com

4. Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio

Principles: Life and Work
1 New York Times Bestseller “Significant…The book is both instructive and surprisingly moving.” -The New York Times…www.amazon.com

5. Hetty: The Genius and Madness of America’s First Female Tycoon by Charles Slack

Hetty: The Genius and Madness of America’s First Female Tycoon
When J. P. Morgan called a meeting of New York’s financial leaders after the stock market crash of 1907, Hetty Green…www.amazon.com

 

Conspiracy and Bad Blood were full of action and adventure. Conspiracy was the story behind Peter Thiel’s decade-long quest for revenge against Nick and Gawker. Bad Blood was the larger than life, almost unbelievable tale of the rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.

Sales Differentiation delivers much more than its fishy title implies. It’s a real, how-to guide for giving your customers extraordinary value.

Principles by Ray Dalio is an instant classic. It delivers on its promise as an operating system for life and work. (And even suggests that we should not try separating the two.)

And last by not least … Hetty. You probably didn’t learn about Hetty Green in public school. She was caricatured and ridiculed in life and death. So much of what’s said about her is an exaggeration, and never … ever flattering. This is the true story of the first female tycoon in America. It’s not pretty. But I challenge you to come away from this book without respect and admiration for this American pioneer.

I hope you’ll pick up a new book this year.

 

Thanks for reading,

Nicole

Fun Friday – Secret Library?

A friend who knows me sent me this story about a guesthouse in upstate New York that has been turned into a secret library in the woods.

The delightful dwelling comes furnished with everything you need to leaf through a good book: a big, fluffy bed, snug armchair, and, of course, a wall-to-wall selection of reading material. A charming wood-burning stove heats the 200-square-meter space, so you’ll always be nice and toasty no matter the weather.

Ah yes, now to figure out how to get one of these in Iowa. You can read more about the structure here and see more delightful photos.

Secret Library Hidden in the Woods Is Every Bibliophile’s Dream Come True

 

Have a great weekend,

Nicole

Educate + Influence = Patch Through Calls

Now that the legislative session in Iowa is underway and several statehouses across the country, agendas are being set and bills filed. Very soon, these pieces of legislation will begin moving through the process.

Do you need to educate voters on your issue? Do you need to influence legislators on a bill? We can help. Patch Through calls are incredibly impactful and WILL make a difference in your efforts. Learn more here:

 

Give us a call if we can help 1- (888) 722-4704.

Thanks,

Nicole

Nicole Schlinger always hard at work for CHQ clients

Wrapping Up the Year in Books

I know we closed the books on 2018 a few weeks ago now, but I thought I’d take a quick look back on the year in terms of books.

Coming in at 38, this is the fewest books I’ve read in a year since I began tracking in 2013.

Like Ryan Holiday says, “I promised myself a long time ago that if I saw a book that interested me, I’d never let time or money or anything else prevent me from having it … Enjoy these books, treat your education like the job that it is, and let me know if you ever need anything.”

I’m setting might sights on 2019 to for more exciting books to come (which I’ll preview in another post). But here is my complete book list for 2018, if you’re interested.

https://medium.com/@nicoleschlinger/my-complete-book-list-for-2018-nicole-schlinger-c15b52dc0f0

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read any of these or suggestions for books to add to my 2019 list.

Keep reading, friends.

Nicole Schlinger, President of Campaign Headquarters