Once you've decided to run, you'll need a platform on which to run, and you'll need a clear and catchy message. Your campaign slogan should be concise, to-the-point, and easily remembered by voters. Before you launch your own campaign, research past successful campaigns. See if the current officeholder is willing to meet with you to share any general advice or give you insight into what did or didn't work for them. Look for patterns and try to identify the common characteristics of the successful campaigns and candidates who have proceeded you. However, it's also important that you are willing to do things differently and take risks in your own campaign. You want to be able to set yourself apart, and if you are looking to change the status quo and lead in new and different ways, you'll want to show your voters how you are different and unique. You'll want to advertise your campaign with signs, posters, and buttons. Spend a good amount of time working on a logo and design that pops, sends a strong message, and is visually appealing. You may find it helpful to delegate this task to a member of your team with a background in design or art. Make sure that you set aside room in your campaign budget for "swag" that you can pass out at events: pens, t-shirts, and baked goods with your campaign sticker on them are obvious and relatively cheap options. Think about having slightly more expensive items available for those who are willing to make significant donations or campaign on your behalf: for example, you may want to order some nice tote bags with your logo, or you can special order smart phone or iPad cases with your campaign colors or slogan emblazoned across them. At some point in your campaign, you will either have to give a speech or participate in a debate. Besides needing to be able to clearly articulate your message and plan, you'll need to be able to point to specific evidence to support your position. Gather and memorize the results of relevant studies, surveys or testimonials. For example, if you are campaigning for a city council seat and want to work to help reduce crime, you'll need to be solid on what the current crime statistics are. You should also be able to point to other cities that have successfully been able to deal with similar problems and demonstrate your awareness of their effective strategies. You're going to need cash to pay for all that swag, for your campaign posters and fliers, and to cover your travel costs, among various other expenses. Make it easy for your supporters to donate by setting up a page with sites like Indiegogo.com, Gofundme.com, or Kickstarter.com. Make sure to set some of the money raised aside to cover any associated fees. For example, Kickstarter assesses a 5% fee of the funds raised on successful campaigns, and you'll also have to pay credit card processing fees and taxes. Don't neglect to go the traditional route when raising funds: you're going to have to become comfortable directly asking people for money. Indeed, even if you have an online platform to receive donations, you'll want to begin by networking and making requests in person. You can then direct potential donors to your site, and ask them to refer others to your site. There's no point in beating around the bush when you are fundraising. Let the other person know that you are seeking funds so that you can bring about positive change. Briefly, give them your campaign message (you should have a sound-bite prepared), and then make your request: Tell them, "I could really use your financial help," and then wait for their response. If you don't receive an immediate offer, you may be tempted to prattle on with explanations and pleas, but those who have run successful campaigns suggest that you patiently wait it out until the other person feels pressed to respond. If your initial request is denied, remind the person that any amount will help, even if it's only a few dollars. Don't go just to those who you think have the deepest pockets. You may be surprised at the generosity of those who are less well-off, and even small donations will add up. This is where taking the time to design and order swag will pay off. Make sure that your online fundraising site makes it clear what "gifts" will be awarded at specific donation levels. Besides providing your donors with a small incentive to donate, your gift will serve as a physical reminder of your campaign and could prompt them to get out and vote once the day comes. While it will take extra work and organization, it's important that you personally thank all of those who have donated or volunteered for your campaign. Thank-you notes are still relevant today, so while you should definitely send them, you should avoid sending everyone a message that is clearly formulaic and identical. You may be able to delegate some of the initial work in preparing your thank-you notes to a team member, but in order to make a more lasting impression, be sure to set aside some regular time to go through them yourself to add a hand-written note and signature.
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One-sentence summary -- Create a clear message. Learn from the past. Design an eye-catching logo. Create swag. Research the issues. Start a fundraising site. Fundraise off-line. Ask politely and directly and then wait for an answer. Talk to everyone and anyone when seeking funds. Offer small rewards for contributions. Follow up individually with donors.

You dog acts in a specific way because of an expected reward - whether it be food, play, or attention. When a dog behaves badly, think about what it gets out of it in terms of a reward and then make sure the reward does not happen. Unfortunately, to the canine mind attention is a huge addictive reward which means shouting at your dog or telling him off is only rewarding the bad behavior. Any action can have three possible outcomes: a pleasant one, an uncertain one, or an unpleasant one. What matters is the dog's response to those outcomes. Each outcome evokes a different response. The pleasant outcome, means the behavior is likely to be repeated An indifferent outcome, means the dog may or may not repeat the behavior An unpleasant outcome means the dog is less likely to repeat the behavior. Now when you realize that shouting or chastisement is a reward, it puts a whole different complexion on reacting to bad behavior you are making the problem worse not better. Dogs live in the moment. If your dog chews up your favorite shoe and you don't punish him immediately, your dog won't learn his lesson. If your mother comes home later, discovers the destroyed shoe, and slaps the dog, he will link the punishment to the owner who came home and for no reason slapped him. Thus he becomes wary of the owner. The dog learns nothing about the inherent evils of shoe chewing. Punishment isn't clear for dogs oftentimes. If you catch the dog in the act of chewing a shoe, and tell him off immediately, once again he might simply link the punishment to the owner rather than to the inanimate object he's destroyed. Remember that your dog is a creature of habit. Determine if your dog is boredom or anxious. Boredom and a surplus of energy can turn a normally well-behaved dog into a delinquent. Make sure he has plenty of regular exercise and plenty of opportunity to express physical energy chasing and running. This leaves him happily content when he gets back home and less likely to get up to mischief. If your dog is destructive when you're out, consider that he might be anxious or bored in your absence. Try giving him a toy that will consume his attention for 20 to 30 minutes such as a Kong stuffed with dog food. In hot weather, stuff the Kong and pop it in the freezer overnight, so that he gets a cooling dog-food ice pop to keep his mind occupied whilst your out. The chances are if he gets over the initial half an hour without noticing you're gone then he's more likely to settle down for a nap afterwards.
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One-sentence summary --
Understand that your dog learns by trial and error. Understand that your dog makes direct connections. Think about your dog's routine.