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The
flight leaves in an hour. One journalist is on the line while another
is on hold. Red-eyed from lack of sleep, you put your reading glasses
back on as an aide hands you the results of the latest poll. It's
the life of communications consultant Michael Goldman, who has advised
many of the Democratic presidential candidates of the last few decades.
After
years of serving politicians including Pres. Clinton, Sen. Bill
Bradley, and Sen. Ted Kennedy, Goldman is rarely starstruck. Ironically,
it's heroes from earlier in life who have provided Goldman the rare
thrill on meeting for the first time: an old baseball hero; or the
local weatherman from his childhood home, who was "the person
who decided whether I went to school."
Goldman
is president of the communications consulting firm Goldman Associates,
which provides public relations and consulting services to political
campaigns, nonprofit groups, and private-sector companies. In addition
to Clinton, Bradley, and Kennedy, his list of clients past or present
includes Paul Tsongas, Michael Dukakis, and numerous members of
Congress.
"We
help people articulate messages and help people make the pitch,"
he said. He is known primarily as a political consultant although
political candidates compose only part of his clientele.
"About
95 percent of the public persona of the company is related to campaigns,
but only about 20 percent of the time is dedicated to them,"
he said.
Goldman
describes his job as an "eclectic mixture of communication,
public policy, politics, and education." In addition to consulting
candidates, he implements education and public information campaigns
for nonprofit groups and assists in crisis communication for private
companies, "but only related to broad public questions."
"We
put our credibility on the line. I deal with reporters the day before,
the day of, and the day after. Clients depend on us never to lead
them astray," he said. "People don't know what to say.
We help them clarify their message."
Goldman
became interested in political consulting by accident. He never
expected to attend college, but enrolled as an alternative to the
draft during the Vietnam War. Coming from a blue-collar neighborhood
where politics was important, he expressed in an interest in political
science and, while a student, campaigned for Robert Kennedy's bid
for president in 1968.
"I
found I had a knack for it. I didn't mind sleeping on a hardwood
floor, working long hours for little pay, and traveling. I didn't
need the structure most people need," he said.
After
college, Goldman worked for state and local governments in administrative
capacities and created his consulting firm in 1979. He attributes
his success to a mixture of personality, luck, patience, and the
willingness to work 16-hour days.
Goldman,
who is also an adjunct professor of communication at Emerson College,
teaches political science classes at Tufts University and hosts
a Saturday morning talkshow on WRKO radio in Boston.
Despite
the taxing schedule, he does not even consider his career to be
work. "I only take the things that I am passionate about,"
he said. "Because my avocation and vocation are the same, it's
like I'm not working."
Goldman
warned that political consulting may not be the field for everyone,
noting that there are fewer political consultants than Major League
Baseball players.
"It's
like Broadway. You do many years in anonymity and make your mistakes
off Broadway," he said. "You have to grunt out a long
time in the trenches. There are few overnight successes. It's a
very, very tough life, especially at the beginning."
Goldman
developed a respectable client list in part by taking his chances.
"I was willing to take risks with underdogs. That's where I
have the most fun," he said.
There
is no particular path for someone is interested in becoming a political
consultant, Goldman said. Some have backgrounds in communication,
writing, or government. "It's a confluence of interests and
an ability to work without a net and in a dysfunctional workplace,"
he said.
In
his experience, Goldman said, education or even the right name are
unimportant in a political career. "Politics is the great equalizer.
Talent drives you forward. You can have the best name in the world
and fail. Talent really does matter."
There
are other fields suitable for those interested in politics, including
fundraising, polling, and policy advocating. And of course, there
is running for office - something Goldman will not do.
"Who
would vote for me? I wouldn't vote for me," he said, citing
differences in skills between being a politician and being a political
consultant.
For
over 30 years, Goldman has been passionate about politics and focused
enough to make it a career. "Politics is like drugs, alcohol,
and gambling: just another addiction," he said.
He
considers himself lucky to have found a career that he loves. "I
reject much more business than I take. I could have made a lot more
money over the years." He added, "Everything I do is what
I want to do."
So
if you are are passionate about politics and do not mind working
long hours, work on your spin doctoring skills, find an underdog
candidate ... and dream on!
-
Zachary Bromer, Salary.com Contributor
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