No matter one’s position on gun control, there are lessons we can learn from the recent battle on background checks. According to Gallup, Over 90% of the public supports background checks for all gun purchases, yet the measure failed to pass the U.S. Senate.

According to most published sources, the reason is simple: the NRA has tons of money and threatened to...]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/05/16/five-reasons-the-nra-won-the-recent-gun-control-debate-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-politics/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/05/01/from-tension-to-trust-building-relationships-across-the-aisle-part-ii/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/05/01/from-tension-to-trust-building-relationships-across-the-aisle-part-ii/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 19:26:06 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1147 In Part One of our post on building trust, we wrote about the need for building trust with those whose philosophy doesn’t align with yours, and how the power of disconfirmation can accelerate that trust.

We’ll...]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/05/01/from-tension-to-trust-building-relationships-across-the-aisle-part-ii/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/04/15/how-special-interests-won-and-lost-the-budget-and-sequester-fights/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/04/15/how-special-interests-won-and-lost-the-budget-and-sequester-fights/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:58:43 +0000 teamxyno http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1144 This blog post first appeared on Forbes.com A couple weeks ago, the U.S. Senate adopted numerous “message” amendments to the 2014 budget resolution.  The message amendments are nonbinding, but reveal the causes that have momentum for the “real” budget fight later. According to The Hill, there were some distinct winners and losers in the battle. Among the winners: Medical device companies, retailers, the oil and gas industry, and seniors groups and unions....]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/04/15/how-special-interests-won-and-lost-the-budget-and-sequester-fights/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/03/19/from-tension-to-trust-building-relationships-across-the-aisle-part-i/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/03/19/from-tension-to-trust-building-relationships-across-the-aisle-part-i/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 03:37:04 +0000 teamxyno http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1142 Read the full blog at K Street Cafe.]]> http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/03/19/from-tension-to-trust-building-relationships-across-the-aisle-part-i/feed/ 0 http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/02/19/own-the-awkward-and-three-other-presentation-lessons-from-senator-marco-rubios-state-of-the-union-response/ http://showaltergroup.com/blog/2013/02/19/own-the-awkward-and-three-other-presentation-lessons-from-senator-marco-rubios-state-of-the-union-response/#comments Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:16:12 +0000 Amy Showalter http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1139 This blog post first appeared on Forbes.com It’s that time again to see what, if anything, we can learn from those who have to influence legions of people who do not report to them, do not know them personally, and could not care less about public policy. . . . namely, our elected officials.  This time we have http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1137 This blog post first appeared on Forbes.com

It’s time to reflect upon what we can learn from business involvement in politics during 2012. There is rich material for us to learn from, and I could write about much more than this column allows. However, I have prioritized those concerns that apply to the widest swath of businesses possible. In other words, the big picture.

http://showaltergroup.com/blog/?p=1135 This blog post first appeared on Forbes.com

People with Little Name Recognition Can Yield Great Influence