Thanks to my team at Leadership Breakthrough One, I was forced to face my fear of success and allow others into my life through barriers built over years of mistrust and caution. On top of that, I was a narcissistic jerk, thank you very much.  My team saw through that and would not let me off the hook. My heart felt gratitude goes out to each and every one of them. That weekend, long ago, I declared my wishes to run for the State Senate from our district here in North Dakota.

Rapport’s Power Communication weekend was next, bringing Vicki and I ever closer – something we are still working on!

Leadership Breakthrough Two showed me what a team is capable of, and shortly after gave me the strength to openly state my interest in that senate seat. I was endorsed by the local Republican caucus in late April, and elected on November 7th, 2006 as State Senator Dave Oehlke. 

Between debates and forums, meetings, church dinners, parades, ball games, late night planning sessions and knocking on doors throughout our district every day for the last ten weeks, I know full well that my experiences at Rapport enabled me to stay energized and on task to the very end.  My two running mates and I gained strength and momentum with every new person we greeted.  We ran a positive campaign, a commitment we made early on and a decision we cherished as we watched other campaigns (especially nationally) deteriorate into name calling.

Thanks to Rapport and supportive family and friends, I have expanded my closing circle to include so many more people – I can scarcely believe my good fortune. 

Looking over this letter I realize the letter “I” appears often.  Please, wherever you see that letter, know that the letter includes, among others, all of my Rapport Family.