Growing up playing hockey, there was a common phrase said among the teams I played on – never out of the fight. Typically, that was a rallying cry when games were not going well or when the other team scored a goal. It was a reminder to everyone on the team, that no matter how challenging the task ahead looked, we were never out of the fight.

I think back to the New England Patriots improbable Super Bowl championship against the Atlanta Falcons when they were down 28-3. It would have been easy to pack up and just let the game slip away. But the Patriots and Tom Brady had the “never out of the fight” mentality. One play at a time, they kept chipping away and pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Being a rabid sports fan, I often think about lessons I’ve learned from sports and implement them into politics and lobbying. Much like sports, how much you win by doesn’t matter, it is do you have the necessary 56 votes in the House, 20 votes in the Senate, and a governor willing to sign your bill? Having 90 or 110 votes in the House is great, but you don’t get any extra credit.

Similarly, when working a challenging issue, I often remind myself, you’re never out of the fight.  When hitting legislative obstacles, or are short votes, packing up and taking the loss is never an option. It is about finding unique and new avenues to work. Identify creative solutions, sharpen the messaging, build a stronger coalition, and turn over every possible rock to get the job done. The mentality is not complicated, Never Out of the Fight. However, the execution is difficult. But when your mentality is locked in, you can achieve success when no one else thought it was possible.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.