Better to Win: Hardball Lessons in Leadership, Influence, & the Craft of Politics

Better To Win offers readers a unique, proven perspective on the craft and power of politics. It examines the mindset and machinery involved in the use of power and the sacrifices necessary to affect meaningful change for those who don’t (yet) have a voice in the halls of power.

Bill Wong, a renowned strategist to a bevy of iconic California politicians, provides candid and occasionally Machiavellian advice to those who aspire not only to fight for justice, but to win those fights.

Better To Win shares impactful skills and strategies for change agents and powerful stories of Asian Americans who played and continue to play an important role at the table where decisions are made.

• Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can do much good or defeat evil without power.
• Learn why everything Asian Americans have been taught about leadership and success is wrong.
• Gain insights into campaign leadership and what it takes to win hardball campaigns.
• Read the untold stories of Asian Americans who changed the course of California and U.S. politics.

This book can’t empower you. Your power is already in you. Now that you know, it’s up to you to believe and wield it on behalf of the powerless.

Bill Wong is an award-winning political strategist and author of Better to Win. He is a consummate insider whose formidable political knowledge and influence helped shepherd a historic number of Asian Americans into the halls of power. Bill most recently served as a senior political advisor to California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. As the political director for the California Assembly Democrats, he managed a $25 million budget per cycle and led efforts that resulted in the largest Assembly Democratic majority in over 130 years. He is now a semi-retired political consultant and offers personalized training and coaching for individuals interested in mastering the craft of political influence. He has advised Fortune 100 companies, labor organizations, political action committees, nonprofit organizations, and candidates for local, state, and federal office. For ten years, he was the political director for the Asian American Small Business PAC. Bill is also an expert in mobilizing the emergent advocacy, voting, and fundraising power of AAPI communities. He has been included in Capitol Weekly's Top 100 power list from 2018 to 2021.Bill has over three decades of legislative experience that includes serving as chief of staff to State Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, State Assemblymember Judy Chu, and State Senator Hilda L. Solis, and as legislative director to State Assemblymember Mike Honda. During his tenure in the California State Legislature, Bill successfully developed and guided to passage millions of dollars in state budget funding for essential health and human services programs and groundbreaking legislation on Asian and Pacific Islander issues, wildlife conservation, revenue and taxation policy, and hate crime enforcement.He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor degree in Asian American Studies at the University of California at Davis and has returned to the university as a guest lecturer. Bill has been a guest on public radio and on Current TV's War Room with Jennifer Granholm as a Democratic strategist and expert on AAPI voters. He has been frequently quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Politico, and CalMatters.Bill previously held leadership positions in numerous state and local community organizations and civic commissions, including United States Electoral College (2000) California elector and Sacramento City Planning commissioner. He has received numerous awards for campaigns and community service, including: Campaigns & Elections magazine's Reed Award, California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Foundation API Heritage Month Award for Public Service, California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Award for Leadership, California Democratic Party API Caucus Trailblazer Award, Asian Enterprise Magazine Special Advocate of the Year Award, and Asian Pacific Islander Capitol Association Unsung Hero Award.To learn more or contact Bill, visit www.BettertoWin.com.