Strategic Strikes: Mastering Your Communications in the Cage Match of Public Opinion

by Patrick Riccards

Strategic Strikes is not for the faint-hearted communicator. Patrick Riccards—a veteran strategist with decades in political warfare, crisis PR, and nonprofit leadership—offers a blunt, battle-tested guide to mastering communications when the stakes are high and the plan’s gone to hell.

Drawing parallels between strategic communications and mixed martial arts, Riccards shows that survival isn’t about polish—it’s about instinct, precision, and pressure-tested strategy. From corporate disasters to campaign collapses, his stories reveal what really works when you’re backed into a corner and the cameras are rolling.

You’ll learn how

Spot and counteract bias in media and public perceptionStrike first with messaging that hits—and sticksRead your audience like a fighter reads an opponentNo buzzwords. No fluff. Just the hard truths about how to lead communications under pressure, drawn from real-world experience. If you’re tired of stale PR tactics and ready to dominate the narrative, this is your book.

Public opinion is a cage match. Stop dancing. Start striking.

Genres: Self Help

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2025

Reviews

[Lisa Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Riccards’ Strategic Strikes: Mastering Your Communications in the Cage Match of Public Opinion is a brutally effective and indispensable guide for anyone who communicates under fire. Ditching sterile theory and corporate jargon, Riccards delivers a battle plan forged in the high stakes arenas of political combat, crisis PR, and nonprofit advocacy. This book is the antithesis of fluffy PR manuals; it’s a strategic toolkit for narrative warfare.

The core analogy, comparing strategic communications to mixed martial arts, is brilliantly executed and far more than a gimmick. It frames every lesson with visceral clarity: in the cage of public opinion, survival depends on instinct, precision, and the ability to strike decisively when cornered. Riccards doesn’t just preach this mindset; he proves it with gritty, real-world anecdotes from decades on the front lines. You feel the heat of the cameras and the pressure of collapsing campaigns, learning exactly what maneuvers turn the tide.

The actionable strategies are the book’s knockout punch. Riccards provides clear, direct instruction on how to identify and counteract media bias, launch pre-emptive messaging that actually penetrates the noise, and “read” an audience with the analytical precision of a champion fighter studying an opponent’s tells. This is not about crafting a perfect press release; it’s about dominating the narrative ecosystem.

Strategic Strikes is essential reading for leaders, communicators, and anyone tired of losing the public narrative. Riccards’ blunt, no-fluff voice is both a wake-up call and a powerful ally. He equips you not just to participate in the public discourse, but to control it. Stop dancing around the edges. Read this book, step into the cage, and start winning.

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a concise, energizing blueprint for cutting through today’s noise and driving measurable impact. It reads like a strategic wake-up call—clear, grounded, and immediately applicable.

Key learnings that stand out:
Clarity beats complexity. The narrative reinforces that bold, effective action comes from defining a small number of priorities and pursuing them with discipline. Dilution is the enemy of progress.
Communication must be intentional. Impact isn’t just about having the right ideas; it’s about delivering them with purpose, frequency, and authenticity so they break through skepticism and fatigue.
Momentum is built through small, high-leverage moves. Instead of sprawling plans, targeted actions—strategic “strikes”—can reshape conversations, shift public perception, and accelerate change.
Leadership requires courage, not perfection. Progress often depends on stepping forward before conditions are ideal and being willing to learn in public.
Partnership amplifies influence. Sustained success comes from aligning with others who share the mission and multiplying the reach of each effort.

Overall, it’s an uplifting, strategic, and highly practical read—perfect for anyone eager to move from idea to impact with greater confidence and clarity.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I received the Kindle eBook as part of a lottery. It was a good read and the fact it followed 100 Days, it balanced and expanded my knowledge of "the communication game."

[Deanna]

I wasn’t able to read this. It didn’t upload to the kindle app correctly. Each “page” was only a paragraph and when you clicked on it the paragraph was off center.