Influence is a Chain Reaction

Whose future are you influencing? Who is influencing you?

Influence is a two-way street. At all times, there is someone looking to us for guidance (whether we know it or not) and our own actions are constantly influenced by our role models, coaches and mentors.

“True success and leadership is about influencing others to achieve their own greatness.  Helping and working with others = Success.” Brooke Griffin

Sphere of Influence

An entrepreneur building a successful business is constantly in the public eye. You and I are meeting people, speaking with them, writing ads, writing blogs, and living our lives. Like it or not, when we are in the process of building a successful business and after we have reached that goal, we are being observed by others. Team members, both those on our team and those who are on other teams, observe our words and actions.

Co-workers, business associates outside our company, and our family and friends all observe us. What about those who read our ads, our social media posts and our blogs? Every week someone speaks to me about starting their day by reading my Facebook posts. In most cases, they have not written a comment to me directly on Facebook; they are people I had no idea were reading my posts.   Your sphere of influence reaches far beyond those of whom you are aware.

“Nothing is as potent as the silent influence of a good example.” James Kent

What Example Are You Delivering

As you go about your daily life, you are leaving a trail behind you of words and actions. You and I are influencing others – it may be with what to do and say, or perhaps on occasion, what not to do or say.

“It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people’s lives.” Clint Eastwood

In the push to hit the leader board for sales, the temptation exists to persuade someone to join who really is not ready to devote the time, energy or resources to building a successful business. Every network marketer has encountered that situation. We are tempted to let our passion and enthusiasm for what we do sweep someone into the team just because we can. When they join because they truly buy-in to our mission and purpose, they are far more likely to be benefit from what we have to offer and to continue participating and producing.

Team members will take their cue from you. Team members who are momentarily swept along by silver tongued rhetoric may join, but probably will not stay. Your goal in building a successful business is to enlist team members who will join, participate, produce, and remain active. Your goal is not only to build a profitable business for yourself, but also to empower them in building a successful business.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.”

Your Influence is Living Out Loud

“A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.”   John Maxwell

How much do you participate in community activities? Are you living your mission of serving others by helping with roadside cleanup, serving on the Thanksgiving food drive, or helping build a playground? There are dozens of worthwhile projects in the community; there is not enough time to participate in all of them, but you can select one. Giving back is setting an example which provides a positive influence for others.

The example you and I set can unlock other people’s potential to become better. You are influencing others. You might as well create a good example for them to follow.

Who is Influencing You

Stop for a moment and list the people you admire most.   What specific traits, actions or achievements inspire you the most about them?  Conduct a little exercise.
Column 1 – List the names of the 3 to 5 people you admire most.

Column 2 – Write the specific traits, actions or achievements of theirs which inspire you.

Glance over the list and circle the traits or actions which they have in common.

Column 3 – Which of these traits do you currently possess and/or would like to develop more fully in yourself?

ACTION – Create a success plan to begin the process. Select one to start. Go for it.

“Surround yourself with people who are really good and really passionate about what they do…positivity and passion make a powerful combination.” Rachael Bermingham

Some of my chief influencers are people I have never met. Reading good books by thought leaders, industry icons and inspirational authors can unconsciously influence my thoughts and actions. Napoleon Hill is one who immediately comes to mind as a man whose wisdom has impacted me even though I never met the man.

Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela have all influenced me. Create your own list of those who have impressed and influenced you. What is there about their words and actions which inspires you to be more and do more?

Community leaders, business associates, friends and family all influence you to some degree. Be careful whose words and actions you are giving free rent in your head. Those thoughts influence you.

Your associations should motivate and inspire you. Your circle of influence should be well rounded, supportive and constructively honest.

Conclusion

Leadership is Influence

The reverse is also true – those who influence you impact your leadership.   Those who influence us will in turn change the way in which we speak and act.

Those who influence us will by extension change the influence we provide to others.

Influence is a chain reaction.

If you find that you are compromising yourself or your morals for the people around you, it’s probably time to change the people around you. Influence is a chain reaction. I am constantly vigilant about the ones I am inviting and unconsciously allowing to influence me.

The ones I allow to influence me will to some degree also influence you. We constantly receive and impart influence. Our sphere of associates (live and through written and spoken media) impacts our words and actions.

Building a successful business and a successful life is important now and in the future.

What influence are you imparting?

How closely does it resemble the influence you desire to impart?

Click below to learn about how you can begin your journey into business success.  My friend and business colleagues, Holly and Mars, will show you step by step how can build your own thriving business in internet marketing.

Here’s to Your Success,

Rod