The Power of Influence

It’s the middle of November! WOW!

Hard to believe but we are about six weeks away from 2021 being in the rearview.

Today, I want to talk about influence and specifically, how everyone can influence people on a LARGE scale.

The definition of influence right out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.”

So, how are you influencing?

Influence is something that has a profound effect.

We all have role models. We all have patterned things in our lives that we’ve learned from our role models and other people.

Some good, some bad.

When it comes to influencing, are you a positive or negative influence?

Here is an exercise:

Your last 5-10 social media posts and/or comments. Are they influencing positively or negatively? Are you inspiring, helping, or making people laugh, OR are you making fun of people, being a bully, and getting into “electronic” fights?

Influence may happen one person at a time BUT over time, that grows exponentially.

In fact, the average person influences 80,000 people in their lives.

You never know what that smile does for a person you pass in the grocery store.

You never know how that vulnerable social media post about how you’ve had your ups and downs but kept going to live a healthy life can impact someone.

You never know how holding the door open for a stranger can help someone.

You never know.

What we do know is if you continue to be a positive influence, your reach will expand and you will help create a happier, healthier place.

No matter if you’re a student, a manager, a CEO, a stay-at-home parent or a professional athlete, we all have the power to be a positive influence.