“You don’t have to be a ‘person of influence’ to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.” —Scott Adams
Our lives matter. This is indeed life-giving news to each of us.
We all want to live lives of significance—lives that make a difference in the world around us. We were designed to live for something greater than ourselves. And each of us were born with an ingrained desire to accomplish that.
As a result, our world cares deeply about influence. We pay for it, fight for it, and study how to get more of it. Our world measures it, ranks it, and ascribes it to people for foolish reasons. But in our constant struggle to attain influence, we often miss out on one very important truth:
We already have it! Each of us is already an influencer of others.
To live is to influence. Whenever and wherever our lives interact with others (at home, at work, on-line, or in our community), we have influence. We change lives. We affect people every single day with the words we say, the looks on our face, the actions we choose, and the decisions we make.
It would be wise for us to stop always asking how to acquire more and instead, start asking what to do with the influence we already have.
The interactions we have in this world offer both a great and challenging opportunity. They can be positive or negative. They can add value to the lives of others or they can take value away. Our opportunity for influence can become an important agent for change or it can further cement the status quo. It can make our world a better place to be or a crummier place to endure. There are no neutral contributors in this world.
Every day, whether we interact with 5 people, 50 people, or 500, our lives matter and produce a ripple effect that extends far beyond us. Let’s model integrity, celebrate growth, encourage strength, and push for positive change.
If we’re not doing well with the influence we already have, why do we think the world would benefit if we had more? (tweet that)
BrownVagabonder says
I agree wholeheartedly with the article – so many times I have influenced people in my life without even realizing it. I am avid fitness person – I care about what I eat, and I exercise regularly (without fail). It is just one of my passions. I don’t tell anyone else in my life to do the same as me. If they ask me for advice, I will give it, but I never want to preach to someone else.
But I have noticed the better I look, the toner I get, the stronger I am, the more other people ask me how to get where I am. The healthier I look, the more I am asked about how to get into yoga, how to eat healthier, how to eat more naturally.
I influence without even trying, just by being passionate about the subject, and by changing myself – by being a beacon of fitness to the people around me.
We definitely have more influence than we give ourselves credit for.
Judy says
So true! I hope I’ve been a blessing in many peoples lives :)
Catherine says
Often we think we don’t have ‘enough’ influence because we want to control the changes that others make as a result of our influence. It is easy to miss the changes others make as we go about our lives when they use us as a model. I started Mindful Minimalism UK as so many people were giving me feedback on the influence I’d had within my local parenting network. I wasn’t trying to be influential. It happened naturally.
Karin says
So true. I couldn’t agree more. Trying to be a good influence on a few people is enough for me. There are so many inspiring people out there already…
Karolina says
People can do more than they think they can. One person can change someone’s life with just one thing, for better or for the worst. Or even change the whole world if they really want to
Catherine says
I couldn’t agree more Karolina. Someone I worked with as a client decided to go in to healthcare in the same role as I do because they were inspired. Everyone they help in the future came from that one initial change. Poweful stuff!
Arora says
I couldn’t agree more!
People wish to be a good influence on others, yet fail to realise that they are and can be! It’s so easy to be a good person, you just live with kindness and compassion, doing compassionate deeds for no reward other than you have helped another person grow happier in their life, even if it’s only for a short period of time!
Linda Stoll says
Too often we think in terms of numbers. There’s gotta be a better measuring stick.
How ’bout one life changed, in one small but meaningful way, at a time instead of trying to be in 10 places at once …
Ethan Bridges says
Spot on, Linda.
Live in the moment. We can harness our power of influence in that one place where we are, with that one person we’re with. Keeping count wouldn’t really matter, although if we genuinely live in the moment, the count may just go up!
Mathias says
Interesting point of view! I guess it’s true that we all have influence, but what we want is Controlled influence – to influence others in the way we intended.
We don’t just want to influence other people at random, we want to be able to control how we influence them in the first place!
Tonya@Budget and the Beach says
It seems these days people only want to influence on some grand scale…how can I appeal to this HUGE audience on social media, youtube, blogs, etc. But I think it’s the little things that matter, on a daily basis. How do you treat the receptionist when you go into an office? How do you interact with the checker at the grocery store? You never know how that tiny piece might have a ripple affect in a good way that will benefit the greater good…and perhaps even yourself.
Daisy Chain says
Well said, Tonya. True in so many ways.
Lori in Prescott says
Love this! It’s not about ‘look at me on FB’ it’s about the people that come across your path during the day. I stopped a college student with the most beautiful red hair last week and told her so. She said, ‘me?’ I went on for a few minutes about what a gorgeous color of red it was and that people with red hair are so lucky. Bear in mind, I’m old enough to be her grandmother. She just beamed and said ‘you made my day!’
Denise says
Spot on!
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
The greatest influencers, I believe, are those who make matters personal before they make them right.
I couldn’t agree more with this post, Joshua. Many of us don’t believe we have much influence because we conflate it with worldly power. Thankfully those aren’t the same thing… unlike power, influence is within everyone’s grasp.
Matthew says
“The greatest influencers, I believe, are those who make matters personal before they make them right.”
Would you unpack this? I think this is significant and I want to better understand what you mean.
Judy says
I think she means you have to get yourself straight first before you can help others. As Jesus said…how can you say, “let me help you get that spec out of your eye”—-when you can’t see past the board in your own.