I’ve been thinking and pondering a lot about influence over the past few days and weeks… even before christmas a little bit. I’ve been thinking about myself, my friends, and a ton of people that I have never meet but watch them and how they use their influence.

Influence is really one of the most powerful things we as human being can have. I mean if you think about it… influence is the reason that Tiger Woods made more than $117,000,000.00 last year. It’s the endorsements that make him successful.

Influence is a key part in creating a movie that people will go and check out. Think about the last movie you went to. Would you have gone if the person directing it wasn’t a name you recognized, or the lead role was being played by someone who you have never heard of before?

Influence is a powerful thing. it can cause people to give money, to buy something specific, to NOT buy something specific, to do something or be a part of some cause or organization. You see, influence is one of the few things in the world that we as humans use to control other human beings actions or decisions. I want to make sure you read that statement right… and though many of you may say, Luke that’s a bold statement. I would agree but tell you that influence is VERY powerful and so a VERY powerful description of it needs to be used.

 
 
 
Influence is one of the few things we use to control others actions and decisions.
 
 
 

Great leaders recognize their influence and have clear cut intention on how and where they use it. The people who are given a platform in the world more often than not, are people who haven’t abused their influence with their followers. Cause we all know that when we lead, we only get to lead because someone is following us right?

what i’m getting at is this -

You can’t be a leader who leads no one. It’s just impossible.

So I just wonder, what is it that you’re using your influence for? is it something worthwhile? is it self-indulging? is it something that the people following you will benefit greatly from? is it something uplifting? encouraging?

Or are you like me… and you’re starting to realize that in order to lead well… we have to leverage ALL your influence for those who don’t have a voice in this world. People like to follow leaders who moving in a direction that looks out for the rest of the group. They follow people who aren’t using their influence to position themselves in the spotlight.

In fact, I would possibly argue that ALL great leaders are great leaders because they aren’t focused on themselves. hmm… what a concept:

In order to lead, we must serve.

hmm…

how are you using your influence with others?

Luke.

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