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- Sep 18 2007
- 35 Comments
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How influential are you? Tough question, isn't it? I encourage you to give it serious thought.
First, let's define the term to avoid confusion.
Influence is the ability to become a compelling force on others. It is an ingredient of persuasion.
Influence spreads quickly and easily among an audience.
Don't confuse this with influenza... That's something altogether different.
Influence can bring greater attention to the influencer as ideas and emotions are spread.
Other times, influence escapes our visible attention. Instead, it is felt - a silent emotion. It is a feeling that pushes us or pulls us in one direction or another.
What is the greatest influence in your life? Perhaps that's where you should place your most attention.
Our parents warned us in our childhood about bad influences. They are the kinds that lurk in the alleyways and in the deep recesses of our mind.
Now we are grown and accountable for our actions. We seek good influences, the kind that will propel our business and enrich our lives.
But who or what is providing influence on you right now? Is this influence for the good or is it steering you away from your goals?
Perhaps that's not so easy to determine, but determine it you must.
Many people think of influence as something that comes with power or money. We see it on display in politics and celebrity culture. We often give attention to those we perceive to have great influence. This is not always wise, but it is quite common.
When we ourselves have influence on others it comes bundled with responsibility. You may feel this as a mother or father. You may know this as the owner of a business or leader of a community group.
As you create and develop your online business, think about the influence you have and what you intend to do with it.
If you have the ability to influence others, how will this realization shape your online business?
Who will you reach with your messages? How will you improve their lives?
As a business owner, each day you stand at the edge of a cliff. The cliff represents opportunity. From your vantage point, you overlook the marketplace. If you could just influence this market, you will find success.
But you are on the edge of that cliff for a reason. You know rewards do not come without risks. If you take a misstep, you will fall from the cliff. Such are the perils of entrepreneurship.
So, what will influence you to take the proper steps toward success? What is the source of influence that allows you to move forward with confidence?
Imagine me as an entrepreneurial traffic cop. I'm approaching your vehicle with this question: Is your business driving under the influence (DUI)? If so, where are you driving your business?
- Is your goal to influence buying decisions among the marketplace?
- Do you hope to influence others with your wisdom?
- Are you intent on using your business influence to improve living conditions in your home and in your community?
In the Attention Age, everyone is an influencer. What makes this age special is that now all of those influencers are becoming networked.Consider this: Just by writing a blog, I have influence. People see my name; they recognize it and give weight to my ideas and opinions, for better or worse.
By reading a blog and sharing a message with others, you have influence. By linking to this blog and encouraging others to do the same, you help spread the messages that influenced you. You are building a network of influence.
Your comments on my blog have influence, too. I read them, and so do many others. By providing us with comments, you help influence the decisions of online entrepreneurs just like you whom you may never meet.
Your words provide inspiration. Your insights deliver clarity and give others a sense of purpose.
I know they do for me.
So I'll ask you a simple and direct question to spark some comments:
Who are the greatest influences in your life?
There may be one or there may be 100. Let me know by sharing your comments on my blog.
By becoming a source of information for others, you exhibit influence. That influence may develop into a profitable business for you. It could provide the basis of future friendships. Or, you just may be content in being a trusted conduit of attention for influential information.
Give influence your attention.
Understand its power and impact on your daily decisions.
Commit to positive influences that lead to greater rewards. Your business deserves your utmost attention. Let the influence on your business be one that promotes growth and brings happiness.
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- May 08 2007
- 158 Comments
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Last week I got a massage.
It was different than any massage I ever received (which is why I am telling you about it). It reminded me of a key distinction between my most successful clients and those that seem to continually struggle.
The masseuse (I’ll call her GP for short) discovered a big knot in my shoulder and asked me if I work in front of a computer. I said I did and I'd been spending a lot more time typing than I usually do. (The reason for my recent marathon typing sessions is the new report I'm working on. I'm sure it will open people’s eyes just like the Internet Business Manifesto did last year. More on that later...)
The conversation with GP drifted to how many hours a week I work, what I do, and what I do on the weekends.
When she heard how much time I took out of my schedule for fun and time with my family, she was surprised at how I'm able to squeeze in everything. Her response was not unusual at all. In fact, whenever I explain my schedule I'm always greeted with envy first, followed quickly by confusion, then wonder at how I'm able to live my life so well.
Being polite, I asked GP about her schedule. Her answer absolutely horrified me… GP had been working seven days a week for the past 6 months with no days off and no vacations. At first I thought I had misheard her, but I hadn’t. Six massages a day, day in and day out, for over 180 days straight.
She making six figures – but she’s living her "life" based on a faulty assumption I see entrepreneurs making far too often.
Look, even though I’m only 36 years old, I’ve already retired twice. Yet, today I am typing this note to you from my office surrounded by 12 exceptional employees. What happened?... Why the hell am I still working?
The reason I work today is: the whole concept of ‘Retirement’ is fundamentally flawed. The idea that you should sacrifice the best years of your life hoping to discover magical happiness in your later years doesn’t prove out at all. It’s just an old-fashioned theory you’ve been sold – and all you have to do is look around to prove to yourself how unrealistic it is.
In case you didn’t know… only a very small percentage of seniors can actually retire. Nowadays most are forced to work to supplement their income. And the trend is only getting worse. With the recent collapses of private pensions and the continual decrease in purchasing power of social security, many experts have come to the same conclusion…
“I don’t think were going to see another generation that’s going to fully retire. There's going to be a lot of people that are going to continue to work for the rest of their lives.” Doug Lockwood, Retirement Specialist, Harbor Lights Financial Group.
But what’s even worse is this sort of “hoping it will be better later” dramatically decreases the likelihood you’ll ever achieve the success you desire.
Soon I’ll tell you why this is. But for now you need to think about the answers to these two questions as you go through your day:
What if you could never retire?
What if the way you choose to work today would set the pattern you must continue until the day you die? What would you be doing differently?
Let me know your answers to these two vital questions by posting your comments here:
And if you think you know why this reduces your chances of overall success, tell me why.
Then be on the look out for another message from me… because I’m going to tell you how to dramatically increase your chances of success AND at the same time enjoy your life a whole lot more than you do now. Interested?... Stay Tuned….
To Higher Profits
Rich Schefren
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