Breakfast with Champions – Use Your Influencer – 5 Nov 2022

Influence Starts With Your Thinking – Will You Be Polarized or Embrace Duality? –  Monica Ricci

Everyone’s an influencer! Each one of us can influence change.

“The test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” “One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless, yet be determined to make them otherwise.” F. Scott Fitzgerald

Influencers can see hopeless situations and still move forward.; that opens the concept of duality and polarized thinking.

Duality starts with the integration of various perspectives. Polarity, or polarized thinking, is the belief that something or a situation is either or neither, yes or no, black or white, good or bad. Polarity is very easy to indulge in when you are younger; young people and children long for that kind of certainty. When you were naive, you thought every question would result in a “yes” or “no” answer. But with age and maturity, people understand the concept of duality.

Life is about the ability to deploy life circumstances so you remain in control. When you cannot control the mindset you deploy, you are not fully expressing yourself as a human being and are not using your gifts. Everyone has the power and duty to choose how they will deal with duality or polarity.

Why is polarity not the best approach even though it seems natural, and what does it do to us that is not helpful?Black-and-white thinking entrenches you in your thoughts and beliefs because you cannot entertain the other extreme. Life is full of opposite extremes—that’s where polarity comes from—the concepts of good and bad, failure or success, dependence or independence. Like the extremes of independence and dependence, leaning too much on either side of the pole can affect your relationships. It can make your relationships with people difficult, both personally and professionally.

The golden rule is to embrace the “golden mean,” where “mean” refers to the middle. The extreme of something is not good; a lack of it is not either, even if it is a good concept. To achieve the complete effectiveness of a concept, good or bad, the key is to remain in the middle (the golden mean).

All life has a shade of gray, but the ability to hold the tension and accept the discomfort of paradox makes you a true leader, which is the concept of duality. Duality lets you hold a space of discomfort in paradox (the uncertain, complex, and unclear) for a feeling of freedom.

Duality is “I am doing well and I can do better.” Polarity is “I am either successful or I am not.” Duality acknowledges effort while also stating the improvements that need to be made. So you need to learn to live in the gray area; it is beautiful and the key to truly influencing.

Bullet points

• Influencers can see hopeless situations and still move forward.
• Too much of one thing is good for nothing.
• We are all works in progress and unfinished masterpieces.
• Our vices and virtues, not virtues alone, make us beautiful.
• All of life has a shade of gray, and the ability to live in this space makes you a true leader and influencer.

Your Influence (To Yourself) Counts – Use It For Yourself and Then For Others! – Brielle Riche

People often say vain words. Most times, people just say things without taking action. But words have so much more impact than people imagine.

The voices you hear and the books you read are factors of influence. So it matters what you hear and see. But what if it is not about influencing people? Have you sat down to ask yourself how you are currently influencing yourself?  

Start from the root: What is the meaning of “influence”?

Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior. So while many are overwhelmed by the ability to influence someone else, they often forget the effect on their own selves.

Talking out loud is the best way to influence yourself daily. What you hear, read, and see influences your character, development, or behavior – but if you talked more to yourself, journaled more, and were the first person you heard every morning, you would influence yourself every day. Tell yourself what you want to feel.

The more you influence yourself, the greater control you will have over your character, development, and behavior.

How can you currently use your influence? Look for ways to make an impact on someone every day. So you need to wake up every day, tell yourself what you should hear, and then complete it with how you would use your influence on someone else. Participate in meetings and platforms that already influence people.

You have an opportunity all the time to impact people for the better or the worse. You are your own biggest critic, the loudest voice in your head, but try to utilize that voice for good and use it to influence yourself positively.

Bullet points:

• Words have so much more impact than how people see them to be!
• Influence is the capacity to affect the character, development, or behavior of someone or something or the effect on self
• The more you influence yourself, the more control you will have over your character, development, and behavior
• You have an opportunity all the time to impact people for the better or the worse
• Look for ways to make an impact on someone every day.

The Key to Becoming A Great Influencer Is In Knowing Who You Are –  Renee Knorr

Do you know who you are? You can always embrace yourself with a smile!

Every time you choose to be a positive influence, your relationships improve. The truth remains that someone can only influence you when you see a little bit or more of yourself in them. Who do you see yourself in the most? The answer is YOU!

So you influence YOU. What do people do to influencers? They appreciate them, and that is why you should also appreciate yourself. Own and be proud of who you are. Learn your name and say it with confidence and a smile. 

The aim is to influence by making it count and utilizing the impact. But before you can make your influence count, you must first be aware that you are an influencer. 

How can you enter into the awareness of self? Here are some ways to become a more positive influencer:

1. Know who you are, and let everyone know your first and last names. Say your name with a smile.
2. Actively listen to what people are saying. Don’t listen to respond; listen to understand.
3. We are all works-in-progress, so reflect on what you need to work on and accept that you are growing.
4. Show appreciation for others. Celebrate people’s wins.
5. Practice what you preach – back your words with action.
6. Be kind rather than being right. Your correctness may only sometimes need to be heard. Learn to listen and be kind as opposed to being right. 
7. Know that you are enough. Don’t compare yourself to people you can’t possibly become. Be happy with who you are. 

Understanding your power to bring about positive change is the power of being an influencer. Be aware of who you are, where you are, and how you can impact and implore someone to their greatness. You are the change that people need to see. You don’t have to win; to win. 

Bullet points 

• You may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but you are your glass of champagne.
• The ability to influence people is a sign of authority.
• Before you can make your influence count, you must first be aware that you are an influencer.
• You don’t have to win in order to win.
• Book recommendation: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

Be a Leader – Evaluate Your Power to Influence Daily! – DoraMaria Abreu

Everyone has something of influence. Leadership is not about titles and positions but about your ability to influence yourself and the people around you. 

On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you see yourself influencing others? What about you – are you influencing yourself? How are you influencing your family and the younger generation around you? How do you influence the people in your work environment? Ask and rate yourself based on what you bring to the table. On a scale of 1 to 10, how are you influencing people for the positive? 

You can’t become who you need to become by remaining who or what you are. If you remain the victim of that space and refuse to get out, you won’t go forward. People forget that they have the potential to change the world, but it starts from within. 

Every word (positive or negative) holds a seed of transformation in your life and the lives of the people around you. So ask yourself: “How are you showing up in your space? How are you taking accountability?” One of the important concepts to discuss here is awareness. You have to know yourself to grow yourself. 

Now it is time to take action. What actions are you taking to ensure that you are positively influencing yourself? One step is to be kind. Sometimes people are on very thin ice, and we don’t know how their day has been. A kind word can help elevate the worst moods, and in turn, make you feel better. By influencing others in the most subtle way, you become a good leader. 

Characteristics of a Leader:

1. They follow their own advice.
2. They empower others along their journey towards growth.
3. They manage adversity.
4. They serve.
5. They grow with people.

Do you want to be a leader? Ask yourself how you will show up to influence others. You don’t have to get it right at first; using your influence is a growth process. 

Bullet points:

• Leadership is synonymous with influence!
• Don’t be defined by what life throws at you.
• Your impact is what people are drawn to; it’s an art. 
• Every word (positive or negative) holds a seed of transformation in your life.
• You have to know yourself to grow yourself.

3 Keys To Developing Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) – Brad Caldwell

There is a lot of noise all around us. Who we choose to partner with can either make or break the bottom line.  

When you think about branding, logos, taglines, and colors, who automatically comes to mind?  What is it about your favorite celebrity, guru, podcaster, or artist that makes them and their brand unique? Have you tried something new, traveled somewhere different, or dressed in a certain way based on their endorsement?   

If you were to ask yourself why you behaved in a way based on someone else’s suggestion, it would all go back to one word: influence. People will buy from someone they know, like, and trust, so it is important to build your Unique Value Proposition (UVP) from the beginning.

In today’s segment, Brad Caldwell, CEO of Spark Industries, highlighted the three keys to effectively branding yourself and your company  in the minds of your customers: 

1. If you want to add value, mind your money.  

When you understand your money, you respect your dollars. Money demands respect; it doesn’t care whether your business is failing. The people that you serve would gladly trade the money in their pockets for the solution you provide. Your goal as a consultant, coach, or advisor should always be focused on what you can do to alleviate pain points for your customers.  

Use your money instead of spending it. What are you investing in? Learn to listen for what is important to the people you serve. Money should be used to enrich the quality of your life. Are there skills or training that you can pay for that will elevate your way of thinking? How many times have you used it for things that have no real value? Can you skip Starbucks and make coffee at home instead?  

2. Exercise regularly and maintain an active lifestyle.

Business takes focus and extended levels of energy, and exercise can help you improve these. Start with small changes and find ways to implement them daily. Never eat a portion of food bigger than your hand. Park further away. Go for a walk.  

3. Be a flexible goal-setter who adjusts to the client’s goals.    

Earn your clients’ trust when you are trying to articulate a unique value or service. Losing is being still while the competition sprints by. Read about your industry to stay updated. Study trends, the competition, and the industry. Ask questions of industry giants when in the same room with them then shut up and listen, never fail to grow. If you want to truly offer a unique value-proposition, be the person who makes a difference at a fast pace.

Bullet points

• If you want to add value, mind your money.
• Start with small changes and find ways to implement daily.
• Be a flexible goal-setter who adjusts to the clients’ goals.
• Book suggestions: Go For It by Drew McClure, Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson, Pocket Full Of Do by Chris Do, and Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller.

Build The Greatest Network by Leveraging Cubhouse – Barbara Majeski

Social media has the ability to help you build your ideas. You enable people to know who you are and resonate with your personality. Leveraging Clubhouse can help you find people who share your values. Constant conversation is important; it helps you build relationships, and you can ultimately influence people through it. 

People usually don’t trust strangers, but being a regular at Clubhouse can help bridge that trust gap. Leveraging Clubhouse brings you in proximity to people you wouldn’t have interacted with otherwise. 

A business can thrive only when you have the ability to market the right product to the right target audience. As a business owner, you need to build relationships and expand your network. When reaching out to people, speak in a language they understand. People don’t trust strangers, so leverage Clubhouse to strike meaningful conversations and build relationships. Let them know who you are, what you do, and sell yourself until they trust you. Once the trust builds up, they will buy from you. 

As a businessperson, do not overlook or underrate anybody. You never know who you may end up collaborating with or seeking help from in life. Closed mouths don’t get fed; the answer is always no until you ask, so don’t be afraid to ask. 

It’s important to keep relationships going, but don’t just jump out of nowhere to ask people for a favor. Remember that people don’t like being taken advantage of. It‘s easier to sell to people when you gain their trust. Don’t just always ask for help; also remember to offer help. Ask people questions like, “How can I be of help to you?” or “How can I collaborate with you to make your business thrive better?” This helps build lasting trust.

You don’t necessarily have to know how to play a game before you join in; you can sometimes pick it up and improvise as you go. Learn to build relationships and maintain them. Don’t burn bridges.

Bullet points

1. There’s a financial reward in network marketing.
2. You advance your network when you take advantage of social media.
3. Laziness occurs as a result of lack of vision.
4. Lack of comprehension is what makes people reject ideas.
5. Play the long game and build relationships.

Make Your Influence Count! – Brian Benstock

It’s amazing how many people believe that once they obtain a certain title or level of leadership, people will automatically respect and listen to them. They think that with the title comes influence.

Leadership expert John Maxwell defines leadership as the ability to influence and develop people regardless of an individual’s title or position. We manage things. We lead people. The ability to motivate and inspire others to take action is the distinguishing factor between a leader and a manager. As a leader, you have the ability to impact a person’s character and behavior – a responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Leadership and influence are not interchangeable. The best leaders are those who can successfully influence up, down, and across the organization, impacting business results by driving behavior change.

We are always exerting influence simply by being who we are, saying what we say, and doing what we do. The biggest choice we have in the matter is whether or not the influence we exert is good or bad. 

You never know who is watching you, and someone always is. Whether it’s your child, your spouse, your friend, or a stranger, nothing can encourage us like someone’s good example. Unfortunately, they are few and far between, but they are there if you look for them. If you want to create value with your life, become a good influence.

You gain influence by tapping into the hearts of those you want to affect. People don’t simply follow because you say that they should; they follow because they believe.

Bullet points

• If you can’t believe in yourself and your mission, how are you going to lead others?
• Inspiration is what makes or breaks influence.
• People don’t remember what you say; they remember how you make them feel.
• The most important sale is the one you make to yourself. People have to be convinced to be sold on themselves, and too many of us aren’t sold on ourselves.
• We need people who are all in. There is no half-way in. The people who are half-way in are going to be all out.