POWER OF INFLUENCE
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In the words of John Locke, an English philosopher and physician ''Men are like chameleons, we take our life and the colour of our moral character from those who are around us.'' I don't know if you have ever noticed that when couples live together over a period of time they seems to look so much alike even in their disposition their wards likewise follow suit.(The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.. you know)
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Only few of us have come to the realize that we are affected mostly by our loved ones, friends, what we daily listen to, models and mentors, consciously or otherwise. Jim Rohn an American Entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker reinstate this by asserting that ''you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with'' Invariably, if you spend most of your productive time with four fools, congratulations! you are the fifth fool. That's influence!
Influence stems from:
CHARACTER- who we are-who they are.
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RELATIONSHIP - who we know
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KNOWLEDGE - what we know.
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COMMUNICATION - How we connect.
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PASSION - what we feel - what occupy most of our productive time.
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ABILITY - what we can do.
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Influence is so powerful that it brings Change. It Drives high Results. It leaves a legacy. It also impacts a multitude.
In need of positive Influence? Then:
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BECOME A GOOD INFLUENCE:
It's a proven fact that a child learns mostly by watching what his parent does rather than what they say. Therefore, if you want good influence, then be one. Through your habits, communication and the likes (don't fake it).
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AVOID BAD INFLUENCE:
An Italian proverbs asserts that ''the person who lives with cripple will soon learn to limp.'' Therefore, be around people who have something of value to share with your. For their impact will continue to have a significant influence.
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ALTER BAD INFLUENCE TO GOOD INFLUENCE:
I read the story of two brothers. One was a drug adict and a drunk who frequently beat up his family. The other one was a very successful businessman who was respected in society and had a wonderful family. Some people wanted to find out why two brothers from the same parents, brought up in the same environment, couldbe so different. The first one was asked, ''How come you do what you do? You are a drug addict, a drunk, and you beat your family. What motivates you?'' He said, ''My father,'' They asked, ''What about your father?'' The reply was, ''My father was a drug addict, a drunk and he beat his family. What do you expect me to be? That is what I am.''
They went to the brother who was doing everything right and asked him the same question. ''How come you are doing everything right? What is your source of motivation?'' And guess what he said? ''My father. When I was a little boy, I used to see my dad drunk and doing all the wrong things. I made up my mind that that is not what I wanted to be.'' Both were deriving their strength and motivation from the same source, but one was using it positively and the other negatively.
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To this end, It is said that Power may last ten years; influence more than a hundred. God knew what influence meant when He said ''I know him, I know Abraham will command (influence) his household after him....'' The question now is: How is your life affecting and effecting others? Will your influence outlive your existence? Pauline H. Peters encapsulates the potency of Influence when he prayed that ''God, when I am wrong, make me willing to change. When I am right, make me easy to live with. So strengthen me that the power of my example will far exceed the authority of my rank.''
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Writer
Sayo Ademola