But here’s the thing with influence: you can have a positive, negative, or indifferent influence.
I love getting mail, but you know what’s even better?
Receiving a BOOK in the mail from a friend.
My friend sent me “The Gift of Influence,” which was really good. Everyone should read it because it is about creating a lasting impact in everyday interactions.
Early in the book Tommy Spaulding refers to research that states: we will all influence nearly 80,000 people in our lives.
80,000 people! That means every day, we are influencing about 2-3 people, probably without realizing it.
But here’s the thing with influence: you can have a positive, negative, or indifferent influence.
Imagine you died (a bit heavy I know) and before you enter heaven (or insert amazing place of your choice), you find yourself standing in the middle of a stadium filled with the 80,000 people you influenced along the way.
How are they responding to you?
Are they cheering you on?
Booing you out of the arena?
Or standing there completely indifferent and not even paying attention?
These people are your impact. Each tiny daily moment is a vote for the person you want to be remembered as.
Sometimes we feel the pressure (or at least I do) to do great things…to accomplish many things…to be the best at things….but what if all you needed to measure is those mini-moments and the people you come in contact with each day.
I hope today, you bump into someone at the grocery store, gas station, or at work and you make their day a little brighter and lighter.
Cheers to Having Good Ripple Effect!