When it comes to seeking influence, Thomas Fiffer believes we have it all backwards.
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Most of us suffer from the anxiety of influence, by which I mean, we crave more of it.
Here’s a little secret about influence. It’s not about how important you are. It’s all about how valuable you are.
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Value is something we recognize in ourselves and assert through our work and in our daily interactions with others, and when we do that, the world recognizes it, too.
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- Is your job about money, prestige, and perks, or creating value for your customers, colleagues, and shareholders?
– - Do you make other people feel valuable in your interactions with them?
– - Do you promote people, both personally or professionally, knowing they may rise to a position higher than yours?
– - Do you connect people with each other, then step out the way and watch the magic happen?
– - Do you define yourself by your title, your level of responsibility, how busy your schedule is, or by who you are without the suit, the suite, and the schedule?
– - Do you pump out your products and blast your messages through the bullhorn, or put your heart and soul into creating your goods and crafting your words, then let the value of these speak for themselves?
– - Have you noticed that important people never seem to have time for anyone and are generally dismissive, while influential people are readily available and show genuine interest in everyone they meet?