The Ultimate Test of Influence

In 1999, Robin Sharma published a book that has a profound title:

Who will cry when you die?

This question can change your whole life if you give it serious thought. In a way, the answer will measure your influence in your community and across the Globe. In simple terms, the more people cry, the greater was your influence.

Nowadays, the word “influence” is often associated with “social media influencers” who have thousands and sometimes even millions of followers. And while many of them are great, many are so despicable. But you do not have to be famous on Instagram to be influential. History is full of such influential people. Just look up the names in the book by Michael H. Hart: “The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.” 

Trust me, none of them had an Instagram account!

And Robin is right when he stressed this thought. Most of the time, we only realize the influence of people had when they’re dead. The 20th of October 2019 was a reminder of that. I was shocked to know that the supervisor at my kids’ school died. I just greeted him when I picked up my kids. And, on the way out, I wanted to shake his hand, but he was busy talking to a parent. I guess it was never meant to be.

The late Ali Abdul Shaheed Al Rifai was so calm. I used to see him a few times a week during the pickup period. My relationship with him was limited to our daily smiles & greetings. He used to stand next to a tree, making sure none of the pupils sneaked out of the school for their safety. He discharged this responsibility diligently. I saw him many times, making pupils go back to the parents’ meeting point. 

The news of his death spread like wildfire in Bahrain. There was an avalanche of comments of sorrow & sadness about his death on many social media accounts. And please keep in mind that he was not a big shot CEO making daily headlines or an investor appearing in the front pages of newspapers & magazines. He was an ordinary gentleman who does his job in an extraordinary way.

I felt so sorry for his premature departure. He was younger than me & had two kids. Parents were mourning him in their WhatsApp groups. They started sharing stories about him; about his dedication, sincerity, care, love & passion towards the mission of education & the building of future generations. Many labeled him as a “Great Loss.”

Last week was grim for the entire school. The teachers wore black shirts. Parents shed tears. I saw a few of them taking pictures of the tree that gave him shade during the scorching heat. Pupils left messages in the late Ali’s office. They wrote their condolences on the school’s billboards. The two staff who shared the office with him could not report to the school the next day. His heart attack must have broken thousands of hearts. 

 And it did. His funeral was attended by the thousands. His family received thousands of visitors expressing their condolences. And thousands will forever remember his contributions to our country – Bahrain – in the field of education & counseling. If you want to learn leadership & influence, just read the comments about him on social media. He was a walking school, teaching values of excellence, commitment & service. His influence was beyond his school. 

When a friend of mine saw me, he told me this: “He’s a great loss.” He wanted to continue talking about the late Ali, but he couldn’t because he started weeping. He couldn’t utter any words. He left me & walked away. I sympathize with him. However, I tend to disagree. Mr. Ali was not a great loss. He was a “great inspiration” to all of us. He’s a wake-up call to all of us.

He reminded us that we should be dedicated, sincere, & responsible when it comes to discharging our duties – at home or work. Getting external recognition shouldn’t be our main driver to keep going, but rather our passion & our belief that whatever we do makes a difference in the lives of others. 

 After all, that will determine who will cry when you die.

I wish you health, wealth & a life full of influence!

Mohamed Isa is a Business Advisor, an Award-Winning Speaker & 4-Time Amazon Bestselling Author.