Want more out of life? Increase your influence!

Nathan Hammer is a high impact leader who believes in those who are "turning wrenches and digging trenches." He ?believes we should never get complacent, we should never quit learning, and we must never stop growing, personally or professionally. It was a privilege to feature Nathan recently in the "Real People Getting Real Results!" video interview series. Watch it above or listen to the audio version on the Blue Collar Leadership Podcast Ep. 388.

Increasing Your Influence Increases Your Options

"Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less." ~ John C. Maxwell

If leadership in its most basic, generic form is simply influence, when does our influence begin?

Here are a few common answers:

• “When we meet someone.”
• “When we start talking.”
• “When we start a job.”
• “When we finish college.”

Could it have been earlier?

When people begin to think deeply about influence, they quickly consider it starting early in their lives. Most people can trace their influence back to when they were born.

But, ask yourself, “Could it have been earlier?”

If you have children, it’s easy to help you understand when our influence begins by asking, “When did your children begin to influence you?”

Most people with children instantly reply, “As soon as we found out we were going to have a child.” If it’s a mom, she says, “As soon as I found out I was pregnant.” If it’s a dad, he says, “As soon as I found out I was going to be a father.”

Isn’t that interesting?

You were influencing others before you were born and without any effort. Your very existence in your mother’s womb influenced the thoughts, emotions, actions, and choices of others.

You were not aware of it, but you had influence. Your parents started making decisions simply because you existed. Your existence established your influence. If you are a parent, this concept is easy to grasp and understand.

You were born a leader (person of influence).

The instant you left your mother’s womb, your natural actions were influencing those around you. It wasn’t intentional. It was automatic. It was simply happening because you were here.

You were simply trying to survive based on your natural instincts. Everyone in the room wanted to help you survive. You mattered then. You matter now.

People you had never met cared about you and helped you get started in this world. What character traits did they exhibit?

Many people have positively influenced us during various stages of our lives. When possible, we should personally thank them and let them know they made a difference. Each of them influenced us in various ways helping us become who we are today. We should be grateful they touched our lives.

Your awareness of self, others, and your environment has been increasing since your birth. It increased the most in your early years. For many people, it seems to slow down dramatically as they reach adulthood.

How much influence do you have with others at this moment?

Your influence today is based on the choices you made in the past.

Your influence in the future will increase or decrease based on the choices you make today.

Imagine how much potential influence you possess at this moment:

• How would your life change if your influence with others increased?
• To get to where you want to be in life, would it be easier with more or less influence?

Think of the choices you’ve made. Consider how all of them together have led you to the very spot you are today.

Things outside of our control happen, but we are where we are today because of our choices. Our choices are within our control. It’s easy to reflect when something goes wrong and say, “If I had only done this or that, things would have turned out differently.”

Our choices matter not only today, but also tomorrow.

“A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences. You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make.” ~ Denis Waitley

You may be thinking, what is the big deal with influence?

The big deal is, unless you are going to live alone in an isolated place without other people, your influence with others is the key to your ability to live the life you want to live.

You need others to help you get what you want.

“If you help enough people get what they want, they will help you get what you want.” ~ Zig Ziglar

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