Making Influence a Commodity

I like American Idol.  If you don't feel the same, its ok.  I am going some where so bear with me.  Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina made it to the Finale.  In my opinion, there were more deserving contestants for the finale but somehow, i just could not be disappointed at the results because these two are so darn likeable.  Since Scotty's win and Lauren's smooch on him, I can't help but like them even more.  A friend was telling me the other day how they still insist they are just friends and how their moms are now the best of friends.  Here we are 3 grown women all over the age of 35 and I am actually interested quite enthralled with her stories.  It's laughable, I know, and many of you are poking fun.  Some of you won't admit it but you just learned something new yourself and felt a rush of thrill over the news. But there is a force at work here that we hide in embarrassment to be pawns in its game, but what if we could decode and understand how to use the force in our favor?

If my neighbor was telling me of two talented teenagers from the nearby high school that sang beautifully together,  I would say, "oh, that's nice."  If she didn't take my cue and continued on, to tell me how they are so cute together but insist that they aren't dating.  Their moms have even become great friends.  I surely would not feel a rush or a thrill over this news.  In fact, would be hard pressed to store in my memory bank or ever mention again.  So what makes the exact same story on American Idol so riveting to millions of Americans? One word: influence.

Everyone wants it but few understand the inner workings of such a force.  If we can't identify when it is being used on us, we will never understand how to use it for our favor.  Influence is a commodity.  It's not inherently bad or good.  Influence is almost always coupled with a talent in a particular area.  As we see on American Idol, it can be raw or practiced and does not necessarily need to be the greatest talent in its area.  This special force is an ability whether sincere or not to make others feel they can trust you and that above your own needs, you care about them.  Scotty and Lauren both were able to communicate that they were trustworthy in the everyday practices of their lives as well as they would do whatever it takes to reach their audience.  No one can determine if anothers' motives are pure, but as voters on American Idol, we think we can accurately discern, and ultimately, the votes reveal who could display the power of the force of influence.

Learning to communicate these qualities should naturally flow from the inner workings of our hearts.  When we learn to love others from a sincere place, it puts a demand on the everyday practices of our lives calling us to a higher standard.  We happily live this standard as an expression of our love of others.  And this is how within a particular sphere of God given talent we can distinguish ourselves and become a person of influence.  Influence is not easily contained nor controlled once given and will inevitably affect all spheres of your life.

Let's apply this tool by identifying when influence is being used in our everyday lives and learn how to gain influence in our respective spheres.   Because being coupled with talent, influence for negative gain often communicates, "don't you wish you could be like me".  My desire is to use influence for good by teaching others how to do the same.  Positive influence empowers others instead of creating a wall of separation to designate who can and who can't.  I don't mind being a pawn in the game every now and then but knowing how to identify when I am being swayed for my own gain versus bound and entangled could become one of the most valuable difference makers in my life.

What's up with you?
Identify negative influence so it can't keep you down.  How can you find positive influence and become positive influence in your spheres?