Ultimate Influence

Are you ready for the “Secret Psychological Triggers” that will make people do whatever you tell them to?

If so, you’re reading the wrong post, or are you?

In a home business world filled with never ending gimmicks designed to get people to “Take Action” the one thing that’s most often strangely omitted, is the one thing that seems to work best when it comes to actually inspiring others to action.

Integrity

Though I’m not perfect, and like every single one of us, am still working towards this grand ideal, I’ve noticed in my marketing journey that this is indeed the one thing, that matters most when it comes to influencing people for the long haul.

Short term decisions are not the same as long term results and residual income is a long term result.

If you want to build residual income – you have to learn to think differently than 97% of marketers and home business entrepreneurs.

The fast food mentality won’t cut it here.

Gimmicks like expiring bonuses, deadlines and fear of loss do inspire short term action but whatever influence they give you in the moment, disappears with the rising of the sun the next day.

If you want ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ then sure, maybe the 47 Magic Mind Tricks for influence book will help, but if you want to lead people for years, something more is required.

I think this ‘something more’ is integrity.

According to John Maxwell, integrity is defined as “The state of being complete, unified.“

He goes on to say

“When I have integrity, my words and my deeds match up…. Sadly, integrity is a vanishing commodity today. Personal standards are crumbling in a world that has taken to hot pursuit of personal pleasure and shortcuts to success.”

I think anyone who’s been around the block and has taken even the smallest bit of time to reflect on the trip, can intuitively recognize that integrity is, indeed, the real secret to lasting influence.

Have you ever followed someone that you eventually discovered was not doing what they were saying you should do?

How did that make you feel?

Did you want to continue to listen to their advice and do what they said to do, even though you knew this was advice they themselves, were not following?

No one wants to take medicine from a doctor who won’t take it himself.

Betrayal

That’s the word that comes to mind for the times in my life I’ve made this shocking discovery in those I was following.

And when I discovered I’d been betrayed, any influence that leader had with me was instantly flushed down the toilet.

A Real Secret For Great Communication – Level 1 Influence

One of the big mistakes I see people make in the home business world, is teaching from a place of theory, rather than a place of practice.

Posting advice that’s copied or A.I. generated.

This stuff sticks out like a three dollar bill.

It has no soul, and people can tell when content has no soul.

The simple fix?

NEVER say something you don’t fully believe yourself and here’s the kicker…

If you fully believe it, you’ll have actions to speak from about it.

Read stuff & do stuff – THEN and only then – should you write or speak about it.

And when you write and speak about it, – you’re doing so from a place of authenticity.

People can feel authenticity, and they’re drawn to it.

You don’t even have to be perfectly accurate here either, you just have to be doing your best to say it like you think it is… We’re all wrong about some things and people will forgive us for being wrong, as long as we’re sincere.

What’s much harder to forgive is deception, dishonesty, passing something off as “From you” when there was none of you, in it.

So this is the best advice I can give you when it comes to content creation.

“Say what you mean, mean what you say, and speak only from a place of personal experience mixed with sincere personal thoughts.”

This is much easier than most people realize.

If your goal is to inspire others to build their business… make sure that you first do something to build your business before you speak…

And I mean, something, anything – doesn’t even have to have produced a sale or income result…

The simple fact that you took some action, will give your words power that would have otherwise been missing.

When Demosthenes was asked what the three most important aspects of oratory (spoken words) were, he answered simply:

“Action, Action, Action.”

Read that again…

Now, I’m not against posting quotes or even using A.I. to help with content.

But here’s where this stuff rubs me wrong…

When I see people posting quotes just to post a quote.

In my opinion, before you ever post a quote – you should have this feeing inside yourself..

“Oh wow, I love this so much.”

Or..

“Man, this is so true.”

Then, when you post the quote, there’s a bit of you in it – even though the quote was from someone else.

Call me crazy but I think this makes a difference – even though it’s invisible and I can’t prove it.

If I’m posting only things that I love and feel are true, then when people read the things I post (even if they’re not from me) – they’re still getting a piece of me because that piece was in the intention behind the post.

Contrast this with “Oh, this post looks like it could go viral….”

Or… “I’m gonna post stuff every day so I can be visible and my followers can see that I’m posting every day… ”

Ya, there’s a bit of you in it, but it’s not the bit that’s worth following.

And when it comes to A.I. -> Yes, you can use A.I. to write stuff, but here’s the crucial twist…

What you publish, has be curated by you….

Meaning – what you publish has to have your stamp of authenticy on it…

Is what you’re putting out there true to you and backed up with personal experience?

Has the content been vetted, line by line – so that you’re willing to put your name, reputation and integrity on it?

If so, A.I. can be a bit of a time saver, editor or brainstorming partner, but you see, just like with the quotes, for it to hit the mark, there has to be YOU inside it…

This is the magic. YOU are the magic.

Esoteric maybe but valid, yes I think so.

In my experience, this is where great communication (and integrity) begin.

Level 2 Influence

Once your words are matching up with your personal actions, insights and experience, people will feel the truth of you in your words and this is where the beginnings of influence take shape.

Level 2 influence is taking everything from level one, and ramping it up.

Level 1 is about simplicity. Words matching up with actions… period.

Belief: People should create daily content.

Action: I create daily content

Result: My example inspires others, and when it comes time to use words describing the value of daily content – my words have power, from the actions behind them.

Level 2 is all about expanding the scope of what you believe and embedding those beliefs within your character via sustained action over time.

What is my life purpose or mission?

What are the foundational beliefs or values that act as pillars to the way I live my life and grow my business?

Am I a living, breathing example of the things I say I believe and do I exist in the world in a way that acts as a light for people to see those beliefs and values regardless of whether I ever use my mouth and tongue to describe them?

Am I consistent with this way of being – so that my light shines out over stormy seas, and acts as a call to safety for ships stuck on rocky waters, not just for days, or weeks, or months or years – but for decades?

Reaching this level of influence (integrity) is a 2 step process.

First, finding the values that to you, personally are the ones you want to build your life on.

This involves much searching, reading, observation, thought and reflection.

It’s not a cookie cutter approach that can be delivered on a silver platter.

Life is confusing and this is why (IMO) there exist so many “Done for you” philosophies and thought systems in the world.

These are shortcuts.

Even if you’re given a perfect “Done for you” template to a life philosophy to stand on, you’re still only on step one of this influence level.

Once the mission/purpose and values have been discovered, you still have to go through the work of thinking through them and living by them enough to be willing to stake your very life on them.

As long as the soul of our ideas, reside in the mind of another, we are not free.

-Mortimer Adler

And then, once you’ve arrived at the “This is it” moment, you still have all the years of your life left to prove that “This was indeed it” by living it out and giving the world the precious message of your heart, through your example.

Man, all of a sudden this isn’t sounding like much of a shortcut to influence is it?

ha ha…

I guess that’s the point.

It’s not.

If You’re Gonna Be A Virgin, Don’t Be The Foolish One

The best metaphor to wrap this up with, so it’s easy to remember, is the one from the Bible.

You know the story right?

10 Virgins that all needed lamp oil to pass through the door for access to the other side.

5 had oil, 5 did not.

The ones without begged the one’s with, to share, but it couldn’t be done.

This mystic oil was only to be found through personal effort, so the foolish virgins who’d failed to prepare ran off to get what they needed but alas, the time had passed and opportunity was missed.

True integrity (and it’s worldly benefit of ‘influence’) seem to carry this same property.

It can’t be given, it must be earned.

Let us earn.

Thanks for reading and whatever you do, always go for your dreams!

PS: The #1 reason I co-founded the company i did, was because I couldn’t find a company that allowed me to be and do, who my oil was guiding me to be and do. I’m thankful that there were others like me and it all seems to be working out.

Places that dim your light, are not worth staying in. I hope this post illustrates why.

PPS: Couple of my favorite quotes relating to integrity are…

“If money is all you have in your paycheck at the end of the week, you’ve been grossly underpaid.” -Napoleon Hill

“The greatest value in life is not what you get, it’s what you become.” -Jim Rohn

These quotes were, in part, what inspired us to include a charitable giving aspect to our business model.

it’s been one of the best decisions we ever made.

I published a new video yesterday that has…

a super fun clip from FMSC packing site in Mesa Arizona with a special announcement

The book that inspired it all

The why, the how & the reason some type of charitable giving can be one of the best things that ever happened to residual income

Figured I’d post it here too, in case you’re curious. 🙂

Hope this video can offer some inspiration and be a reminder of another great quote,

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

Oh, and if you wanna learn more about our business model to see if it’s something you could benefit from, here or here are 2 great places to start.