As a child, you listened to your parents. You also heeded the guidance from teachers, policemen & fireman as well as any other knowledgeable adults. You grew older and started to realize the wisdom and knowledge of a smaller, more specific group of people. Life went on and your connections became based on the people you interacted with; co-workers, lifelong friends, and your core family unit. You created a tribe of people who followed you as the leader of that tribe.
Little did you know it but, at the time, you were becoming part of a tribe yourself. You gravitated to other tribes led by people who influenced you.You were in the group of followers. You might have been from the same neighborhood, company, brand, industry or many more of those signifying details about who you are and what you do that drew you to others.
The Spotlight of Influence
My parents spent their life influencing me. My brothers have influenced me for the 48 and 45 years I have known them. My wife, daughter and son has influenced me every single day I have been blessed to be considered a part of their life.The spotlight of influence shines brightly upon those who make others better.
Today I was recognized by the Swanepoel/T3 Power 200 report as one of the Top 20 Social Influencers of Residential Real Estate 2016. This list of people is filled with 19 other people I have admired and learned from every day for the last 5 years. It could be said that these are among some of the best people in the world to build relationships with, solve problems for and have fun among.
One thing is for sure…I have become a better person because of THEIR influence.
If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants
– Issac Newton
To be recognized by Stefan, Jack, Leslie, Rob and others is an amazing honor and something I do not take lightly. I know the influence others have had on me back when our world was analog and it was a face-to-face, belly to belly world. I dedicated my 101st Carp’s Corner post (& 102nd and 103rd) to those people who were major influences on my life…and all of them still are to this day. 6 & 1/2 years later, I am humbled to be among the many awesome people of the real estate social media “tribe” recognized who are doing things to make those people who choose to follow us become better.
Connect with these people. Follow these people. Friend these people. Comment on their blog posts. Share their updates, ReTweet their tweets, “like, “favorite,” pin or tag their social media efforts. They will return the favor. Not because of a “quid pro quo” that many think the social networking community is built on. They will send the “echo of influence” into the world knowing that every time they help someone become better, they #BecomeBetter themselves.
That’s what influence is all about.
In the big scheme of things, I’m just a guy in Ohio who loves to leverage my social channels to build relationships, solve problems and have fun. It’s amazing that I can be recognized by others for doing those three things. But the cool thing is, I’ll keep doing it as long as I can.
Who knows? Maybe I can influence someone else to do the same thing.