Last week as part of International Women’s Week we read about influential women. Unfortunately I was not interviewed! I am guessing neither were you. What makes someone influential? Do they need to find a cure for cancer or work for a charity? How everyday can that person be? Am I influential? Are you? The answer is Yes. The difference is that those acknowledged have either done their influencing longer, have influenced many rather than few or are just better at media exposure perhaps. Please do not diminish the power of your influence over the significant few or many in your life. Are you a mum who is teaching nice manners to your child? Are you a person like me who responded to requests from year 12 students seeking answers to their research projects? Are you the teacher who replaced a stolen item to the child who was saddened by its loss? The teacher, the mum and the psychologist are all influential. We all made an impact on someone. We all can seek greatness in others and ourselves. Do not worry about podiums and popularity, the number of likes or your Linkedin endorsements. None of these are indicators of greatness or influence in my opinion. I like the meaning of influential that equates it to guiding and inspiring. Join me in embracing those qualities that I know that we possess and value. Influence away. “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing” (Albert Schweitzer).
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