Influence

Who influences your thinking and actions?
 
Leaders understand that what they think about and how they act are interwoven.
 
In The Strangest Secret, personal development guru, Earl Nightingale said, “We become what we think about.”
 
Leaders also recognize that what you see, what you read, what you hear, what you watch, (you get the picture) all have influence on what you think, and what you think has an influence on how you act.
 
When I was younger, I learned that reading was something you had to do, which was not enticing.
 
Then, I met Ron Peer, the sales vice president over the area in which I worked. Ron shared his philosophy for reading with me. He showed me that reading can be fun when you read for the right reasons.
 
Ron said, “I usually have four books going, and each book is for a different purpose.”
-> Novels, from which he learned to tell stories about the objects of his presentations rather than simply the facts.
-> Business books, from which he learned how business leaders think and act.
-> Biographies, from which he learned that nothing comes easy to those who are dedicated to their visions.
-> Classics, from which he learned subjects that made conversing with him an education rather than a conversation.
 
Ron’s willingness to share valuable philosophies and principles greatly impacted my growth as a leader.
 
Leaders who discern the values the values of those with whom they associate, identify the right people to whom they should listen and learn to grow in significance in all facets of their lives.
 
Over three thousand years ago, King Solomon, in his book of proverbs said, “The thoughts of the righteous are just, but guidance from the wicked is deceitful.” (Proverbs 12:5)
 
When you listen and learn from the right people, your thoughts and actions will reflect their influence.
 
Make it a great day and keep being awesome.