Certain individuals have an irresistible and flaming influence. Like a fire on a cold, lifeless piece of iron. While many attempts have been made to break the iron, all have failed.  But the small, soft flame curls around the iron, embracing it, and never leaving the iron until it melts under the flame’s irresistible influence.

My older brother, Jerry, had that impact on me. He knew how to correct, motivate, and scold me to get the most out of my performance and my life. He influenced my life in a positive direction. I am eternally grateful.

What distinguishes influencing individuals?

An Undeniable Dream

All influencing individuals know where they are going. They have a clear sense of direction. A reason for living A clearly defined purpose for life. Victor Hugo, the French poet, wrote, “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”

Influencing people see as secondary the climbing a ladder of status or chasing a gold mine of wealth. They know those things will not last beyond the grave.  Rather, they dream of impacting people for eternity.  They give themselves to the attainment of that pursuit. And, as William James once stated, “The best use of your life is to invest it in something that will out last it.”

An Unflappable Tenacity

Persons of tenacity refuse to quit. Nothing will discourage them.  They attack life with tenacity.  They possess remarkable staying power.  They refuse to quit.  They know that life cannot deny itself to the person who gives life his all.  When faced with a mountain they do not quit. They keep on striving until they climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath or turn the mountain into a gold mind.

An Undaunted Faith

Jerry Kramer wrote of Vince Lombardi’s success as a motivator. Kramer summarized Lombardi’s secret by saying simply that he had faith in us.  He believed in us when no one else believed in us.  He believed in us even when we did not believe in ourselves.

Faith is persisting when we don’t feel like it. People of faith know that feelings are like a caboose on a train, present but not essential to the ultimate arrival of the objective. Keep your head up and your faith intact. God is not through with you yet. Even when you don’t feel him, he’s there with you and for you.

An Unyielding Compassion

Influencing individuals demonstrate a care and compassion for the people they are around. This love propels them to making a difference.

Without love, nothing else matters. Love keeps the flame of influence burning brightly. Tielhard de Chardin said it this way: “The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love.  And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire.

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