Influence by Example

We’ve all heard the term of leading by example but after a few different conversations this past week I toyed with this term. It feels stronger than just leading. Then again words are just that, words.

Throughout my career as a leader it has always been common sense to me to be a great example. However, where I am in life now, I want to influence even those who don’t work for me.

One doesn’t demand respect and admiration. Respect and admiration are earned every single day by every action one takes. How can we expect others to do what we say or heed our advice if we’re not doing it ourselves.

Having a great back story is cool and all and we all know those people who are stuck in the past speaking only of the many challenges they once conquered. I myself have been guilty of this.

But what are you doing NOW? That’s what truly matters. To influence by example is very important and crusial to my journey. I don’t need to be better than anyone. I’ve never been very competitive against others. I’ve never compared myself to others. Nevertheless, I thrive to be better than my old me. Not only the old me from 20 years ago, but the old me from a year ago.

I am not saying that I don’t respect the old me from a year ago, I’m just saying that if progress is happiness and progress is success which I believe it is, then I must continue to progress. I must work hard on me on a daily.

There aren’t many things in life more satisfying to me than to help others achieve much more than they could see in themselves. But like the Buddhist say, one must help ourselves before and in order to be able to help others.

I am determined to keep working on me. My mind tries to knock me at times by reminding me how much work, change and evolution I’ve already done. How much more can you do? Then I hear stories of others that put my story to shame.

Currently halfway through David Goggin’s book Can’t Hurt Me. He’s influencing me by his example. There are many tools out there and I am driven to utilize everyone of them that help me become a better me.

First and foremost I want to be a great example to my son’s. Second I want to be the best version of myself that I can be. And finally, if my passion is to help others, what a better way to influence others than by being the best example on a Daily basis that I can be.