The Power of Influence
Influence — The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
Now that’s true Power. As with anything the power of influence can either be used for the greater good or for manipulation. In the case of my children, I must be the single greatest influence in their lives; or so I used to think before I had children. Now that I am older and a little wiser, I now understand that being the “single” greatest influence is not the way to go.
The goal should not be to become the single greatest influence in my children’s lives but to create an influential environment that fosters their consistent positive growth. My wife and I, during a typical five-day workweek, currently spend less than four meaningful hours with our children per day. How can a situation set up in such a way be conducive to me being the most influential person in their lives? The honest answer is: It can’t!
“The goal should not be to become the single greatest influence in my children’s lives but to create an influential environment that fosters their consistent positive growth.”
Here’s what I can do:
- I can create an environment that supports the way my children learn and develop. If that means that I have to choose a Montessori model as opposed to the traditional educational format which most of us are used to, then so be it.
- I can find programs that challenge them to grow outside of their comfort zones and mine.
- I can expose them to different cultural environments so that they understand that the world is bigger, better, and brighter than the street lights that line the block outside of their bedroom windows.
My life is the way that it is today because my Mother understood The Power of Influence while simultaneously understanding her own scope of influence. She knew that she had to expose me to things that weren’t necessarily shaped by her past, environment, or socioeconomic circumstances.
If you want to be influential create the environment where positive influence happens and the positive effects on your legacy through your children will last a lifetime.
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Perspective by: Terrell Lindsey
Curated by: Awesome Black Dads
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