Change Catalyst with Shanna Mann: Strategy & Support for Sane Self-Employment

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“Influencer” Review

  1. “Influencer” Review
  2. Review: The E-Myth Revisited
  3. Review: IT’S YOUR SHIP
  4. Review: The Millionaire Next Door
  5. Review: Rogue Warrior’s Strategy for Success
  6. Time-Boxing and Timer Apps, or, How to Curate Your Weird
  7. On “Small Giants” and Deciding on Your Own Definition of Great

Influencer coverMy aunt M is a source of many wonderful books. She comes down to visit with a stack she thinks I’ll like, and though I’m not a huge fan of non-fiction (I usually find them heavy on sound and fury, but very little substance) I’m generally deeply engrossed.

Most recently, a book called Influencer: The Power to Change Anything. It’s by a whole whack of people that I never heard of before who apparently have had a great deal of success in the corporate consulting sphere and furthermore, have studied people who by dint of their personal influence have implemented far-reaching changes within their fields.

Examples include a doctor in Thailand who virtually halted the spread of AIDS in that country by persuading sex workers to use condoms, a group of concerned persons in Africa who wiped out the Guinea worm (a three-foot long parasite) by persuading every contaminated village in Africa to filter all their water for one whole year, and a woman in Seattle who takes people out of prisons and within two weeks, turns out clean, sober, responsible and hard-working individuals.

The read was compelling, the reasoning sound, and the theories, if correct, earth shaking. But the primary value, to me, was it explained to me why I am such a convincing person. I have always had the comforting knowledge that I can talk my way out of nearly any situation my impetuosity or big mouth has gotten me into.

It’s because I am a good storyteller.  You may construe this badly; it’s not because I’m a good liar (though I am), it’s because when you use a story to illustrate your point, it engages people emotionally. The reason why this works when persuasive argument fails is because people don’t reason logically. 😮 The hell, you say. They reason emotionally.

I especially liked the examples of using mainstream media to influence the behaviors of entire cultures. I’ve noticed this on shows like Law&Order (I was especially impressed with the one portraying a pedophile who runs a support network for other pedophiles to encourage them to suppress their urges)(Season 10, episode 2). What I didn’t realize is that people are studying this; Sociology departments around the world are taking over popular TV shows. A soap in Mexico shows the macho main character admit that he is illiterate and seek help, the next day, literacy centers all over Mexico are swamped. A similar show in an African nation portrays a virile main character who picks on his wife, cheats with prostitutes and doesn’t wear a condom. Over the course of the series, he realizes the error of his ways, causing many men to rethink abusing their wives (seriously!). It was a fascinating and powerful section.

Go find this book. Read it. If you want to make a difference in the world, if you want to have a tight –knit community, or if you simply want to convince people to buy your stuff—learn how to spin a good tale.

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