The Circle of Influence

Who influences you?

This question has surely triggered your thoughts and some names have already popped up in your thoughts. It may be your boss, a mentor, a parent, a father figure, a friend, a brother, your spouse or someone else who has played an important role in shaping up the person you are today, or someone you have made a difference to.

But these are not the influencers I am referring to here. Your “circle of influence” consists of people who you interact with very frequently. To be exact, I am talking about those FIVE individuals in your present day life with whom you interact with most frequently, those you commonly categorize as your friends. Why five? Because it is said that “you are the sum average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”.  A powerful saying which questions the very core of who you are, what makes you tick, how you operate and where you are headed.

As you travel through the different stages of your life into new situations and newer experiences, locate new places, meet new people and make new friends, at any given point in time your circle of friends, those you most hang-out with or you most talk to, are the people who inadvertently influence and shape the journey-man in you.Who is in your circle of influence?

I am guessing you have a narrower list now. Is it a handful or fewer? It is your restricted group and it is by invitation only. Who have you chosen to invite? Are they helping you grow as a person? These are tough questions but one that we must ask ourselves, find answers to and be content with; and then we must explore its reverse impact: Whose circle of influence do you belong to? Who gets influenced by You?

Read Part 2 of this themed post - The Intent to Influence