Becoming an Influencer

Twenty-five years ago, on St. Patrick's Day, I walked into my first Dale Carnegie session with a friend from work.  I knew nothing about Dale Carnegie at the time or his best-seller, How to Win Friends and Influence People.  Everything changed that night I met course instructor and future great friend, Jim Miller.

The first tool we learned was how to memorize first and last names, the most important words a person can hear.  There were fifty people in the group and by the end of the session, every member of the group learned everyone's names.  After 14 weeks in the class, I felt like my life transformed.  I became an influencer, not by job title, but by learning how to motivate others using encouragement.  The best way to get someone to do something is to get them to want to do it.

Writing can get lonely at times.  Every writer can use a friend.  This Cyber-bistro brings writers together from all over the world.  It's more than a blog for writing tips; it's a place for unknown writers to make friends and become influencers.  When you become genuinely interested in others and want to help them reach their goals, you become their "rain-maker."

How do you feel about being an influencer?  Please share your thoughts below.