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Food for Living: The Power of Influence
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny friends,
We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why – Stephen King
As human beings, we are endowed with several powers; powers to make choices, take decisions, lead, love among others. The ones we allow are the ones that have control over us. These powers operate in several ways all in a bid to get humans to act in a certain way. However, one of the greatest human powers is the power to influence. When you can influence a human or animal, you will not only be revered and respected, but you will also be adored.
It should be noted that power and influence might sound relative, but they are different. Power is the ability to impose your will or make others act in the way you want based on your authority. Influence on the other hand is the ability to change how someone else behaves or thinks based on persuasion instead of authority. Influence refers to the ability to have a positive impact on others, to persuade or convince them to gain their support. The world needs people with positive influence. The power of influence is in dire need in life whether you are working as a student, politician, professional, parent, supervisor, coach, mentor, religious leader or even an employee, you have the power to influence people to act in certain ways. Influence can be negative or positive. When it is positive, it is for the common or public good, but when it is negative, it’s manipulative.
I have personally been influenced by the lives of great people who are not only wealthy, but extremely humble. I have also been inspired and influenced by intelligent people who are very humble. I have also been influenced by selfless people who share their time with the world even when it is not convenient for them to do so. Having said that, nothing humbles and influences me more than humility.
Influence works in several ways. You don’t really have to have political or institutional power to have influence. Influence is a currency if you know how to apply it. If you have a rich network, you have influence, if you have money, you have influence, if you are intelligent, you have influence, if you are handsome or beautiful, you have influence.
A typical example of how influence works is by examining the human body, all the parts of the human body are very important. No human part is less important than the other part of the body. Every single part of the human body needs the other parts to function well. If the anus no matter how little it is says you won’t be able to defecate, you will feel uncomfortable, if the little pinky or thumb finger says you can’t use them, it will be hard for you to hold any object comfortably.
The reason I shared this insight is to let you know how powerful you are to the extent you feel you are not relevant in the equation or scheme of things. To buttress this point once more, imagine during elections politicians are always looking for votes, especially in the swing areas to coast home to victory. In such a scenario, they will be glad to have any vote they can grab. So, do you see how powerful and influential you are? According to Richelle E. Goodrich, “All human beings wield influence – a powerful sword granted at birth. Wield your sword with care.”
In every sphere of life, we need influence to make things work. Whether in relationship, business, academic, family, school or church gatherings, the ability to influence people will be the game changer. This is because to influence someone, you must build a connection with that person.
To influence people, you need to listen to them and that entails using emotional intelligence which entails being able to understand what matters to them, their perspective, and using the insight to communicate with them. According to Richelle Goodrich, “we are more likely to influence people if we are willing to minister with kindness and patience to their needs.
Below are three ways to influence people:
Persuasion
To influence people, you need to persuade them by using rational, logical arguments to explain your point. This entails showing them how beneficial the idea will be useful to them. Politicians and entrepreneurs are best advocates for this form of influence.
Collaboration
Another way to influence people is by collaborating with them. When you work with people, they feel comfortable to relate and share with you. Managers, supervisors, and associations use this medium of influence to achieve their goal, vision or purpose because they all commit to do a task together. As a leader when you collaborate with people, your subordinates see a committed leader who gives them more reason to commit on their own.
Inspiration
Do you know you can influence someone with the way you live your life? Most times, people are inspired by the works of other people more than their words. Great leaders, athletes, children, mentees, and progressive model people who have done great work in the society. According to David McKay, “Children are more influenced by sermons you act than by sermons you preach”.
In conclusion, do you want to be a man of influence? If yes, you can decide the legacy you want the world to reckon with you. According to Jack Robison, “A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives”.
The question you need to ask yourself is what impact are you making in society. When you decide the change what you want to see in the society, pick one cause or area of life you are passionate about which you would like to see a change in the society and be the change you want the world to see. To do that, I have shared some inspiring quotes to inspire you on this journey.
It is more important to influence people than to impress them.
– Adrian Rogers
If you try to influence everyone, you won’t influence anyone.
– Josh Steimle
A life without influence is a life without meaning.
– Josh Steimle
Family and impact come first, income and influence come second as a supporting role.
– Richie Norton
Nothing has a greater influence over your life than your thoughts whether they are negative or positive. – Tasha Hoggatt
The influential man is the successful man, whether he be rich or poor.
– Orison Swett Marden
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s a Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer Design Your Destiny and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Fresh facts have emerged over the abduction of school pupils and the killing of two teachers alongside an okada rider in Ahoro-Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as investigators uncovered how suspected informants allegedly maintained communication with the abductors through telephone conversations.
The Oyo State Police Command disclosed that investigators tracked the suspects through calls believed to have been exchanged with the bandits during and after the operation.
According to the police, the conversations allegedly contained details on how the criminals could successfully navigate routes within the National Park to hidden locations used as safe havens.
The breakthrough led to the arrest of no fewer than six suspects, who are currently in police custody and assisting security agencies with ongoing investigations into the gruesome incident.
Confirming the development on Tuesday morning, the State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the suspects were apprehended during coordinated security operations across different locations in the State.
“We have six suspects in custody and they are assisting the investigation,” Ayanlade said.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly served as informants to the bandits responsible for the abduction and killings.
“Our findings showed that some of the suspects were in contact with the abductors through telephone conversations and investigators are analysing those communications as part of efforts to uncover the full network behind the crime,” he stated.
Ayanlade further disclosed that security agencies uncovered discussions allegedly centred on routes through the National Park and locations believed to have been used by the criminals as hideouts.
“The conversations contained information on how the abductors could move through the National Park undetected and reach safe locations,” he added.
The police spokesman explained that the suspects were arrested during joint operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Agro-Rangers.
“The arrests were made possible through intelligence-driven operations carried out by joint security operatives working collaboratively to dismantle the criminal network,” Ayanlade said.
He assured residents that security agencies were intensifying efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate linked to the attack.
“We are committed to ensuring that every individual connected to this criminal act is identified, arrested and brought to justice. Investigations are still ongoing,” he said.
The incident, which claimed the lives of two teachers and an Okada rider while school pupils were abducted last Friday, has continued to generate concern among residents of the affected communities and neighbouring areas in Oyo State.
Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has confirmed that one of the teachers abducted during the recent terrorist attack on schools in Oriire LGA of the state, has been killed in captivity.
Speaking on Sunday during a press briefing on the incident, Makinde described the situation as “difficult and challenging”, saying the state government is intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining victims.
On Friday, gunmen riding motorcycles invaded communities within the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis of Oriire, Ogbomoso, and abducted students and staff members of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, L.A. Primary School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School.
The attack left an assistant headmaster, identified as Joel Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist dead.
According to Makinde, a video received by the state government confirmed the killing of one of the abductees identified as a mathematics teacher.
“What we know is that seven teachers in all were abducted and unfortunately, we got a video this morning that one of the teachers, the maths teacher, was killed by the terrorists this morning,” Makinde said.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of schoolchildren abducted.
In the aftermath of the incident, videos recorded from captivity began circulating on social media, showing abducted teachers pleading with the government and Nigerians for urgent intervention.
One of the viral videos featured Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, appealing to the government to help secure the release of the victims before they are killed.
Makinde detailed that six persons had been arrested within the affected locality over alleged links to the attackers, and that another three “persons of interest” were also arrested in connection with the attack.
“The information available from the Commissioner of Police is that six individuals have been arrested within the locality. Some of them were believed to perhaps be informants to people running logistics for the terrorists,” he said.
Following the attack, the Oyo Police Command announced the commencement of an intensive manhunt and rescue operation involving multiple security agencies.
Makinde said personnel of the police, military, the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun, and local hunters were mobilised immediately to pursue the attackers.
The governor said, however, some Amotekun operatives sustained injuries after encountering improvised explosive devices planted by the terrorists during the operation.
“After the incident, Amotekun, the police, military and hunters were mobilised to go after the terrorists and it was along that line that they ran into IEDs and some of the Amotekun operatives were wounded,” he said.
Sources told TheCable that the terrorists had initially opened fire on the security operatives who were approaching the Old Oyo national park on motorcycles, causing them to flee.
“When the shooting subsided, the operatives decided to go for their motorbikes. Unfortunately, a dynamite exploded against one Amotekun corps member and he was wounded. He has been taken to the hospital for medical attention,” a source said.
“Apart from air raid, the Old Oyo National Park Area can’t be easily accessed through infantry. It’s a long distance from the Oowe River which forms a natural landmark boundary for the park. Motorcycles would have to be used for the journey, but the noise of the approaching motorcycles alerted the terrorists.”
Makinde linked the attack to increasing pressure being mounted on terrorist groups in the north-east, warning that fleeing armed groups are moving into other parts of the country, including the south-west.
“With the pressure on the terrorists in the north-east theatre, they will keep moving southwards. Today, the governor of Kwara state has spoken to me. But the problem we have is that when you have pressure in one place, we must be prepared on this side to either repel or neutralise any terrorists fleeing the pressure,” he said.
The governor harped on the need for sustained government and security presence in vulnerable communities, warning that temporary military operations without long-term security measures could leave residents exposed to future attacks.
“If all we can do is clearance operations for a week or two and leave that place, the terrorists will come back and the people will become vulnerable,” he said.
He assured residents that the state government would be deploying military and non-military strategies to secure the release of the abducted victims and tackle the growing security threat.
“We have decided that we will adopt not just the kinetic approach. We have not taken this lightly,” he added.
Makinde also appealed for calm and patience from residents, acknowledging the complexity of the operation.
“I want to appeal to everyone that we are doing everything within our power to ensure that this would be resolved quickly and we bring our children back safely, but it is a very difficult and challenging situation so there may not be quick fixes,” he added.
Source: TheCable
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Complaining is part of human nature. We complain about our health, school, family, friends, work, finances, government, and life in general. Human beings literally complain about everything and anything.
Over time, I have come to discover something about life: complaining doesn’t solve a problem; it adds to it. According to the Book of Life, why worry when you can pray? The moral of this statement is that instead of worrying, why not look for solutions? When you worry, it only accumulates the problems, but when you explore avenues to solve a problem, you’re literally praying.
Complaining is like having a problem and apportioning blame to another person instead of fixing it. One of the hallmarks of great minds is the ability to solve problems, while little minds complain.
In the world of visionary leaders, they don’t complain; rather, they see complaints as challenges of life, while lesser minds see complaints as problems of life. Again, while great leaders see problems as a gateway to make money and succeed by proffering solutions, little minds see problems as obstacles limiting their growth to succeed. Same action but different results and consequences.
As human beings, we tend to focus on what we don’t have instead of focusing on what we have. It’s only when we appreciate what we have that we give room for opportunities and favors to come to us. It’s unfortunate some of fucus on what we are going through instead of what we are becoming.
It’s instructive to note that complaints don’t lead us anywhere, rather it hinders our progress. Nobody likes complainers; complainers are usually seen as energy suckers because all they do is take without giving. Instead of complaining, why not practice gratitude? Gratitude helps to draw and attract opportunities.
In the world of human relations, the ability to manage people is an uncommon skill. One must learn to nurture relationships. Human beings can be difficult to manage. While some exhibit meekness, gratitude, cheerfulness, and loyalty, some exhibit bitterness, frustration, depression, sadness, and sorrow. What most people don’t know is that we have the ability to change how we manage our lives and how we react to what life throws at us through our attitude.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not insinuating that complaining is wrong; rather, I’m insinuating it’s not healthy for our mental health. The only time we can complain about something is when we are proffering a solution; by so doing, we have highlighted the problems and proffered the solution.
Complaints make us blind to see the good in others. As a word of advice, if you focus exclusively on the shortcomings of the people with whom you have to relate and forget that they have a good point, it will be difficult to see the good in them.
According to Yomi Garnett, focus on the good side of people and be intentional in learning about their mindset and inquire what made them who they are. Also, focusing on the good side of people despite their bad or weak side makes them feel valuable as human beings, and by so doing, we show our empathic personality.
In conclusion, resolve today to stop complaining and start appreciating the challenges of life with gratitude.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
