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Becoming a Person of Influence
Book

Becoming a Person of Influence

How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others

John C. Maxwell
Thomas Nelson, 1997
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Editorial Rating

8

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  • Applicable

Recommendation

This book holds a wealth of practical knowledge for those who want to move up the corporate food chain. But even if you don't have professional ambitions and simply want to be a better human being, you've come to the right place. John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan start with the basics, teaching that honesty, integrity, unselfishness, kindness and understanding are crucial components of any relationship, business or personal. They believe that as you strengthen your character, you will enjoy a more fulfilling and productive life, at home and at work. Since they reframed some concepts to fit chapter themes, the material is repetitive at times, but it is spiced with entertaining anecdotes and glimpses of business celebrities (such as Sam Walton). getAbstract thinks up-and-coming leaders will want this on their reading lists, along with Maxwell's other boosters.

Summary

Making an Impact

You don't have to be an elected official, star athlete, TV host or corporate executive to influence others. You have an impact on many people every day at home, at work and socially. But if your goal is to be really successful and positively affect others, you must become "a person of influence." Football coaches win games when they motivate and empower their players. Sales managers meet their quotas by encouraging and inspiring their salespeople. Moms and dads raise courteous and respectful children by setting good examples.

Your degree of influence is not the same with everyone. For instance, newspaper editors have a greater impact on their reporters than on the IT folks who maintain the company's computers. You have more influence over your children than you do over the others kids on the playground.

You cannot become influential overnight. This is an incremental process that occurs over time; it can take years. Your influence on the people around you can be either positive or negative, but you can change a negative influence to a positive one with work and focus.

The four escalating levels of influence are:

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About the Author

John C. Maxwell is a leadership expert and speaker who has sold millions of books, including his bestseller The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Jim Dornan is president of an international company that coordinates business seminars and training, and develops software, databases and publications.

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