Your Brand of Influence
How do you grow and use your brand of influence? Anna Wintour provides an interesting example for us.A recent issue of the WSJ Magazine profiled Wintour in an article called The Business of Being Anna by Joshua Levine.As editor of the U.S. edition of Vogue since 1988, she is arguably the most powerful person in the fashion industry. Her boss says that “she has a remarkable ability to impose her will”. Another friend says “you can make a film in Hollywood without Steven Spielberg’s blessing, and you can publish software in Silicon Valley without Bill Gates’s blessing, but it’s pretty clear to me you can’t succeed in the fashion industry without Anna Wintour’s blessing.”Another famous designer said “If I get a request (from Wintour) for something I don’t want to do…now I don’t even bother to say no.”
Wintour has influence and impact not only in the fashion world, but in industries such as film, sports, art, retail, music, business, politics and food. She’s a major fundraiser, has developed a role that is broader than simply editing a magazine, and is described as “a kind of consigliere to the entire fashion and retail industry.”She’s not only intuitive in leveraging the power of fashion in many aspects of society, but she carefully crafted her image, her persona, her personal brand, and leverages her influence to impact her arena.
As I learned more about Wintour, I couldn’t help but wonder how others build and use their influence.My observation is that she, and others like her, don’t pursue a job or a career.They have a different perspective on their life and work that drives them to transform their environment.They pursue a revolutionary approach to their area of expertise, rather than try to fit in to the established norms. They don’t accept status quo.This means that they must be fully confident in themselves, their abilities, and their point of view. They know how to sell others on their perspectives, and sincerely believe that their actions are for the greater good of many.
So that causes me to pause and ask; how are you growing and using your influence? What are you doing to impact your environment, your business, your company, your organization?Are you responding and reacting to the norms, practices, and culture already established; or are you proactively taking it to the next level?Do you see possibilities that no one else sees?
The most valuable leaders in my estimation are those who influence their environment for Christ. They focus on bringing others into an intimate relationship with the Most High God in a way that transforms the lives of many. Ministers such as Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Joel Osteen, T. D. Jakes, and Joyce Meyer are well known for their accomplishments in this arena. But there are many other Christian leaders of great influence in areas such as;
Politics – Mike Huckabee – former Governor of Arkansas; Charles Colson – evangelist, cultural commentator, former chief counsel for President Richard Nixon and one of the Watergate Seven; Martin Luther King – civil rights activist.
Business – David Green – founder Hobby Lobby stores; S. Truett Cathy – founder Chick –Fil-A food chain; Sam Walton – founder Walmart.
Sports – Tim Tebow – Heisman Trophy winner; Payne Stewart – Golfer; Tony Dungy – Superbowl Winning Football Coach.
Each of these men (and many women as well) pursued creative opportunities to share their faith in God, and to influence others to commit their lives and their futures to Him.They have excelled in their God given gifts, developed a personal brand based on their beliefs, and leveraged their influence to change the lives of those around them.
So what is your brand? Where is your influence?What environment can you impact in a way that is uniquely you?What is God placing in your spirit that is bigger than you? Let Him lead you into His plan for your life, so that you can use your influence to make a difference for Christ with those around you.
Copyright 2011 Priscilla Archangel, Ph.D.
Photo Courtesy of IStockPhoto
