To be a person of influence

To be influential must be really nice. You get to steer situations to your liking. You can play around the components of the situation. In a church situation for example. If you are a person of influence, you can get your son selected to be a child reader. You can get the worship minister to include your daughter to show case her musical ability no matter how mediocre it is. Your grandchildren, all 5 of them, are in the pageant and one of them playing either Mary or Joseph.

How do you achieve a position of influence? One of the easiest way is through money. Financial contribution, especially a substantial one, can go a long way. Being useful and indispensable to the leadership is another sure thing. Contribute your time to the organization. But these require sacrifices of ones' money or time. The easiest way is to be a desirable company either by looking good, fashionable, and look pleasing or entertaining, funny, charming and excellent conversationalist. Having the correct lineage also help increases your influence. If your grandfather is one of the founding fathers of a school for instance, you stood a chance to be an influential PTA or e-parent member.

This reminds me to the verse "a gift opens the way for the giver" (Proverbs 18:16).

Also to Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence Others.

The above is a book I want my children to read. Lots of good tips on how to win friends and be influential.