People of Influence!
You don’t have to be a person of influence to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they have taught me. -Scott Adams, (1957-), cartoonist and creator of the Dilbert comic strip.
For the past couple of weeks I have indulged myself in “social networking”; Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn! It’s just amazing how quickly we are all able to connect with anybody and everybody we know! Not only can you have some fun and laughs catching up, but you can also get the word out in an instant about what you are doing with your business and pick up prospects and clients in a no pressure manner…the way most people like to buy! However, is this “connecting” really anything new?Absolutely not! Furthermore the thing that is really interesting to watch is that even in a technological social network, you can still figure out very quickly which people really do care about helping others and which ones are just trying to build a list! At the end of the day, the real “helpers” have the greatest following! This made me think about the real people of influence in life. Ironically, I had started a Facebook album that includes several people that I have heard speak that were very moving and influential, but it actually took the recent untimely death of a friend and business associate to put in perspective what a real inlfuence some people can be!
Unfortunately, this week my whole community experienced the untimely loss of a great guy by the name of Pat Butler. In his early 50s, Pat left us seemingly well before his time but WOW what an effect this guy had on our whole town. The first indication of his influence was that I received no less than three calls the morning after his passing to notify me of the event and many more throughout the day including a teary eyed visit to my home…people just seemed like they had the collective air knocked out of them! The local blogs were humming with nothing but praise and the list of Pat’s contributions read like that of a local super hero…always about helping somebody else! What a great “social legacy”, but I couldn’t help but think about perhaps his greatest legacy; his two sons!Maybe I’m biased as a father of five with my own focus squarely on my own flock, but these two young men stand tall in their father’s image! Pat and his wife Sue have clearly given the best of themselves to their two sons who are not only intelligent and articulate but also kind, young gentleman with social grace! The best way I could describe them in this modern world of social networking is “old school.”The kind of kids who look you in the eye when you meet them face to face and are able to carry on a conversation longer than a couple of perfunctory yessirs!
So what’s my point with this thinking tool? This was a real person of influence! A guy who, without the help of technology, had a lasting effect on a whole local social community and he did it the old fashioned way… a lot of elbow grease and focus on others! I don’t want to sugar coat this blog post either because it would do my friend and his legacy an injustice! I chose to do business with him because he was hard nosed and the best at what he did. He listened to what you wanted to accomplish and wasn’t afraid to tell you exactly what you had to do to get it done! He didn’t like to lose and usually did not regardless of the forum! Ultimately, we are all better for having had this guy in our community! Because of him many good real estate projects have gone forward; the healthcare industry on Cape Cod has expanded; the local Charter School is better for his guidance and my twin 5 year old boys will skate and play in a first class recreation center that he pushed for and helped make a reality! So if you want to be a person of influence like Pat, then do what he did! Roll up your sleeves and go to work! Focus on other people and help them get what they want before you get what you want!You’re really nowhere without other people to care for and help! If being a public figure like Pat intimidates you, then follow his best legacy and focus on those people closest to you! Pat was a dedicated husband and father, never without his family and friends close by! I only wish he could see how proud his “social network” is of him…but in my eyes his legacy lives on! Although his boys may not know it right now, they will be strong because of their dad and will certainly be able to wear the same size shoes! So remember to look to true people of influence like Pat, because they are all around you and are quietly making massive impacts on your community and your life! Study them because success leaves clues and these people are our best teachers!
Dedicated to my friend Pat Butler who left a community a solid foundation upon which it will build its future!
