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🛣️ Introducing the workaround to gaining power and influence

The traditional path to power and influence isn't the *only* path

Author

Nicole Vasquez
July 17, 2024

Welcome into the third edition of Momentum By Design. 👋

In the last newsletter, we acknowledged that success often hinges on who you know and how well you leverage those connections. I also shared the reasons why everyone, not just the power-hungriest among us, can and should be leveraging the tactics of power, influence, networking in a strategic way, which I call ‘momentum building.’

I told you today’s newsletter would set you on the road to claiming that power.

Let’s begin by taking a look at one of the traditional routes to power and influence: attaining an Ivy League degree.

For example, by attending an Ivy League…

  • You’ll get a degree from a top-tier school, giving you credibility

  • You’ll be recognized as an Ivy Leaguer, giving you visibility

  • You’ll join an alumni network that is likely to rise the ranks, giving you access to influential people

  • You’ll qualify for a high-paying job, giving you wealth

  • You’ll acquire an important title at a respected organization, giving you positional power

  • You’ll acquire a leadership position, giving you influence over others

Take the subject of my latest interview, Gautam Mukunda, for example. His education and early career experience include going to Harvard for undergrad, working at McKinsey, earning a PhD from MIT, and receiving a Soros fellowship, which Gautam jokingly said gave him "more pedigree than a Westminster Kennel contestant."

Of course, attending an ivy league is the path of an elite few compared to the rest of the world. The inaccessibility of this path may be enough to make you cringe.

But don’t lose hope — because there is a workaround.

When speaking with influential leaders and change-makers, I always ask them to identify the main reasons why they’ve been able to build momentum and make an impact in their field.

Good news: the three most common reasons are ones every single one of us can access or achieve with planning and effort.

1️⃣: Having relationships with the right people — meaning, the kind of relationships that can open doors for you

2️⃣: Providing a value to others — without expectation of receiving anything in return

3️⃣: Being crystal clear on your purpose — letting people know exactly what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and why you’re the right person to do it

The top three elements to making an impact are accessible to anyone and everyone.

Take Miki Agrawal, for example. The 3x founder of TUSHY, Thinx, and WILD restaurants didn’t initially know how to put together a business plan, but she did know how to bring people together (providing value) and knew she was keen on disruption (a clear purpose).

Founding Partner of 18 Coffees, Caleb Gardner, is another example.
He intentionally made himself available for chance encounters so that he could meet and develop relationships with the right people.

Let’s stick a bookmark here for now. 🔖

When I return to your inbox in two weeks’ time, it’ll be to unpack what it means to have relationships with the right people — I’ll share tips on how to meet and develop authentic relationships with those folks. Think of it as demystifying and destigmatizing the idea of networking!

Thanks for reading!
Nicole

Any questions, thoughts, or ideas after reading today’s newsletter? Click here to share them with me on X or simply reply to this email! If you found value in today’s read, please forward it to a friend or colleague!

What I’ve loved recently:

🎬 “Io Capitano”: A masterpiece. A look at the personal story behind the headlines of migrants leaving their country for a better life — including the people who take advantage of them along the way — and the many who help them.

👂 “Charlamagne Tha God Won't Take Sides” on The Interview Podcast by The New York Times: An interesting perspective on how he chooses to interview people based on their power, such as political power, and placing higher pressure on those running for office.