📚 Two reads to transform your network and influence

Hey there mover and shaker! 👋

We’re midway through my Activation approach, entering a phase I call “Network and Influence.” While every stage of Activation is necessary, this phase is absolutely crucial to master; without it, the Activation approach won’t work.

The way to cross into new social circles is to be invited in, and unless you’ve achieved a level of fame and significance where people are dying to have you at their parties (think A-list celebrities getting the red carpet rolled out for them), you’re going to need an invitation.

Throughout my career, I've dined with dukes and princesses, met with presidents, entered the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, and sipped champagne on yachts and jets with industry leaders.

I swear that I am not listing these experiences to brag in any way (if you know me, you've likely never heard me mention them so bluntly!).

I'm simply saying that while I'm not royalty, a C-suite executive at a global corporation, or a billionaire, I've been invited into their circles.

How? 

Relationships (which we know are built upon providing a unique value), and building up influence.

While there are of course many nuances involved and strategy required to actually build relationships with people in other circles, this newsletter is here to give you easy, actionable ways to improve your networking ability and build influence for yourself.

P.S.: If you want more from me directly, or to bring someone onto your team that will open doors for you, this is what we DO!

First, to build relationships, you need to understand how to network, and do it really well.

Second, to build influence, you need to have a platform that gives you influence, or hold a position of power — what I refer to as ‘positional power.’

People with positional power might be the head of an association, network, community, company, school, or other group; having that title gives them certain opportunities, like communicating to all of the people they represent — a privilege that is appealing to others who want to reach large groups of people or a specific demographic.

However, positional power can take a long time to acquire. Being hired for a top role, for example, requires extensive experience and long-term relationship building.

Creating positional power can also look like becoming a top tech leader like Jason Fried, who then uses his leadership role to challenge the status quo around how we work, or becoming a professor at Yale and Harvard like Gautam Mukunda, who is the first to admit that positional power gives him a pass to essentially say whatever he wants since people think, “this guy must know his stuff.”

All of these examples require time and hard work. There’s no shortcuts here — unless you want to be the next Fyre Festival entrepreneur! 😅

That being said, my goal is to provide a resource that teaches you exactly how to build your own platform, and at the core of that are people. You can’t have platform (e.g. a community) if you don’t have people that participate in it.

My actionable takeaways from this newsletter (other than offering to work with us directly to build your own community, network, alliance, or other platform) are a couple of essential book recommendations. 👇🏽

Closing Announcement: New Activator Spotlight

There is plenty of leadership advice in the world, but have you considered getting leadership advice from someone who has gotten millions of people to risk their lives for something they believe in?

The principles that Srdja Popovic teaches to activists around the world are so similar to the fundamentals of community building, which is the core of how to activate people and inspire them to take action for your mission.

As a newsletter subscriber you always get first notification of new video releases.

Watch 👇🏽 and reply back to me with your comments. 📥

Till next time,
Nicole

In search of an Activator to consult with you, train your team, speak to a group, build a community, or even lead a movement for you? Click here to learn how we can boost your momentum-building journey.