We’ve been talking a lot about gaining authority and influence (see E-Impact 86).

This is such an important part of what we are trying to do in The Impactmaker Movement.

Way back in the September 22nd E-Impact entry, I told a story about the “aftercare” football league.  I remember the scenario vividly for a couple reasons.  First of all, it was about football and friends - two things I still appreciate greatly.  Also, I have learned that it takes some passion and effort to gain authority.  

I wasn’t going to gain authority as an author of a book (as described in the entry linked above) in the elementary school playground.  I did however, make a playbook and a game schedule.  I created some “content” that showed I cared deeply about the league (and having fun with friends).

Taking Credit

Taking credit for something is considered to be selfish.  I agree generally.  They say “credit is given where credit is due.”  It’s not always the case but I would encourage you to do your best to receive credit before taking it.

Here’s the problem:

We want recognition now - as fast as possible.  I just interacted with a tweet from one of my friends Darren Matthews.

https://twitter.com/Darrenmmatthews/status/1497580520405884930?s=20&t=csIWhcy8A1mnBwogAWSf2w 

He is making the point that we are in a rush to decide on things.  I added that this may be a product of the “on demand” world we live in.  I feel that we have conditioned our brains to need responses so quickly that we fail to take the needed time to decide (even in the most critical of situations).  

In my book, Personal Finance in a Public World, I talk about decision fatigue.  You might think that making quick decisions is a solution to this problem.  However, it only leads to failed decisions and additional issues that need to be decided upon.  

Taking credit for something is a product of rushed decision making.  Develop your credibility with consistency, not haste.

Power

I have lifted weights consistently (even with my broken collarbone)  since I was a teenager.  There have a been a few different iterations of training and purpose but for the most part it has always been enjoyable and a way to “compete”.

The best environment was lifting and training speed, agility, and power with my college teammates.  It was loud, aggressive, challenging, and ultimately competitive.  We tracked progress through numbers and a big board that listed the best of all time at the school.

If you are familiar with American football, you know that there are a few key measurements of which people think.

Here’s an explanation of the National Football League (NFL) combine tests.  You’ll see that speed and strength are the main focus and agility and acceleration are also important.  

Most college football players are trying to make it to the NFL.  The numbers are important to getting attention.  

It’s easy to measure a 40 yard dash or bench press repetitions.  However, it’s not that easy to measure power.  See these power tests.  All challenging movements but they aren’t really functional.  

Here’s the scientific way of measuring power.  Interesting, but I can’t imagine us measuring our effectiveness as football players using this method.

Power remains a nuanced measurement that can’t be rushed.

It’s clear that lifting weight will build power but you can’t really measure its effectiveness until you see it in action.  

It really didn’t matter what numbers I put up in the weight room.  What mattered was how I performed on the field.  I had to put the time in the weight room.  There were no shortcuts.

My credibility was built on fitness.  The same goes for our credibility in the impact space.  We can’t take it quickly from anywhere.  We must put in the time to build it.

“Exercising” our Credibility 

Exercising is considered to be good for our physical fitness.  I say it’s also for our credibility.  But, you have to look at it like practice and not “flexing”.  

You can also exercise authority or flex your influential muscle.  I prefer the former.

Think of your actions as a way to build more credibility and not as chance to push your agenda.  This ensures that you are using your power for good.  

I can’t help but think about all the work we have done in The Impactmaker Movement over the past couple years.  We have been building credibility the way we should.  But, it’s easy to start “flexing” our muscle and stop training it. 

A bodybuilder spends months preparing for a short competition.  We should think about our work in this manner.  Stay focused and keep doing the little things that have helped you make a positive impact in the world.  There will be a few times that you need to express your authority but take them as they come.  Don’t force it.  

The Child Commissioner

I was a smart kid; humble too.  I swear.

I didn’t realize the system I had followed when I set up the After Care Football League.  Honestly, if I was a good marketer I could have set up the “AFL”.  But alas, I was more of the visionary. 

The lessons I can learn from my experience building a kid’s football league are profound.  I was an innocent kid and had no other agenda other than having fun.

This is the reason why I can’t use Roger Goodell and the NFL as an example.  It’s a business.  Seven years ago the NFL ended it’s tax exempt status.  See this article describing the process.

Honestly, I really wasn’t that intelligent of a kid and certainly not experienced.  However, the lack of experience actually worked in my favor.  I had no biases and had a simple easily describable mission (whether I knew it or not).

The goal was simple: organized fun.

I wanted to have the league so we could all compete in a sport we loved.

The child commissioner is innocent yet determined.  It may seem like it was just fun times but I remember being stressed about various things I outlined in the entry.  

It was the determination that kept the league alive for as long as it lasted. 

What if we had a simple goal and determination to overcome our daily stresses?

Simplicity

Our enemy is complexity.  

I believe the reason that we err on the side of taking credit is because we fear that it will be taken by someone or something else.  It’s entirely possible.  But you must apply the same logic to whomever or whatever takes it as we applied to ourselves above.  

Taking credit is fleeting.  If you need to take it, it will not last.  

Taking is complex because it requires the discrediting of anything else that assumes it deserves what one is taking.  In theory, there are endless relationships to consider (or at least as many as every other living being).  

Complexity can also be exciting and it’s definitely stimulating and once again I point to the speed of the information age.  

Is simplicity boring?  Yes!  I believe it is.  And that’s why those who can embrace it are winning.  Most people will not accept the effectiveness of consistency, receiving what they deserve, and passive credibility.

Measuring Impact

Measuring the work we do as impactmakers is awful similar to my college training experience.  We can easily come up with various metrics to measure our success.  For example:

• Number of meals served

• Amount of water saved

• Number of wheelchairs built

• Number of people healed

• Amount of money donated

• Percentage of orphaned children

• Ratio of vitamins to calories

But does that actually tell us if there is positive impact?  No.  You can’t assume that the number of meals served actually lessened poverty or hunger in the future.  You may have built wheelchairs but are they making the lives of people in need better?

Just because my maximum squat weight went from 405 pounds to 495 pounds doesn’t mean I was a better football player.

One way to measure your impact is to consider your credibility.  

Ask yourself if the people around you and others in your space consider you to have authority.

Authority comes with experience, which takes time.  

No one should assume that you are doing anything good just because you are known.  However, if you believe that your own actions are noble, the reinforcement of your actions’ value through the giving of credit is a great measure.  In other words, you believe your work is good and others believe it’s effective.  

Power Tripping

Life is journey.  The moment you think you’ve arrived is the moment you’ve started another race.

Unfortunately, this is often the case in the impact world.  We may solve one problem but another will come.  

You can’t settle into your authority and expect positivity to prevail.  You may become more comfortable and confident that you are making a difference but you can never make decisions because you think your credibility is unerring.  

Your credibility and power signals the end of nothing.  I suppose this is why no dynasty lasts forever.  If power meant absolute control, the first person to rise to power would be in charge forever and possibly whoever they passed power to next would take over indefinitely and so on.

As you gain more credibility, you gain more responsibility.  Your mission is stronger.  

And so to conclude your reality check, I encourage you to keep building your influence and your impact project.  Develop you and your team’s skills.  But know that you are building momentum and you’ll need to stay grounded despite gaining more power.  

Growth isn’t about your branches.  It’s about your roots.