Being an influencer is the goal of many people in various professions. However, it isn’t something that happens overnight. Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor were top influencers. As with anything worth doing, becoming an influencer is a process. There are different components to that process and everyone needs to figure out what works best for them to get to where they want to be.
As a coach who specializes in mindful influence, I’ve learned that you will take some wrong turns as you pursue influencer status. Initially, what might have seemed like a good idea could turn into a failure or two. While it is impossible to cover everything in an article, there are some things to think about if you want to become an influencer. For now, let’s look at the characteristics I’ve observed influencers possess and how you need to develop and showcase them to create your community.
Characteristics Of Successful Influencers
While I believe influencers might be born with the genetic predisposition to lead, they fortify their behaviors over the years with each opportunity to lead others. Over time, everything they believe, think, and do is synonymous with their brand as an influencer. Influencers are at home in the spotlight, and they never shy away from who they are. The authenticity that radiates from top influencers easily comes to them because it stems from deep within. Their intrinsic motivation was created at conception and cultivated each step along the way.
Some people take the above paragraph the wrong way and say, “Great! Influencers are born. I might as well stop imagining myself as one of them.” That is where you are wrong. From my perspective, everyone is born with an influencer inside, but being an influencer might not manifest itself early.
For some, it can take a specific event where the scales fall from the eyes and a person says, “I can do that!” Others have to be coaxed and taught how to get their inner-influencer to come out and shine to the world. It comes down to recognizing that you have internal knowledge that you are an influencer. You understand your unexpressed potential. There have been signs all along the way, but you just haven’t had the right roadmap to lead you to the top. Yet, here you are: learning and growing and figuring it all out.
Whether your influential traits lie right below the surface or are deep within your soul, I’ve observed influencers are often thirsting to follow the direction of creating significance in their lives. Rather than trying to create something from the unknown or to be somebody they’re not, influencers learn how to extend their genuine self to attract people and build a community around their values and ideals.
The №1 rule of becoming an influencer is to be true to yourself. That is the only way a person can sustain the impact over a long period.
Showcasing Your Inner Influencer
There is no discrimination for discovering your influencer’s soul. It doesn’t matter if you are a CEO, an entrepreneur, a small-business owner or a corporate professional. It also doesn’t matter how old you are or if you are an introvert. I believe your influencer soul trumps overwhelming odds, doubts, uncertainties, and limiting beliefs. Your influencer soul believes the time is now to declare to yourself and others, “I am ready to step into my vision and give myself the permission to release the genius I have within me. I am all in, and I am going to create my future starting today.”
To showcase your inner influencer, you’ll need to know how to brand yourself. To do this, learn about your target audience. The strength of your personal beliefs, the power of high-performance emotions and the intensity of your actions drive influence.
Becoming a successful influencer is not just about what you say (your message) or how you say it (your delivery); it’s about how you create your message based on who you are and who your audience is. It’s about how you package your message into a brand and position your brand to attract people. It’s also how you deliver your brand through your platform so more and more people can find you.
Finally, it comes down to how you show up each day. Live and breathe your authentic influencer brand. Think about the impact you create and how far-reaching it is.
If you want to make a difference, it is important to touch people’s hearts and bring the change from the inside out. The key is continuous learning, growth, and improvement. Seek to impact how others think for the greater good. Once people change how they think, they can change their behaviors. Between the trigger and action lies the power of choice. The power of the right decision makes you create changes to reach unparalleled heights, expand your life in unimagined dimensions and create a meaningful impact.
Divya Parekh helps entrepreneurs and business leaders develop a confident narrative about their experiences and expertise to drive impact in people’s lives.
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