Page 16 - The Power to Change Anything

The Power to Change Anything 5

and practitioners have discovered the power to change just
about anything. So instead of pleading for the wisdom to know
when to give up, we should be demanding the names and
addresses of the influencers who have found solutions to the
problems we face every day. We should be seeking to expand
the list of things we can change so that we don’t need to seek
serenity so often.
Not everyone will become influencers with a capital “I,”
but everyone can learn and apply the methods and strategies
the world’s best influencers use every day. In fact, that’s the pur-
pose of this book—to share the principles and skills routinely
employed by a handful of brilliant and powerful change agents
so that readers can expand their set of influence tools and bring
about important changes in their personal lives, their families,
their companies, and even their communities.
Unlike most books on the topic, we don’t draw upon the
traditional way of thinking about how to exert influence by sug-
gesting that the best way to help propel others to change is
through the power of verbal persuasion. Wouldn’t it be great if
you could encourage others to stop their bad behavior with just
the right combination of words? We’ve certainly tried. Legions
of leaders have attempted to turn around their latest acquisi-
tion by preaching on the need to “do what’s best for the larger
good.” Unfortunately, it’s a rare leader who has seen this ver-
bal volley alone change behavior in any noticeable way.
Influence requires a lot more than the right combination of
words.
For example, as you bite into a burger the size of a toaster,
wouldn’t it be nice if one more reminder from your spouse
about how you’re digging your grave with your teeth would
actually inspire you to swear off fast food forever? But it’s not
going to happen.
Instead of merely drawing on the power of persuasion, we
explore the full array of strategies successful influencers use
every day (often in combination) to change lifelong habits and