The Art of Influence by Jim Stovall
This week, I am—once again—enjoying the privilege of having one of my books being released into the marketplace around the world. I have written well over forty books, and all of them are special in some way. This title, The Art of Influence, is certainly no exception. This is the first book I have written since receiving the Napoleon Hill award for literary achievement. When you accept an award that bears the name of the greatest writer in your field, the only way you can put it into perspective is to consider it as a challenge to be lived up to in the future as opposed to deserved recognition for something you may have done in the past.
The gold medal was presented to me by my friend and mentor, Don Green, who is the Executive Director of The Napoleon Hill Foundation. Don is a modern-day embodiment of Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich message. The Art of Influence is my fourth collaboration with my esteemed coauthor Dr. Raymond Hull. Ray and I seem to be the perfect blend of actual real-world experience and academic expertise. When I think of The Art of Influence and how we are all influenced here in the 21st century, I am mindful of the powerful influence of individuals like Napoleon Hill, Don Green, and Ray Hull.
Napoleon Hill was born in the 19th century, changed the world in the 20th century with his landmark book Think and Grow Rich, and continues to shape our culture here in the 21st century. Don Green is among those rare and gifted individuals who see the value in someone else’s work and dedicate themselves to extending the scope and depth of their legacy. Generations of people yet to be born will experience the power of Napoleon Hill’s work because of Don Green. Dr. Hull exercises influence in a university setting as a teacher. This is among the highest callings anyone can accept, and people like Ray change the world one student at a time.
Influence can be either good or bad, and it can be overt or subtle. We are all being influenced, and we are all influencing others every day. If we learn something, we change our world; if we teach something, we change another person’s world; but if we teach people to teach, we can change the whole world.
Learn from Napoleon Hill, Don Green, and Ray Hull as you take control of all the influences in your life, become your best self, and share it with a world sorely in need of powerful and positive influences.
As you go through your day today, consider the potential, and practice the art of influence.
Today’s the day!
Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books, including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082; by e-mail at Jim@JimStovall.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/stovallauthor; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimstovallauthor. His latest book, coauthored with Raymond H. Hull, is The Art of Influence. It can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, 800-CEO-READ, and other fine retailers.