你知道你有多强大吗？
The influence we exert is powerful. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. We often don’t give ourselves enough credit for the power we wield.
我们发挥的影响力是很强大的。我已经思考这个问题很久了。我们常常不够确信自己所拥有的力量。
One person, through their influence, can make a huge difference in the world. They can build a building, start something like Facebook, craigslist or YouTube, discover a cure for a disease, bring peace to a nation or start a war.
一个人通过他的影响力可以使世界变得不同。他可以修建一栋房子、可以建立Facebook、craigslist或YouTube这样的网站、可以发现治疗疾病的方法、可以给民族带来安宁或者发起战争。。。
You can make big things happen if you choose to use your influence. All you have to do is start pushing things in the direction you desire. It might take some time, but your influence is powerful enough to make things happen.
如果你选择运用你的影响力，那么你就可以做大事。你要做的就是促使事情像你想要的方向发展。可能这要花一些时间，但是你的影响力足够让它们发生。
Of course, you don’t have to influence the entire world. Your desire may be to change your family, your business, your department, your neighborhood, your health or your school. Whatever the scope, you can make a difference by exerting your influence. You are powerful.
当然你不用影响整个世界。你的希望可能是改变你的家庭、你的生意、你所在的部门、你的邻居、你的身体状况或者你的学业。不管在什么范围内，你一定能通过运用你的影响力而使事情变得不同，因为你很强大。
The Power Influence Has to Make Things Happen
影响的力量促使事情发生
Think of your influence like water. Water in motion is a very powerful force. We’ve all seen the pictures of a flood carrying away cars and even homes.
把你的影响力想像成水。水的流动是非常强大的力量。我们都见过洪水把汽车和房子卷走的画面。
This is similar to what can happen today if you launch an idea and it goes viral on the Internet. It becomes like a flood. It moves rapidly over all the obstacles in its way. Nothing can stop it.
这和今天的情况很相似：你提出一个主意，然后它就在网络上传播开了，像洪水一样。它迅速地把所有障碍都冲走，没有什么可以阻止。
We often hold back launching our ideas because we think it won’t make a difference, but what if others embrace it? It happens every day. Common people become famous in an instant. Movements are created. People rally together behind a cause. Influence makes big things happen.
我们常常在有想法的时候退缩，因为我们觉得这不能改变什么。但是如果其他人用户它呢？这样的事情每天都发生。普通人一夜成名，新的变化产生，人们为某个原因而聚集起来，影响力促使大事件发生。。。
Of course, not all ideas go viral, still influence is powerful. It can work like erosion. Slowly, but surely, over time erosion changes entire landscapes.
当然不是所有主意都会传播开来，但是影响力的确是强大的。就像侵蚀，缓慢而坚定，随着时间过去，整个景色都会改变。
You have this power inside you. We all do. It is all about how we choose to use it.
你内心也有这种力量，我们都有。关键是我们选择怎样运用它。
The Way We Discount Our Influence
我们削弱自己的影响力的方式
Our lizard brain usually tells us that we don’t have the power to make things happen. It says that we can’t possibly influence people in a way that will make a difference.
我们的大脑通常说：我们没有力量促使事情发生。它说我们不可能影响别人，而使事情变得不同。
When I think about this, the movie It’s a Wonderful Life comes to mind. George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, doesn’t see how his influence is making a difference in “his world” until he’s shown what things would be like if he’d never been born.
当我思考这件事的时候，电影《美好人生》出现在我的脑海。由Jimmy Stewart扮演的George Bailey，并不知道他的世界由于他的影响而变得多么不一样，直到他得知如果自己没有出生，世界会是什么样。
Just like George Bailey, we all have the opportunity to change our families, communities, businesses and even possibly the world for the better, if we quiet our fears and exert our influence.
就像George Bailey一样，如果我们客服我们的恐惧并且发挥我们的影响力，我们就有机会改变我们的家人、公众、事业，甚至可能使世界更美好。
Yes, people might resist, at least at first, but eventually they will likely go along. Why? Because people want leadership. They want to follow those that are passionate about something.
是的，人们可能会，至少一开始会阻止你，但最后他们会跟随你。因为人们需要领导，他们想要追随那些对事物充满激情的人。
They might be a little slow to see the light at first, but don’t let that stop you. They’ll come around. They’ll listen to you and become convinced.
一开始要他们看见希望之光可能比较慢，但不要停下来。他们会重新回来的，他们会听你的并且更加坚定。
Stop discounting your influence and shying away out of fear. Decide what you want, put your fear aside and start exerting your influence to make it happen.
不要再低估你的影响力并因为恐惧而害怕。决定你想要的，把你的恐惧放到一边，开始发挥你的影响力并促使事情发生吧。
How to Use Your Influence
怎样运用你的影响力
Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality. ~ Les Brown
不要让别人对你的评价变成你的现实。 - Les Brown
Things will remain the same until you start using your power to create change. Others may not see you as a change maker, but don’t let that stop you. You are powerful. You have influence. You can alter your reality if you will create your own map and lead others in the direction you want to go.
生活会保持原样，直到你开始使用你的力量去创造改变。别人可能不会认为你是变化的制造者，但不要停下来。你是很强大的。你有影响力！你可以改变你的现实，如果你创造自己的蓝图并且指引别人向你想要的方向前进的话。
How do we do this? It is pretty simple really. Here are some ways to use your influence:
我们应该怎么做呢？其实真的很简单。以下是运用你的影响力的几个方法：
1. Take Action
1、行动
运用你的影响力最好的方法就是：行动。做一些事情来改变它原本发展的方向。如果你的家庭经济困难，那么就做一个预算。如果你需要改善健康状况，那么就去锻炼。如果你的生意低迷，那么就去打电话吧。
Don’t just sit back and wait for someone else to lead the way. Use your influence. It is a powerful agent for change. Once you start doing something, then others will likely join in and you’ll be amazed at how your efforts will snowball. Small actions can and do make big things happen.
不要坐下来等别人给你带路。运用你的影响力，这是变化发生的强有力的原动力。一旦你开始做某事，其他人就可能会加入你，而你会惊讶于自己的努力像雪球一样越滚越大。小小的行动可能也一定会使大事件发生。
One note I’d like to add here, you do not need formal authority or a particular position to be an influencer. Don’t wait for someone else to sanction your actions. Stand up and make a difference. Your efforts will be rewarded.
我想加的一条是，你不需要正式的权威或特殊的职位来成为一个影响者。不要等别人批准你行动，站起来做点什么，你的努力会有回报的。
2. Start Talking about It
2、开始谈论它
Everything starts as an idea in someone’s head. Each of us was at one time simply an idea in our parent’s head. Then one of them spoke up and we were born. They used their influence and brought us into the world. You can speak up and give birth to your idea too. Never discount the power of an idea!
每件事的发生都源于某人的一个想法。我们每个人的存在其实也就源于父母头脑中的一个想法。其中一个人说了出来，于是我们诞生了。他们用了他们的影响力把我们带到了这个世界上。你也可以站起来，让你的想法出生。不要忽视一个想法的力量！
There are so many avenues today to get your idea heard. There are blogs, social media sites, tea parties, meet-ups, support groups, reality shows and of course the good old one-on-one conversation. If you have an idea that you want to spread, then I’d highly recommend reading Seth Godin’s free e-book called Unleashing the Ideavirus for a lot of great information on how to use your influence.
如今有很多方式可以让你的想法被别人听见，比如博客、社会媒体网站、茶话会、偶然的见面、组织支持、事实陈述当然还有老式的一对一面谈。如果你有一个想展示的想法，那么我建议你读读Seth Codin的免费网络书《散布思想病毒Unleashing the Ideavirus》，上面有很多关于怎样运用影响力的信息。
3. Find an Ally
3、找一个同盟者
I hesitate to even mention this because I believe in the power of one, but you can find an ally to help. Of course, you are going to need allies for your idea to gain momentum, but I want to underscore that it is not necessary to have an ally to get started. Don’t let the lack of an ally stop you from pressing forward and exerting your influence. Allies will come.
我很犹豫是否提到这个，因为我相信个体的力量。但是你可以找一个同盟者来帮忙。当然你需要很多同盟者来推动你的想法，但是我想强调，你不需要一个同盟者和你一起开始。不要让缺少同盟者阻碍你前进和发挥你的影响力，同盟者会到来的。
However, sometimes an ally that has influence can really give your idea legs. They can also be a source of encouragement. I’d just caution you against letting the desire to get an ally become the focus of your effort. Also, don’t compromise on the ideal you envision in order to get an ally. Stick to your cause and press forward.
不过有时候，有影响力的同盟者的确会使你的想法更有力，他们还可以起到激励的作用。我只是提醒你不要让寻找同盟者的渴望阻碍了你集中注意力在自己的努力上面。还有，不要为了找寻同盟者而让你的理想妥协，坚持你的信念，奋力向前。
Embrace Your Power and Use Your Influence
发挥你的力量，运用你的影响力
The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now. ~ Chinese Proverb
种树最好的时机是20年以前，而第二个好时机就是现在。- 中国谚语
I cannot emphasize enough how powerful you are to create change. You are enough. You can get it going and make it happen. You have a lot more influence than you think. You just have to believe in yourself and start taking steps in the direction you want things to go. Don’t wait on others. Don’t wait for the perfect timing. Don’t let anything hold you back. Start using your influence to create the life you want today!
我必须强调你是如此强大能够创造改变，你就足够了。你可以行动起来促使事情发生。你比你自己所想的拥有更多影响力。只要相信你自己，开始采取行动，朝你想要方向去走。不要等其他人来做，不要等待最佳时机，不要让任何事情妨碍你。今天就用你的影响力创造你想要的生活吧！
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