The Power of Influence
By Mike Thompson
Graduate Enrollment Counselor
mthompson@sagu.edu
Have you ever turned on the television late at night and caught one of those self-improvement infomercials? They usually feature a charismatic speaker who promises to show you how to “unlock your potential,” “create the life of your dreams,” or “achieve wealth and power in 3 easy steps.” These self-proclaimed success gurus are a great source of entertainment, but they are also equally alarming because the message that they proclaim is so deceptive. If you listen closely, you will find that most of them have two underlying messages: wealth and power are the greatest goal, and you can achieve it without effort by applying their “secret methods.”
First, a Christian worldview teaches us that wealth and power are not the greatest goals of life. Both are fleeting. A more worthy goal would be to seek to influence people. English novelist E.M. Forster says it well in his work “Howard’s End.” “Don’t ask for power. Seek influence. It lasts longer.”
I speak with a number of people who desire to be a counselor, an educator, a minister, or teach at the collegiate level for the purpose of influencing people. Obtaining a master’s degree is often an important part of the preparation for these opportunities to influence.
The second fallacy of the success gurus is that you can achieve success without any significant investment of your own effort. While “get rich quick” schemes are tempting, they don’t hold up to serious scrutiny. The overwhelming examples from history show that success follows preparation and hard work. There are no short cuts. Nor are there secrets—no single book, tape series, or seminar will suddenly transform you. Academic credentials are earned through hard work, diligent effort, and critical thought. The members of the graduate faculty at Southwestern Assemblies of God University are examples of this very principle. The success that they have each achieved in their respective fields is the result of God’s blessing combined with hard work and effective preparation. The good news is that they are willing to impart that preparation to you as you prepare to be an influencer in your chosen field.
If you would like to get started, call SAGU’s new graduate enrollment counselor, Dan Shong, at 888-937-7248, ext. 4817 or email dshong@sagu.edu, and take steps toward realizing the power of influence as you pursue God’s calling on your life.