It was the very end of Buyers Market last summer, I rushed through the jewelry aisle – with a quite empty stomach – trying to get to the screening of Handmade Nation on time. I had stopped briefly at the Freshie & Zero booth but Beth (Freshie) had stepped out… it seemed I would miss her.
I continued on down the aisle… when all of a sudden I heard “Scoutie Girl! Scoutie Girl!” and turned to see Beth jogging towards me. Note: Beth was probably not actually jogging… but that’s how my memory recalls it!.
I felt pretty damn famous.
The truth is, even in my niche community, I’m not really famous. I’m influential. And that’s just the way I like it.
As I’ve developed my websites and my business over the last year, I’ve become more influential – with a purpose. Just because everyone knows your name doesn’t mean you will be a success. Just because everyone knows your name doesn’t mean they care about what you have to say. Just because everyone knows your name doesn’t mean you can move people to action.
Well, those are the goals I have for myself. And so I seek great influence. I want to have the ideas, the passion, and the drive that inspires people & moves them to action. If that means I move 1,000 loyal readers instead of having 10,000 people know my name, I’ll take it. In fact, I’ll revel in it.
fame or influence?
Darren at Problogger asked recently if his readers sought fame or influence.
Obviously, I’m biased towards influence and I suspect that Darren is too. But I suspect there’s room for success in seeking fame.
Fame requires cultivating fans, being a rock star, living up to high expectations.
Influence requires growing relationships, living your own life, providing intense value.
So which do you seek: fame or influence? Can you have both? Can you use either to achieve success?
I love this post (I think I say that about all your posts) but this one really has me thinking especially as I contemplate the objective of my business. If asked this question a year ago, I would have said fame was more important because I thought they were one in the same. I now know that influence is alot more powerful and in alignment with who I am and what I want to accomplish. I want to be able to influence my tribe to be the CEO of their lives. They are in control. I could achieve this through fame but eventually that would fade.
amen, angela! and thank you!
it is SO easy with confusing the desire for fame with the desire for influence. we think that to do big things we need a lot of people to know who we are – but generating real influence is a totally different matter and can give you much bigger results. i’d like to think that i’m a walking, talking example of this!
Influence for sure. Fame is fleeting. You get built up and then you get torn down. I’ve always been the type to have a small core group of very close friends, never the type to have oodles of acquaintances so I imagine this extends to the business side of my life as well. Influence is what you can reach if you are being real and being yourself. Fame is what you get when you do play a part.
right-o, amber! and that “core group” of customers – in the case of your business – is going to come to your aid or sing your praises from the hill tops, just like a core group of close friends.
it’s the whole rule of 1,000, ya know? i love that.
Wow–I’ve never thought of it this way and yet you’re SO very right, Tara. This is really giving me something to think about. I completely agree that being influential means growing relationships, helping others, providing value…hmmm. I’m going to go ruminate on this! Thanks for the late-night food for thought!
you’re welcome, krista! thanks for stopping by!
Definitely influence. I’ve always found the way people act around the famous unnerving.
“Are you seeking a life of significance fueled by humility or seeking a life of success begging for celebrity?” was just in my feed on Twitter today from a family who work with the poor in Haiti.
yes – so true. people who are “influenced” act like they have a real relationship with the influencer. people who are reacting to fame grovel. and that’s weird
Influence, for sure. I love helping mom entrepreneurs and consider myself fortunate to be in a position to do so.
Heather
I read your post and the comments. I also went to Darren’s site to read his post and the comments. I find it funny that everyone is pretty much saying they want influence, but I suspect that secretly some are looking for fame. The ones that come close to admitting it are those saying that influence and fame overlap.
Despite that, I’m with you on the influence. I love the line where you say “I want to have the ideas, the passion, and the drive that inspires people & moves them to action.” After 10 years of doing my solo thing, I think I’m done being a one-woman, isolated and self-propelling show. I want different results and it will require different actions on my part. Thank you for posting off of Darren’s post. May never have run across these thoughts without that!
yazmin – couldn’t agree more. i KNOW people who’d rather be famous. and i think there probably is value in that – i don’t see it. but that doesn’t mean it’s not there!
and yes, i don’t really think that fame & value can overlap. you have one “for real” and the other is just temporary.
i’m excited to see your “different actions” – are you on the creative empire mailing list? http://thecreativeempire.net
megan & i are putting together a creative biz community – but even if you’re not interested in that, there’s a sequence of emails for the list that’s sort of a little free ecourse on thinking big and taking unusual actions!
Being a Mum, I know that influence has a lot more impact than fame.
I influence my kids on a daily basis – and would love same sort-of ‘impact’ to translate to my business.
But just like my kids, I know that the business part of influence is definitely a long-haul road to travel.
Raising kids. Loyal readers and fans of my jewellery. Take it one day at a time, I say.
Cheers,
Tasha
i think in all honesty, i have to say i want both. i believe that through fame you can have tremendous influence. if once the fame has faded, you’ve used your influence to help, challenge, and motivate people you can be proud of yourself. that’s the way i see it. i don’t believe wanting fame is anything to be ashamed of, as always it’s all about your intentions.
I’d pick influence for sure. It’s true, fame is “fleeting”. It does help if people know you well enough to want to listen to you or be influenced by you – however you don’t’ have to be famous to have an effect on others – you just have to do your “thing” and if others find what you’re doing is valuable to them, then you’ve done your part of being influential. Influence comes with a life well examined and well lived.
I’ve never left a reply before – I am rather new at blogging. I appreciate having signed up on your site – you have such a passion to help others succeed – and I’ve learned a fair bit from you so far – I want to thank you for sharing so much of your creativity and expertise – its been so helpful to me and I know, from reading all the responses you receive, many others too. Thank you so much:)
Amanda
influence is for sure better than fame. For me its because fame diminishes influence. Anything that is endorsed, promoted, or supported by a celebrity or famous person I take with a grain of salt. Celebs will do anything for money… At least that’s how i see it
I’d choose influence for sure. These days everybody wants to be famous like that is the most important thing. I never had any desire to be on tv or magazines etc. As a jewelry designer I have always wanted to influence people by helping them create their own look and style . I do sometimes feel that fame has become a price you have to pay in order to gain the influence you want. This is why if I was asked to appear in a magazine I would probably agree, not because I want to be famous but because it will help me reach more people and have more influence.
I was totally jogging. I did NOT want to miss you!
When my husband told me you came by while I was gone, my thought went something like “NOoooo!!…” Since then I have learned my lesson about leaving my booth for very long at trade shows. I allow myself 2 or 3 social jaunts through the entire show (Four nine-hour days in a row – that is a lot of standing in a 10′ x 10′ space!). At the last Atlanta Gift Show, I met Megan Auman and I would have jogged after her, too if I had missed her. If I had to analyze why I was excited to meet you both, it’s not necessarily that you’re famous, but more because you are both very talented and prolific in what you do and that demands respect. And maybe a little admiration. 
In our little crafty world, you are both movers and shakers – it reminds me of that Intel commercial where they say “Our rock stars are not like your rock stars.” So true. Keep on rockin’!