Don't Discount Your Unique Influence: Tap It
(Here’s the audio , if you’d rather listen:)
I’ve been thinking a lot about which of the things I do come so joyfully and naturally that I’d do them, no matter what. What about you?
If we get too practical, it stops us in our tracks. We would likely think “why even go there… no one will pay me for doing the thing I love.” But,... aren’t there a lot of creator influencers doing just that with their micro-topics already? Could we step into this ourselves, even a wee bit, to experience the joy of it alone?
I recently listened to a podcast interview with Tabitha Brown, an influencer in the vegan nutrition space, and someone who has astounding joy and enthusiasm. Even if you aren’t convinced by her to try plant-based eating, you’d likely love to just be in a room with this human for a few minutes.
Her overnight influence seems to have developed because she took her spontaneous joy seriously. She had a personal experience of going vegan as a final hope for health issues that had been overwhelming her life. It was her short video about a vegan burrito, quickly filmed in her car on a break as an Uber driver, that changed everything.
She BECAME an influencer because of that one spontaneous moment of wow. Turns out, she naturally LOVES sharing about all the cool things she’s learning and about how her life has changed since going vegan.
The thing is: you know she’d do it whether or not she was getting paid. It simply bubbles out of her.
Think about that for yourself. What do you love doing so much that you already do it as a matter of course? What are you compelled to enthusiastically share with others on social media or just in your daily life interactions?
I’ll tell you what it is for me. Sharing links and bridging my networks to the people, projects, places that light me up. Usually there is some #ClimateInfluence involved. :-)
You already know that I share a lot about my LOVE of biking as transportation. I cannot stop enthusing around that now 30-year lifestyle practice.
I also experience that sort of joy in my professional calling as well. Today I was in a Covering Climate press briefing just to learn about how the media might more effectively inform their audiences about winter sports and climate change. I was so enthused about the communications and messaging insights shared that I immediately starting posting bits and links on Bluesky. I’ve done the same for lots of events/webinars over the years, starting way back in the old Twitter days. My compulsion to share - and to “name and fame” the good I see in the world - especially in these times, just bubbles up.
The events and topics I cover may feel a tad niche-y to some. And, that is fine. BUT… my sense is that quite a few of the people who self-select and follow my work don’t mind knowing a wee bit more of what is possible, what is developing, and who are some of the smart thinkers they can follow in those niche topics.
They may otherwise not take the time to find these outlets and leading thinkers and writers for themselves. But, they will take a cue from what I share.
It is, quite simply, what I do naturally. And, it’s been great to have the already established platform that I have. .
I know that this passion of mine serves as a bridge. My enthusiastic sharing helps people see new-to-them topics through fresh eyes. Over the years, I have heard this feedback about my Living Change podcast interviews , as well as my writing and Bluesky posts.
My influence comes from my infectious enthusiasm (or so I’ve been repeatedly told). It helps that I’ve been doing this, steadily, for almost two decades now - so I’ve built resilient trust with my audiences. I’ve become comfortable presenting what I’d call counter-culture ideas (at least with regard to U.S. culture) on topics that can make people defensive (veganism and biking as urban transportation).
I have #ClimateInfluence. I love it. And, I will do it no matter what.
Imagine a world where you could just do the exact thing you are good at, using the exact platform or mechanism that most naturally suits your life? Before the “yeah, but…” thought slams that idea to a halt, feel what that would be like. More of us would teach, repair, garden, and just create and share - and we’d build community impact in the process.
That may be far too counter-culture for now, but… this world is shifting. And, micro-influence is really starting to matter (see my mention below of the Carnegie Endowment research/article on it).
Anyway - we ALL have more influence in one or two topic areas than we realize. What if we all tapped our unique joys and took even a teeny step to build upon and leverage that?
My call to you: Don’t ignore the burning joy or dream you have about how your unique take and gifts can serve this backwards world. Get curious about stepping out of your comfort zone a bit more. You WILL influence people and it will make a difference.
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Related research on strategic communications and influence: see the (September 2025) Carnegie Endowment for International Peace article , by Renée DiResta and Rachel Kleinfeld, on the new communications strategies that nonprofits and philanthropic organizations should be paying attention to, which includes reference to the key power held by creators/influencers (and how maybe they should be the ones that future-aware philanthropy fully funds moving forward).
A few quotes from it that may shift your usual communications thinking (with my emphasis added):
“Too often, scholars and advocates have tried to engage in new media using old media habits that are ill-suited to the medium. “
“The shift has moved influence away from organizations and toward individuals.”
“A growing number of content producers present simply as themselves.”
“Shifts in how legitimacy is attained mean that their opinions on news are taken seriously by their followers, even though they do not present themselves as experts or journalists.”
“Content creators may reach audiences through humor, lifestyle or community –but over time, they also transmit values, narratives, and political frames.” [reader: see Joe Rogan as example]