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Off Topic: My Biggest Influencers

January 11, 2008 on 9:44 am | In DC (digital colleague), Influencers, New Influencers, Social Media |

DC (digital colleague) Tom Pick, inspired by Paul Gillin’s book The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media, has tagged me with the meme: my biggest influencers. Here goes.

My father. Although he died when I was 11, he had a profound impact upon me. He was always reading and learning new things. After he died I had people come up to me to tell me how he helped them when they were strapped financially. So, from him I get my love of learning and my charitable focus.
My mother. She always handled things in a disciplined, rational, positive way. After my father died in 1963, she took over the reins of the family and did what had to be done for us to get by. From her I get my discipline, focus and optimism.
Reverend Caldwell. He was our minister when I was 6-years-old, and was always serene. I’m wired a little tightly so have always worked at being more like him.
Mrs. Phillips. My third grade teacher taught me that things are not always what they seem. Don’t take everything at face value. Good advice for a future journalist.

As I started this post, I was thinking solely about my early influencers. My Biggest Influencer, however, is Terry Hoover, best friend/wife/mother of my children/social director/cheerleader/novelist extraordinaire. She taught me how to have fun.

That’s it. Now, I’m tagging Mark Harrison, Jason Falls and Rodger Johnson with this meme.

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Very nicely done. Our “influencers” not only tell others a lot about who we are, but also remind us of the opportunities we all have on a daily basis to positively (or not) influence others.

Comment by Tom Pick — January 11, 2008 #
[…] your life? Have you every really thought about that? I just blogged about that on our sister site, THINKing. Check it out and let me know who your big influencers […]

Pingback by Biggest Influencers : Think — January 11, 2008 #
Hey there Double-H,

I could rewrite it, but Kami Hyuse started an identical meme around Thanksgiving called, “Thanks for the Influence.” My answers would be the same, so here’s the link:

http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/2007/11/21/thanks-for-the-influence/

I will say, however, that Paul’s book is very good and worth the read/buy if anyone hasn’t read it yet. I had the honor of debating a personal vs. private issue with him on a PRSA teleseminar and then again on our blogs, then discussed it further with him in person at BlogWorldExpo in November. He’s a great speaker and has a real expert’s view of the spheres of influence in our new media world.

Thanks for thinking of me. I’ve got some linky things to share this weekend, so I’ll make sure to point to yours, which are outstanding.

Comment by Jason Falls — January 11, 2008 #
Tom, thanks for the nice words, and Jason thanks for sharing that excellent earlier piece you wrote called Thanks for the Influence.

Comment by Harry Hoover — January 11, 2008 #
Hoover, thanks for the challenge. Assignment complete. MH

Comment by Mark Harrison — January 11, 2008 #

Off Topic: My Biggest Influencers

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