Cheryl Polote-Williamson - The Art of Influence: Inviting Success into Every Area of Your Life

THE ART OF INFLUENCE

Copyright 2021 Cheryl Polote-Williamson

All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-64484-355-0 (print)

ISBN: 978-1-64484-356-7 (ebook)

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Several people have assisted me along my journey to mastering the art of influence and being the woman that God called me to be, and I am grateful. I thank God first and foremost for blessing and protecting me and speaking into my life in ways I have never imagined possible.

To my children: Russell Jr., Lauren, and Courtney, you are the example of Gods love for me. Mom adores you.

To my grandchildren: Leah and Russell III, you bring unspeakable joy to my life, and you are the reason I became emphatic about generational wealth.

To my nephews and nieces: Michael, Windi, Jasper Jr., and Alexa, I love you, dearly.

To my sisters: Denise and Tabitha, and my brother: Benjamin, thank you for loving me and supporting my dreams with every You go, girl . I love you, dearly.

To the Polote, Williamson, and Green family: thank you for supporting my visions and helping me do what God has called me to do.

To my Godparents: Joseph and Carol Bell, thank you for loving me unconditionally.

To the organizations that have loved and supported me: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated (Mid-Cities Chapter), you have made me better through my role within your amazing sisterhoods.

To my supportive online communities: Blessings, Business, and Collaborations; Soul Series Group; Affirmed Group; and Shaw University, thank you for supporting my vision, mission, and brand.

To my dear friends whom I will not name in case I forget someone: I love you and you mean so much to me.

To the people who showed me that my daily affirmations work: Tammy Woodard, Beverly Dietz, Kimberly Bizor, Curtis King, Paul Brunson, Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Kimberly Esmond Adams, Laverne Hill, Dr. Glenda Glover, Carrie Schrader, Cheryl Jackson, Traci Henderson Smith, Tilda Whitaker Bailey, Terri J. Vaughn, Kimberly Coles, and Royleta Foster.

When we think of superpowers, our minds immediately go to the supernatural. Though turning our visibility on and off, transporting from one location to another with the snap of a finger, or flapping our cape and taking off in the wind would be awesome, those things are not likely. However, we all are born with innate superpowers that may not be unique to us, but when combined with our personal stories and styles, they make us unique.

We cultivate our powers over time through life experiences and hone them through skills we learn as we navigate the world. We then, sometimes, are intentional in our use of those powers. Other times, they become survival mechanisms. Whether gained through nature or nurture, we need these superpowersfor others and ourselves.

For many reasons, we place our powers on the backburner. Perhaps someone harshly criticized your superpower as a child. Maybe your superpower overwhelmed you, or you made no time for it as you worked unfulfilling jobs. In either case, it is time to pick it up again, dust it off, and get into activation mode.

To go into activation mode, you have to put yourself out there. Get your message out. Be heard. Persuade. I do not mean slick-talking, underhanded stuff to manipulate people. I am referring to standing in your light, confidently offering your gifts, and attracting all that is divinely yoursthe art of influenceby definition and name; this is my superpower.

I can get people to buy into ideas and concepts. They see the vision and want to be a part. I influence people to change their lives for the better, share their stories, start their businesses, and be their best selves despite being uncomfortable. After decades of doing this work, there are a few things that I know are true. Chief among them is the fact that anyone who has had a dream and hope has influence.

Even if it is not a natural skill set for you, manifesting whatever you tell yourself can happen. Producing desired results through what you speak is a product of your mind and is one of the things I teach others to do. If you think and speak about it long enough, it will manifest in your life. If you were uncomfortable speaking in front of crowds, I would have you start journaling: I speak globally. I appear on radio, television, and film. Write and speak it so much that you begin to believe that it will happen to you, and it will.

Just because you were not born to think that you are a person of influence does not mean you cannot train your mind to think differently. You can influence writers or aspiring writers to collaborate on a book. I have published fourteen anthologies at $2,750 per participant. People believe in what I say so much that they pay the money upfront, not in installments. They have faith that I will help them pull out their story in such a way that it will make them entrepreneurs, and their message will get them speaking engagements, mastermind sessions, and allow them to sell products and services. It is all about people believing in what you say you can deliver.

I recall having a difficult time on a contract. I shared my experience with my girlfriend. She said, The best thing they can do is recognize that you are the blessing. I asked her, What do you mean? She replied, You treat people well. You are the blessing. You brought the deal to the table. You are the reason people are working through the pandemic. You make people believe that anything and everything is possible if they believe it. That is why people are attracted to you. You are the blessing.

You do not have to be Beyonc or Oprah to have influence. You can be yourself and still influence your area. Better yet, you have to be yourself. That is important. Influencing others must start within. If not, your actions can become ego-based and manipulative, resulting in long-term dissatisfaction. When you start the work within yourself, however, it leads to work that stems from pure intentions and yields results that are bigger and deeper than anything you could have ever imagined. I am teaching people to believe in themselves first, then use that influence to get what they want in business, friendships, relationships, opportunities, etc.

This book has two sections: the inner work and outer work. Each is comprised of seven lessons to help you master The Art of Influence. Lessons include an action-based step to ensure that this is not information you are passively receiving but skills that you are gaining and practicing. Challenge yourself to complete each step and keep a journal to document the progress that you are sure to witness.

I encourage people to journal. Journaling helps you connect with your values, emotions, and goals in life. It helps improve your mental clarity and ability to focus. It is where you can track your growth. It is where manifestations happen. Erykah Badu once tweeted, Write it down on real paper with a real pencil, and watch [stuff] get real. I am a witness to that truth! Do not be afraid to write out your dreams and be true to yourself about them. You cannot be scared. If you want to be a billionaire, do not write out that you want to be a millionaire. Stop talking yourself out of your dreams. Go for what you want.