Lots of people want to become influential and gain followers. But they don’t have a plan on how to do that.

 

Here are six different practices that you can incorporate into your life, together or separately, to increase your circles of influence.

 

1. Show Up

 

Day in and day out, you have to show up and do the work. Even when it’s not sexy. Even when it’s not fun. Even when no one’s looking and you won’t get credit for it. 

 

You have to grind no matter what and have the discipline to make the struggle personal. It can’t be something you’ll easily walk away from. Making a commitment is what inspires and influences.

 

2. Be Present

 

Tune it and don’t get distracted in your personal interactions with people. If you’re face to face with someone, look them in the eye. If you’re on a call, don’t check on your social media during it.

 

Everyone knows when someone isn’t present or distracted. Give people your full attention if you want to have credibility and influence with them.

 

3. Be The Success

 

Your life is ever evolving. So don’t judge it or let yourself get bogged down by unimportant obstacles.

 

Even when things aren’t going your way, your struggle continues. Others are watching and looking to see how you’ll react. Because they are looking for help too and you might be the one to show them the way. Be the success in order to influence.

 

4. Teach Them How To Think

 

People’s minds need as much caring as their bodies. So you need to help them understand their thought patterns as much as their physical progress.

 

You especially have an obligation if they’re not doing very well in life. Working on details can seem important, but teaching people to understand themselves better is more valuable. Sharing your life’s value, perspectives, discoveries of how you overcame the common obstacles of life are the real gold in the influence mountain.

 

5. Help People Out Of Their Own Way

 

Similar to the last idea, help people get out of their own way by observing how their lack of success may be self-inflicted.

 

Many times we can’t see what’s right in front of us. Our habits and biases keep us in endless cycles of repetition that allow life to pass us by. Your outside viewpoint can help people work on the obstacles put there by them. When you can open someone’s eyes, and then give them a plan on how to get to the next level, you become an influence in that life. 

 

6. Serve

 

This one’s the most therapeutic. Help out whenever you can. It’s a great lotion for the soul and you’ll never lack for people to be around.

 

The mental change that occurs when you serve and help others is alone worth doing this. Practicing this and gratitude will attract the kinds of people for whom those values are considered important. Those are the good people you want in your life.

 

Gain the spiritual high ground and roll all these steps together. You’ll find your influence and circle of friends growing in no time and the tribe you’re looking to build will pitch a tent and stay right beside you.

 

Steve De La Torre stopped by my podcast and gave great advice on connecting with your ideal client.

 

Rather than going after the same general market that everyone else does, he explained the future of niche markets. You should focus on a niche market like a laser and become a leading authority.

 

Your ideal customer is looking to find someone just like you! Here’s how you set the table and lead them to your specialized (and higher priced!) services.

 

1) Become a niche authority

 

There is no limit to the number of niche industries that are out there. So find them!

 

Don’t get caught up in the rat race of chasing the general market. With so much of the same kinds of gyms, studios and bootcamps offering the exact same services, you’ll quickly stand out by offering a specialized niche program.  Position yourself as the de facto expert on this market. Align your programs to your interests and expertise.

 

Be as specific as you can and you’ll be well-positioned in no time. And remember, the amount of money you can now charge is directly proportional to how specific and unique your programs are!

 

2) Become an expert on them

 

Once you’ve settled on a niche market, you have to anticipate all the concerns that will come from customers in that market. In essence, you have to become an expert on people that you haven’t met yet.

 

How is that possible?

 

It requires a little thinking on your part. What are the challenges and obstacles that the people in your niche market face? How will you address them?

That ability to foresee the concerns and solutions of your clients will make you seem like a mindreader, but it’s all in the service of becoming an expert.

 

In addition to that, publishing articles in places like Forbes, LinkedIn and Huffington Post are great places to boost your profile. But make sure you’re posting in places that your tribe frequents. Don’t waste time, money or energy convincing people outside of your market about things they’ll never use.

 

3) Go deeper

 

Don’t push generic phrases like “lose weight” or “get fit”. Be specific in your messaging and go deeper. 

 

Make a list of ten things that your clients will need, and come up with three to five sub-topics off of that original list of ten. Whenever you find yourself at the limit of what can happen, go deeper!

 

Smaller concise content will go farther than larger pieces that people won’t read anyway. Pack your content calendar with this and your clients will truly see what an expert you are!

 

Both Steve and I agree that niche markets are the future and have a tremendous upside on what you can charge them.

 

Your standing and expertise are waiting to be enhanced within your tribe, so get to it!