The Biggest Lie We Believe about Influence

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There is a lie that many of us unwittingly believe.

I tell it to myself every day. You probably do the same.

It’s a subtle, seemingly innocuous phrase that rings through my head. It attacks me when I’m doubting myself. It’s my excuse for not starting sooner. It may tease and taunt you, causing you to think less of yourself.

It sounds like this:

“If only I had a platform…”

Then, I’d be able to broadcast my message.
Then, I’d say what I really need to say.
Then, I’d finally be able to make a real difference.

Yeah, right.

I’m calling “B.S.” on that. That voice is a liar. It’s your Enemy speaking.

Biggest Lie - Asking for Permission

Photo credit: Thomas Hawk (Creative Commons)

Here’s a counter-truth:

Nobody who changed the world did it by waiting for an audience

And yet many of us are doing just that.

We’re holding back.
We’re putting our best art on pause.
We’re biding our time with mediocre work, waiting until someone invites us to take the stage.

What a cowardly, painful way to live.

If this is you, if you’ve chosen to believe this lie, then let me tell you the harsh truth: That day will never come.

The day in which you will be discovered.
The day when you will finally be rewarded for your art.

It won’t happen. Not if you’re simply waiting around.

You will never have the influence you so desperately crave if you do not start living into your future now.

Do you want to know how real difference-makers live?

They don’t ask permission. They don’t wait to be picked.

Were you ever the last one picked for dodge ball? I was. It’s a terribly dis-empowering feeling. It’s lonely.

You’ve heard this before in various forms. But I’ll say it again for emphasis: Those who change the world aren’t concerned about permission; in fact, they’d rather apologize for too much tenacity than regret having too much timidity.

You should do this with your writing or speaking or music… or whatever it is you do.

You are an artist

Art is anything you do that requires care and craft. Whatever you do — whether it be painting or plumbing — you’re an artist. Or at least, you can be. And I hope you treat it as art, as a true vocation — a calling.

I hope you take time to make something beautiful that impacts this world. And I hope you don’t ask permission to share it.

Start living into your dreams today.

Are you doing that? Or are you believing the lie, waiting for permission? Share your story in the comments.

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About the Author

Jeff Goins

Writer, idea guy, difference-maker. I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. My family and I reside just outside of Nashville, TN. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Google Plus.

  • http://marykathryntyson.wordpress.com/ mktys0n

    LOVE. THIS. 

    {and thank you.}

  • http://blog.cyberquill.com Cyberquill

    May I post a comment? 

  • http://www.eileenknowles.blogspot.com Eileen

    Very nice. I don’t have a platform…but what I write can still influence and inspire.  I often think we take for granted or we minimize our Creator’s ability to reach people with what we are willing to put out there.  He is always working behind the scenes.  If by sharing and being vulnerable can help one person move closer to Him then who cares if I have a platform (sorry).  I have to remember God can do a whole lot with just a little.  Fishes and loaves come to mind. :)

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      indeed he can, Eileen. and i believe that you DO have a platform – we often have more influence than we realize.

  • http://chriscornwell.org Chris Cornwell

    I think for the most part I have been “waiting to build my platform.” I struggle with the balance of my online presence as support to ministry or being a ministry in and of itself.

    There are days where I still struggle with what I actually want to say, causing me to question what my voice is. 

    You never cease to inspire Jeff.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      chris, with all due respect, your waiting is unnecessary. you have the chops to begin now. the only thing that’s holding you back is your own self-doubt.

      • http://chriscornwell.org Chris Cornwell

        Thank you Jeff. That means a lot!

  • Rick Carr

    Thanks. I needed that.

  • http://www.stephindialogue.com Stephanie S. Smith

    Ever the tension of passion and platform…

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      in my limited experience, they’re linked. passion builds platform.

  • http://www.inamirrordimly.com Ed_Cyzewski

    Great thoughts here. I think they can also be applied to the fear that someone will steal your idea. I run into that fear all of the time. Writers need to share their best work today, trusting that their best ideas will stick with the right audience.

  • http://www.inamirrordimly.com Ed_Cyzewski

    Great thoughts here. I think they can also be applied to the fear that someone will steal your idea. I run into that fear all of the time. Writers need to share their best work today, trusting that their best ideas will stick with the right audience.

  • Anonymous

    “Those who change the world aren’t concerned about permission” – this really resonated with me. I feel like I constantly ask myself if what I have to say matters, when really I just need to say what I have to say with confidence and boldness.

    I love how you connect this with a “calling.” Reminds of something Charles Stanley said once: “Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.”

    Great post. Thanks!

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      you’re welcome. thanks for the comment!

  • http://www.forthesakeoftruth.ca Donna Lowe

    Ouch.  And, thanks!  I’ve had these very thoughts. 

    We all have a platform, but we often overlook it.  Needless to say, God is always watching and applauding our efforts.  That aside:  Our platform may only be an audience of one, to begin with, but it’s a platform.  Who is standing close by?  Someone needs to hear what you have to say, or read what you have written.

    I also agree with you, Ed_Cyzewski, the fear of someone stealing an idea is huge, amongst the artists I know.  Sadly, because of that fear, everyone misses out.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      that fear is a lie that rarely comes true. ideas aren’t enough – we must do something with those ideas.

  • http://somewiseguy.com ThatGuyKC

    For me the art of not asking for permission or waiting to be picked is a work in progress. I’m using my blog to create and trying to take initiative at work where possible (and sometimes where it isn’t). I’ve had the most fun connecting other people with each other and encouraging folks to launch.

    Thank you for calling B.S.I don’t think it’s done often enough.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      the pleasure is all on this side. :)

  • http://twitter.com/InvisiTech Kevin Pashuk

    Good advice to new writers who hear they need to “build a platform” if they ever want to get a book published.  Being focused on building your platform can surreptitiously dilute your passion to write.  Do what you love, the platform will follow.  Write for the right reasons.

    Thanks Jeff for drawing our attention back to the important things.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      amen, Kevin!

  • http://www.facebook.com/mamie.duff Mamie Duff

    Not only will your ideas hold their own…you’ll keep coming up with more as you shove those out the door. You just keep going on, generating, and knowing that nothing’s ever wasted.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      i definitely agree with that. well said!

  • http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

    Challenging post, Jeff! 
    In most areas of life, I’m not one to wait for permission. I started my college ministry before my church gave me permission. I started doing missions before I was told I could go (my work amazingly worked around it). I didn’t wait for a platform to start my business. And all are going well. It’s amazing what happens when you just step out and do it.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      yep – love the example you set, jason.

  • Bernard Shuford

    While I know I have a platform, it sometimes seems really short and really small, but it is clearly the platform God has given me, and I hope I can be faithful.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      if you are, it will most likely increase

  • Justin Simmons

    That’s money right there Jeff! Too many people are waiting for the “right” conditions to step up and hit a homerun, when the truth is that if they never step up they can’t hit it out. As a church leader, I’d rather pull people back over-stretching instead of trying to constantly motivate people to own their faith and take ground for the Kingdom of God. What amazes me is how I can see this leadership in people, yet they can’t… they’ve buried it beneath junk/fears/unmet expectations.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      right. the point is start swinging now. you’ll eventually hit something.

  • http://bit.ly/brandonrobbins Brandon Robbins

    We may be passionate and have creative plans we can’t wait to initiate. We may have ideas to share that we think can make a difference, but sometimes it is SO easy to wait. We want to make sure to ask, “Hey, is it okay if I _____” or we get caught up thinking our platform isn’t quite right. Yet, the longer we wait, the less likely we are to actually DO the thing we yearn to do. 

    I love these statements: ”Nobody who changed the world did it by waiting for an audience.” ”Do you want to know how real difference-makers live? They don’t ask permission. They don’t wait to be picked.”

    Right On. I’m with you here, Jeff. Thanks for this post. It is a great reminder.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      thanks, brandon. now, let’s go do something.

  • http://www.myoneresolution.com/ Don McAllister

    Great post, Jeff! This is something we need reminded of. Art can be made right now. Whether your in a crummy job or just stuck in some mediocre state, you can use that as a platform to create great art. Go after your dreams with tenacity and courage, even if your starving, lack skill, lack whatever. Go make it happen. I think many of us follow some internal conditional statement we created, where we say: “if X happens then I’ll be able to do Y.” Real difference makers, as you say, just do it. They “live into their future now.”

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      i believe they do, Don. thanks for the comment!

  • http://peterpaluska.com Peter Paluska

    Truer than true, Jeff!

    Powerful stuff, yet in its essence so fundamental.

    Ask for the power, receive it gratefully, then get at it. Don’t wait around for a hall pass to greatness!

    Thanks as always for the thoughts!

    Peter

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      indeed. :)

  • http://lifeallin.ent Jacob Musselman

    I’ve been mulling this over for the past few days. Church is my passion, and I’ve got several ideas of things I think need to be expressed and written. Some of those ideas present a new way of doing things. But I’m afraid no one will listen because I’m not a senior/lead pastor (yet).

    Basically, it’s a combination of do I have the platform/experience/authority to say anything.

    How do you see building/having a platform interacting with faking it and then writing about it?

    More stuff for me to work through.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      hmmmm… if i understand you correctly, i would say start talking about what you care about and people will listen. as they do, you will establish a platform and earn the right to speak to more people. you can go around and around in circles, doubting yourself if you wait for platform.

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  • http://adamsokoloff.com AdamSok

    Hey Jeff, first time on your blog.  From a blogger who is not a writer by trade, I am enjoying your content!

    I really like premise of your argument.  I think most people are hesitant to put themselves out there, that everything needs to be perfect, or they are waiting for the audience first.  I know my posts aren’t perfect, but I’m going to put them out there.  I feel that is the only way to improve my writing style and technique.

    “Nobody who changed the world did it by waiting for an audience”  - Well said!

    Are there a few bloggers that you would recommend that follow that same mantra?

    -Adam

  • Matt

    Hey Jeff,

    For me, fear still creeps in from time to time. I don’t think I am good enough for this or that. In my business, I am fortunate to have my coach and my mastermind partners to help me break through that fear.

    Interestingly, I had stopped the gym for over a year, and I became much more of a wuss. Less ballsy, less confidence, less aggressive towards achieving what I want.  The mind is definitely linked with the body!

    Matt

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      interesting

  • Anonymous

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am guilty of buying this lie. I am now trying to share ideas and initiate relationships as often as possible. It is uncomfortable but also rewarding. Your words inspire me to keep up the efforts to do all I can with what I have.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      cool. i’m glad!

  • http://www.chloeofthemountain.blogspot.com/ Chloe

    That damned dodgeball (well, for me it was kickball). Who could believe that something that happens to you when you’re 7 can continue to rule your future? I can’t believe that I’m still trying to overcome decisions I made about myself and lies I believed as a child. Thanks for your article. It was encouraging.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      you’re welcome, Chloe. Amen. The good news is that there’s always time to be who we really are.

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  • Belinda Hutchinson

    Yes yes yes! So true. I think by giving each day and each action our best we open ourselves up to being more and influencing more.

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      I agree, Belinda.

  • Deeone Higgs

    Great post Jeff! I was actually encourged to read this peice by a fellow blogger. And I’m so glad that he shared this post with me. I tend to do exactly what you stated here, which is wait for the right opportunity or a large audience, to be the sign that I’m being successful.

    What you reminded me here is to not wait… but to be found doing that thing that I love; put in the effort before the accolades even start to come in. Awesome thought Jeff. One that we all should know, but certainly Ok to get a reminder course every now and then.

    Thanks for sharing. :)

    • http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

      Thanks, Deeone. One book suggestion, if you haven’t read it yet: Poke the Box by Seth Godin.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=73003476 Josue Sierra

    Jeff, Sometimes, it feels like I’m riding in a car, but I’m not the driver. The challenge is, the car isn’t necessarily careening and it may well be going in a good direction; I’m just not convinced it’s the direction I need to go to have greater influence or fulfill my calling. That’s what I’m wrestling with now. 

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