Where does POWER come from? Can we learn it, and have some too??
I know none of you dummies read Business Week or CNN Money. You should, though, if you ever want to be at all influential and/or POWERFUL.
This week CNN Money released its 50 Most Powerful Women list, and Business Week released its 25 Most Influential People on the Web list. I was pretty surprised I didn’t snag an “honorable mention” on either of these, but don’t worry you guys. I will get there. I will work harder.
Do you wish you could someday get your Glamour Shot photo on a Influential People list? I kind of do. And I think a good first step is to look at what those powerful people did to get there.
Let’s consider Craig Newmark, Lord of the Craigslist: 
Look at all that POWER, and how smug he obviously feels. Now ask yourself: HOW did one single geeky IT dude get so much POWER???
ANSWER: Mr. Newmark developed a website using a very simple equation. Here it is:
I’ve decided to try this equation with my website “SARAHSPY.” So far, not very many billions happening. But I will get there. I will work harder.
Another public figure worth emulating is THE OPRAH. Gosh, what wouldn’t you give to be so iconic that your last name becomes unnecessary? Oprah, Madonna, Britney, Ghandi??THE OPRAH ranks #8 on the “Princesses of Power” list this year. She may have even founded this list, if my hunch is correct. So— what can we learn from her??
At first it seems tricky, since THE OPRAH has done so many things. She saved the whole world from becoming illiterate with her Book Club and magazine… she turned Dr. Phil’s head into a magical healing globe… and every year she throws a X-mas party where she gives tons of people presents like boardgames & pretzels & CARS.
What can we learn from all this??
From THE OPRAH we can learn that Power = Generosity. You’ve got to GIVE to get the POWER.
THE OPRAH’s teachings indicate that power won’t come to you just ‘cause you’re cute or hip or kinda smart. And sometimes you won’t even like the people you’re gifting; sometimes these people will be super annoying & it will pain you to be so kind. But remember: People only flock to those who gift expensive presents. And that’s one really good & proven path to POWER.
How else do we get power??
