On Influence and Resources

“We get almost all our wonders second hand.” ― Mark Twain

Influence requires resources. Whether you are seeking to promote positive change in your world, your neighborhood, or your family, fuel is required.

This is a natural law of physics—a body in straight line motion will stay in straight line motion unless acted on by an outside force.

Similarly, this appears to be the natural law of society—culture will continue on its current trajectory unless a new influence begins to change the direction of its existing path.

But this new influence must always find its source somewhere. It will always require the spending of resources.

Unfortunately, too many make the mistake of equating resources solely with money. Now, don’t get me wrong, money is a valuable resource for influence—anyone who has ever followed a political campaign can recognize that truth. But money is not our only resource available for influence.

We can also change the trajectory of our world by directing our time, energy, creativity, intelligence, willpower, and/or skill set towards the change we’d like to see. Influence requires fuel, but that fuel can come from any number of sources. And each of us are equipped with many.

One of the greatest benefits of minimalism I have seen in my life is the opportunity to redirect my life’s resources. By removing the pursuit of physical possessions, my financial resources have been freed to pursue influence of higher worth. And by removing the distraction of physical possessions, I have discovered even more resources (time, money, energy, mental capacity) to direct elsewhere.

My hope is that these newfound resources will be spent towards positive influence and positive change in our world. May each of us do the same.