Quarterly Newsletter

Most people would say 2020 and first quarter started great. We saw record highs in the stock market, record lows on unemployment and low interest rates to name just a few of the economic metrics. Life was prosperous for manyAmericans and people around the world. Then suddenly it came to a halt with Covid-19.

The pandemic is unprecedented in our lifetime as is the unfolding economic fallout. Between the collective intelligence of humanity and unparalleled technology I have faith the pandemic will end sooner rather than later. How quickly economies bounce back is anyone’s guess.

As someone who typically interacts with small groups and large audiences I fully understand the impact of all of this. My TED Talk was only a week away when it got canceled and other opportunities are on hold as we wait to see how things will play out. However, I choose to look for opportunity. I’m focusing on my health – mental, physical and spiritual – in ways I did not before the stay at home order. I hope you’re looking for what could be, not what isn’t or was. It’s a choice we all have to make.

Be safe and stay healthy!

Brian

What’s Influence PEOPLE all about?

• Why – Help you enjoy more professional success and personal happiness.
• How – Teach you the science of ethical influence.
• What – Speak, write, train, coach and consult.
• Who – We work primarily with leaders, salespeople. coaches and attorneys.

Despite the economics we’re facing I’m still excited when I go to bed and when I wake up. My opportunity to do something I’m passionate about, something that helps people professionally and personally, still exists. Now I have to rethink how I will do it. One think I’m doing is exploring technology like Zoom to interact with people. No matter how things unfold, I believe technology that reduces travel and in-person interactions will become even more important in the future.

Here’s What’s New

Blog Posts

While most of my blogging revolves around helping people understand how to ethically influence people, lately I’ve focused more broadly on psychology and how it impacts our perceptions of our current situation. Click here to see some of those recent posts.

Podcasts

I was a guest on another dozen podcasts to start the year. Some were insurance related, some dealt with career change and others were straight up influence for new audiences. Now is as good a time as any to invest 30 minutes to learn how to influence people. To see the recent podcast click here.

LinkedIn Learning

I now have four LinkedIn Learning courses online. Nearly 100,000 people have participated in the learning. If you want to learn about the intersection of influence in sales, dealing with personality styles and coaching then check out the courses. Click here to watch a short preview of each course.

Best of…

Looking for interesting content? Because you may have more time on your hands with the pandemic self-quarantining, why not put some of that time to good use learning? Below are some great books to read, podcasts to listen to, and shows to watch.

Books

Adversaries into Allies by Bob Burg. Burg’s most well-known book is The Go-Giver and Adversaries into Allies is not far behind. If you’re looking for great common sense approaches to dealing with people then this book is for you. As I read it I felt like I was reading a modern day version of Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo. I’ve been a fan of Gallo ever since reading The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs. In this book Gallo dissects some of the most watched TED Talks to distill them into 9 considerations for anyone giving a TED Talk. But his findings go further than the TED stage because anyone who presents to groups will benefit from this book.

Podcasts

Behavioral Grooves has been featured before. It’s co-hosted by Kurt Nelson and Tim Houlihan. In addition to their great rapport they have smart, interesting guests. Currently they’re featuring behavioral scientists who share thoughts and strategies for coping during the pandemic. You will laugh and learn whenever you listen to Kurt, Tim and their guests.

In the Arena is a hosted by Anthony Iannarino. I’ve known Anthony for more than a decade and can tell you he’s wicked smart, very funny and he KNOWS about sales. He’s been blogging daily for more than a decade. If you watch deep, concentrated sales learning then check out In the Arena.

Watch

Quark Science can be viewed on Amazon Prime. There are half a dozen episodes that look at topics such as sound, dark matter, the space-time continuum, where did we come from and much more. It breaks complicated subjects down in interesting, easy to understand visuals and language. Fascinating stuff!

They Shall Not Grow Old is a 2018 film now on Amazon Prime. The movie looks at World War I by taking original film and digitizing it with color and sound. Suddenly people in those films no longer live in the silence of black and white film. They walk and talk almost as if filmed only a few years ago. It was amazing how it brought that time period to life. I highly encourage you to spend an hour and a half with this film some evening.

Brian Ahearn, CMCT®, is the Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE, LLC. An author, international trainer, coach and consultant, he’s one of only 20 people in the world personally trained by Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., the most cited living social psychologist on the planet on the science of ethical influence.

Brian’s book, Influence PEOPLE: Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical, was a top 10 selling Amazon book in several insurance categories and top 50 in sales & selling. His LinkedIn Learning courses on sales and coaching have been viewed by more than 90,000 people around the world!