Is there one principle of influence that’s more important than the rest? I’ve come to believe there is—and that principle is liking. I often tell clients, “People won’t buy from you just because they like you, but they’ll almost never buy from you if they don’t.” Unless you offer something truly unique—something no one else can provide—you’d better […]
On many podcasts, I’ve been asked, “What’s one of your biggest takeaways after writing Influenced from Above: Where Faith and Influence Meet?” After finishing the book, I realized something surprising. For years, PEOPLE stood for Powerful Everyday Opportunities to Persuade that are Lasting and Ethical. But now, I see it can also stand for Loving and Eternal to convey […]
“With this book, Brian Ahearn provides a marriage of spiritual inspiration and psychological illumination that is matchless in my experience.” — Robert Cialdini, author of Influence and Pre-suasion Have you ever wondered how your faith and your work truly fit together—not just on Sundays or in vague mission statements, but in the decisions you make, the people you lead, […]
When you look at a tree, what do you notice first? Probably the trunk, branches, or leaves. But none of what you see could exist without the roots. Roots stabilize and nourish the tree, allowing it to grow tall and endure storms. Influence works much the same way. We can see persuasion in action, but […]
During part of my childhood, we lived in Southern California. My parents were still in their late 20s and early 30s, which meant weekends often involved the beach and, with it, the rising tide of hippie culture. The soundtrack of that era? The Doors. Their classic, Break on Through to the Other Side, seemed to play constantly. The […]
Do you believe God still speaks to us today? I do. And one experience from early in my marriage made me a believer. Jane and I, like many young couples, hit a season of struggle. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t seem to break through. One morning, driving to work, I prayed: “God, all I […]
In 2003, I had no idea a simple email would change the course of my career—and my life. I first encountered Dr. Robert Cialdini through a video of him speaking at Stanford. His explanation of the psychology of persuasion—how to ethically influence others—resonated deeply. Soon after, I noticed a Stanford marketing catalog describing his work […]
A few days ago, I posted something on Facebook that stirred a surprising amount of response: “Feeling empty at the breaking news—Charlie Kirk has died.” That one sentence sparked quite a conversation. My intent wasn’t political or provocative. I was simply expressing a raw emotion in real time, and it got me thinking: Why do we […]
This week’s post is an excerpt from the Preface of my upcoming book, Influenced from Above: Where Faith Meets Influence. The book will be available on Amazon and other online vendors on October 21. I began to think more and more about how the principles of influence had a connection to faith. I’ve not come […]
I remember when calculators started showing up in classrooms. Parent feared kids would stop learning how to do math by hand. And in a way, some did. But would any of us want to go back to solving complex equations without one? Technology has a way of unsettling us at first. It threatens what’s familiar […]
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