Influenced from Above: Where Faith and Influence Meet (Now Available)

“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, and the culture you shape?

That’s the heart of Influenced from Above: Where Faith and Influence Meet. It’s a business parable that follows John Andrews, a successful leader who enters early retirement expecting peace—only to discover a deeper calling. When his church launches a building initiative, John steps in to serve. Very quickly, “simple volunteer work” becomes a real-world test: city councils, zoning boards, contractors, budgets, and clashing personalities inside and outside the church. To move the mission forward, he must combine timeless biblical truths with research-backed influence approaches.

What You Will Learn

This isn’t just about getting more “yeses.” It’s about becoming the kind of person others want to follow—at work, at church, and in the community. Inside the story you’ll see how to:

• Lead with humility (Liking & Authority): Earn trust through character, competence, and genuine care.
• Build momentum (Social Proof): Rally stakeholders by spotlighting committed allies and early wins.
• Invite commitment (Consistency): Turn small, visible agreements into durable support.
• Make it safe to agree (Scarcity & Loss Aversion): Frame decisions around what’s at risk if we don’t act.
• Honor what’s fair (Reciprocity): Give first—clarity, help, credit—and watch cooperation grow.
• Create shared identity (Unity): Move from “my project” to “our mission” rooted in Kingdom purpose.

John always knew true influence was not manipulation but now he sees it’s about service—aligning words and actions so that people see, feel, and choose what is good and right. The result isn’t just a completed project; it’s a community transformed, and a leader refined.

Why This Book, Why Now?

When I entered business nearly 40 years ago, being open about faith at work was taboo. Today, authenticity is expected. People want leaders who bring values and evidence to the table. Influenced from Above bridges that gap—connecting Scripture with the science of ethical influence so you can lead with integrity in a results-driven world.

If you appreciated The Influencer: Secrets to Success and Happiness, this book is the natural next step in your growth. John’s story continues, but the stakes are higher: not only careers and teams, but eternal impact.

Order Your Copy and Put Your Faith and Influence Into Practice

Influenced from Above is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

SPECIAL BONUS! After you purchase your copy, email the title of chapter 2 to BookLaunch@influencepeople.biz and I’ll send you a free copy of The Influencer: Secrets to Success and Happiness as a thank you.

If you know someone who might be interested in Influenced from Above, it would mean a lot to me if you would share this post.

Edited by ChatGPT

Brian Ahearn

Brian Ahearn is the Chief Influence Officer at Influence PEOPLE and a faculty member at the Cialdini Institute.

An author, TEDx speaker, international trainer, coach, and consultant, Brian helps clients apply influence in everyday situations to boost results.

As one of only a dozen Cialdini Method Certified Trainers in the world, Brian was personally trained and endorsed by Robert Cialdini, Ph.D., the most cited living social psychologist on the science of ethical influence.

Brian’s first book, Influence PEOPLE, was named one of the 100 Best Influence Books of All Time by Book Authority. His follow-up, Persuasive Selling for Relationship Driven Insurance Agents, was an Amazon new release bestseller. His latest book, The Influencer: Secrets to Success and Happiness, is a business parable designed to teach you how to use influence at home and the office.

Brian’s LinkedIn courses on persuasive selling and coaching have been viewed by more than 800,000 people around the world. His TEDx Talk on pre-suasion has more than a million views!