Influential U

The Bankruptcy of Magical Thinking with Kristen Moeller

We all think we know more than we actually do. Do you know how paper is made? How does a toilet work? How about a pen? Our species has produced sophisticated technologies, cities, and accomplishments, but most of us don’t honestly know how these things work. How can we aspire to so much despite understanding so little? Perhaps genius is instead found in the ways we co-opt the intelligence of the s...

Swimming in possibilities and excitement might be more detrimental than we think. As a biological ‘exchange animal,’ our moods and transactions are inextricably linked. We read or mimic the moods of others faster than we recognize their words. We’ve all learned the hard way that a text or email can’t include the wordless cues like mood, body language, appearance, inflection, and more. Might we som...

Jenn Oliver, Senior Director of Service for the Academic Division at the University of Virginia, has learned a valuable lesson about what we refer to as "putting the mask on first." Before her study with Influence Ecology, primarily, other people's needs informed her plans. Her work was oriented only around doing for others, leaving her overwhelmed and aimless. Like many people, she was waiting fo...

Simon Chesney's journey is a case study in the benefits of evolving from a talented generalist to a unique specialist. He's learned that specialization and differentiation can help him build a valued identity and that it’s possible to incorporate and combine his past experiences and expertise with his newly acquired specialized knowledge. Simon Chesney is an Enterprise Agile Coach for Western Digi...

Ever found inspiration in the William H. Murray quote: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it”? How about this one by Daniel Burnham: "Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized"? While these statements do seem to inspire action, perhaps boldness for its own sake is overrated . . ....

Influence Ecology launched its first podcast episode in August of 2016 and saw our listener base grow to 70 countries and counting. This episode is our 50th, and my special guest is Influence Ecology's very own Kirkland Tibbels. You often hear him on the Guru Talk that underscores the primary point of each episode. Today, we get to learn about his own journey and why transactional competence matte...

Is it better to be more selfless or more selfish? If you’re like most people, you probably treat one of these behaviors as the more preferred way to act. But have you ever considered that in either case, someone gets reciprocally dismissed? Those too selfless can leave others enabled while devaluing themselves; those too selfish can leave others neglected while isolating themselves. Is there a hea...

Who keeps us from falling off the proverbial cliff? While some are naturally inclined to dream new ideas and others can’t help but build new relationships, there is a segment of society whose entire focus and role are to protect us from our poorly constructed shortcuts. This typically skeptical personality recognizes that nothing around us is a coincidence; things are either poorly designed or bui...

We all can observe naïveté in others, but can we identify it in ourselves? As a poster child for ambition, Drew Knowles is a case study in embracing his naïveté. This episode describes and demonstrates what we mean by the term State of Mind: the state or condition of one’s thinking or knowing. We address four primary states of mind—despair, naïveté, adult, and ambitious adult—and the importance of...

With an aim to make the most money he could, Johnny Washington, from McKinney, Texas, acknowledges that he used to take way too many risks. Amped on the rush-to-action tendencies typical of the idea-oriented personality, he thought he could do just about anything he imagined. He produced many significant breakdowns, and burdened by some of his choices says, "I still don’t see a clear way out."

Our 2018 Annual Member Conference in Los Cabos included a podcast episode dinner with a few members of our faculty. You'll hear from Vice President Drew Knowles, Dr. Gary Ward, James Walls, Marne Power, and Suzanne Pool—five faculty from five different countries—as we dialogue about why Influence Ecology has become their tribe and speculate on the possibilities the future may have in store for our...

Always willing to help, but never able to ask for it, Tara Collison's journey as a student of Influence Ecology is a useful case study in the conceit of independence. She discovered that her ‘independence’ was merely ego and that this view and the subsequent actions alienated others, left her exhausted, and had long-term consequences to her finances, health, and family. Now eager to discover more...

Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture designs buildings and places that bring people together. As award-winning architects, their projects are sharply differentiated from competitors, but the final selection still often won to price. Wanting more control of their future, CEO Craig Bouck pursued an education in the elements of value; the firm had mastered practical utility, but they hadn't yet position...

As Canada’s authority on cultural reconstruction in complex emergencies, Dr. Sarah Jane Meharg is the principal and founder of Peace and Conflict Planners, often called upon by the Canadian Forces to help stabilize war-torn or post-disaster affected communities. She's authored two books: one on navigating the military and humanitarian divide and the other on measuring effectiveness, success, and u...

How do you produce a robust identity amongst thousands of peers in a large corporate environment? Ron Sprengeler is someone who's done just that. Rather than join the naïve ranks of those whose viewpoint is that the job alone entitles them to a respected identity, Ron's case study demonstrates how to produce a powerful corporate identity in two ways: one, you'll hear how he's become well known and...

Melissa Baer earned a university education in marketing and business and was raised on an organic farm. She's an uncommon hybrid of 'stilettos and rubber boots' weaned on her father's mantra that without money in the bank, you can't make a difference. She's battled both business and health challenges only to discover peace, satisfaction, and vitality through the study of transactional competence....

After ten years with a nationally recognized financial planning practice, Wesley Pingelton had ambitions to go out on his own. In doing so, he got what he wanted: great success, creative freedom, and the opportunity to work with the right client. But with each complex case, a unique solution produced a massive amount of labor. In short time, he cringed at the thought of growing his business. You'l...

Raised in the Soviet Union, Kristina Panchenko's view of life was conceived in an environment of hard work, scarce resources, and limited opportunities. Subsequently, her guiding philosophy was that rewards and honor only come through hard work, suffering, and struggle. Now living in Miami, Florida, her study with Influence Ecology has helped reorient her view of business and life to take full adv...

As a successful Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Dawn Dalili offers an approach that guides patients toward a vibrant life. In this episode, Dr. Dalili and Co-founder John Patterson discuss why attending to a partial aspect of the body - or a transaction - doesn't address the whole truth; that contemplating whole systems and processes isn't easy, but exponentially more effective. Transactionalism is a...

As biological exchange animals, our moods and transactions are inextricably linked. Most people are naïve to the moods appropriate (or inappropriate) for transacting. To transact powerfully, you must attend to producing appropriate moods. Valorie and Lee J Howard are entertainment experts skilled at building the perfect mood for their customers. They care deeply about delivering customized enterta...

Miranda McCroskey is a 20+ year defense attorney who founded Unlock Legal to help 'accidental criminals' unlock their professional license from the collateral consequence of one bad choice. As a business owner, she discovered that the saying “keep it small and keep it all” might also lead to “the new poverty of self-sufficiency.” In other words, as animals of exchange and specialization, we humans...

Before embarking on a full-time real estate career, Karina Christensen was part of the personal flight team for American business guru Jack Welch and media proprietor Oprah Winfrey, having the opportunity to travel with them for many years around the world and cultivate within herself what it takes to partner with high-profile clientele successfully. As a specialist now working with Keller William...

What she considered flaws are now valued assets — having embraced her Judge Personality, she has become keenly aware of the resource, value, and role she offers a transaction. Lisa Baptista is a senior faculty member at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, a leading chiropractic institution with an international reputation for excellence. Her extensive family originates from a Portuguese colon...

New York Pastor E. Bernard Jordan measures his faith the same way we measure health, money, and career. He preaches that if it doesn't get practiced — if it doesn't get measured — it doesn't get valued. His ultimate aim is for all people to know their value and recognize it as key to honoring others as they honor themselves. His participation at Influence Ecology taught him much about the business...