PERSUASION: the magnet of greatness

Nothing attracts success and greatness like the art of persuasion. Without mastering this subtle, yet very powerful tool your altitude of success is in jeopardy. This is one weapon that everyone who is serious about success must have in their arsenal. You do not need to look very far to see the co-relation that persuasion has with success. It is very evident in the lives of those who have mastered and effectively applied the tool. The whole volume of the bible is full of the Word of God persuading every reader and hearer of the Word to serious consider knowing and following God’s ways if they want to enjoy all the goodness that He has prepared for those that follow Him. Seriously think about this, with all His wisdom, mighty and power, God chose persuasion to reveal Himself to humanity, this should tell you something.

In America we are witnessing history being made by the charismatic US president elect Barack Obama, who has without hesitation fully utilized the art of persuasion with such tenacity that it literally begged for mercy. To appreciate persuasion at work here is an extract from Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, I quote “Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story, of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to. It is that promise that's always set this country apart, that through hard work and sacrifice each of us can pursue our individual dreams, but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams, as well. That's why I stand here tonight. Because for 232 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women; students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors found the courage to keep it alive”.

“Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit cards, bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach. These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush. Tonight, I say to the people of America, to Democrats and Republicans and independents across this great land: Enough. This moment, this election is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. We are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight”. Who can blame John McCain for losing against such an opponent who ruthlessly uses the power of persuasion? It was through persuasion that millions of voters put their faith and the future of their country into the hands of a 47 year old black man who made history both because of his race and in spite of it.

I believe all successful persuaders are a result of having been successfully persuaded at some time in their lives. What a strange world it would be if there were no persuaders. Life is one continuous series of persuasions. At home it is the parent persuading the child, the child persuading the parent, the salesman persuading the prospect, the lawyer persuading the jury, the boy persuading the girl or the politician persuading his constituency.

To be a persuader you must be persuaded and in order to continue to grow we must practice the art of persuasion. The old saying, "Nothing succeeds like Success," fits the persuader perfectly. The earlier in life you begin, the fuller your life will become. It is only in sharing and giving that we realize what we have, and we can give nothing better than persuading others to worthwhile goals, right motives and eternal values.

I think it is safe to say that sometimes in our lives we will be persuaded to become positive persuaders seeking to give and share, or we'll not be persuaded and spend the rest of our lives waiting for a break, taking and keeping. I hope these thoughts on persuasion have increased your awareness of the great privilege and obligation of the persuader. The world needs one more positive persuader. Today let that person be you.