Influence Is Like Water
Why forcing change rarely works… and being the example often does.
Influence Is Like Water
By Jessie Jenkins
This week during one of our Daily Calls, we were talking about something that all of us experience at one point or another:
Wanting people to understand.
Wanting them to see what we see.
To make better choices.
To think differently.
To shift their mindset.
To believe in themselves more.
And somewhere during that conversation, I had an unexpected realization:
Influence is like water.
Stay with me for a moment.
Have you ever had water leak under a sink or into a basement?
Even when things are covered, protected, or sealed in plastic, somehow, some way, the water finds an opening.
Not through force.
Not through pressure.
Not through fighting against everything in its way.
It simply flows.
Consistently.
Patiently.
Quietly.
And eventually, it reaches places you never expected.
That's when it hit me:
Real influence works the same way.
We Cannot Force People to Change
One of the hardest lessons in life is realizing that we cannot control what other people do, think, say, or believe.
Not our children.
Not our spouse.
Not our friends.
Not our team.
Not even the people we care deeply about.
And honestly, the more we push, the more resistance we often create.
People rarely transform because they are pressured.
But they do change when they feel inspired.
When they feel safe.
When they witness possibility through someone else's example.
John C. Maxwell famously said:
"Leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less."
Not control.
Not force.
Not convincing.
Influence.
And influence often happens quietly.
Be the Example
The older I get, the more I realize that some of the most powerful influence we have comes from simply being.
Being kind.
Being grounded.
Being consistent.
Being disciplined.
Being calm in chaos.
Being willing to grow ourselves first.
People watch more than we realize.
They notice how we handle challenges.
How we speak to others.
How we respond under pressure.
How we treat ourselves.
How we show up day after day.
Napoleon Hill spoke often about the power of harmonious relationships and cooperation. Wayne Dyer reminded us that energy speaks louder than words.
Perhaps that's why this quote felt especially meaningful to me this week:
"When the student is ready, the teacher will come."
Not everyone is ready at the same time.
And that's okay.
Sometimes the greatest thing we can do is stop trying to drag people forward and instead become a living example of what is possible.
Like water, influence has a way of finding its opening when the timing is right.
Closing Reflection
Maybe someone in your life is not hearing you right now.
Maybe they are resisting change.
Maybe they are not ready yet.
Maybe they need their own journey.
But never underestimate the influence of your example.
Your growth.
Your peace.
Your consistency.
Your courage.
Your energy.
Because long after words are forgotten, people remember how someone made them feel.
And often, the most meaningful influence happens quietly, over time, like water finding its way through stone.
💕 Jessie Jenkins
P.S. One of my favorite parts of the day is joining our daily Grow Rich Mastermind Call conversations about growth, mindset, leadership, and limitless possibilities. If you would ever like to join us, we would love to welcome you.
