Under The Influence(s)- an ActiveRain Contest

Under The Influence(s)- an ActiveRain Contest

 

It's my first ActiveRain contest!  After 2 and 1/2 years, I figured it was time to host one- so here it goes...

 

While not quite under the influence like the driver in the photo here, it's safe to say that we've all had folks who have influenced us over the course of our careers.  Be they parents, friends, managers, brokers or others, our career paths have been influenced in a number of ways by those around us.

 

I've always said that we have no choice but to set an example for others- sometimes it's a good example and sometimes it's a bad one, but we always set some sort of example.  And others are watching.  Heck, I've also said that there are times when we can learn the most from one setting a bad example- and letting the consequences they've suffered be our motivation not to walk the same path or make the same mistakes.  Influencers and their influences are no different.

 

So here's the challenge...err...opportunity should you choose to accept it:  Write about the 5 folks who have had the greatest, most positive of influences in your life.  But don't stop there:  also write about as many as 5 folks whom through their words, actions or other bad influences have also had a positive effect on your life.

 

Contest's only real rule:  Don't use names for any of the "bad" influences- but feel free to name the good ones!

 

Contest will run through the end of the month.  Points will be awarded for 1st place (2,500 points), 2nd place (2,000 points) and 3rd place (1,500 points).  All who enter will receive 500 points.

 

Please leave a link to your post in the comments section of this post.

 

Judging the entries with me will be sage ActiveRain'er Rob Arnold (Broker/Owner of Altamonte Springs, FL's Sand Dollar Realty) and Erna Neal of The Viking Team Realty in Longwood, FL.  I'm hoping to have results posted soon after the contest's end.

 

Now, get started!  Have someone you'd like to brag about?  Write about 'em.  This is an opportunity to say thanks to those who have helped us along- including some who I'd suspect have absolutely no idea they've done so.  This will also serve to remind ourselves of the influences whom we need to be thankful for each day.

 

UPDATE 7/8/14- PLEASE READ: A few folks (not many, mind you- but enough to warrant this update) have expressed to me either their aversion to "going negative", their lack of comfort in doing so or a combination of the two. While my point in having folks write of any bad examples/influences they've had was (and remains) intended to allow folks to illustrate the positive results> that have resulted from those negatives- as I discussed with Kerrie from the beginning, it seems some have still felt varying degrees of uneasiness with including any "negatives" at all. I can't possibly live within the minds of others (heck, living within my mind and staying sane can be a struggle!), nor can I fault anyone's choices with regard to any content submitted here. A number have spoken, however, of how negative influences have had positive results. I set the guidelines for this contest and suggested folks include 5 positive influences and 5 negative-turned-positive ones- with the only rule of the contest being that those who do include the negatives not do so by name.

In summary and hopefully clarification: If you want to include negative-turned-positive influences, feel free to do so. If you'd rather not do so, don't do so. There's no penalty for those who mayhave submitted less than 5 influences of one sort or another- nor will there be any penalties for those who have chosen not to include any "negatives" at all. I hope this helps- and I offer my sincerest of apologies to anyone whose been confused or inconvenienced in any way up to this point. I thank all who have entered this so far, and look forward to those entries yet to come. Feel free to write ne with any questions you might still have- Dennis Burgess

Under The Influence(s)- an ActiveRain Contest