Influencer

​Influencer
I am hearing the word more and more regularly.  Once upon a time it seemed to be just a part of the English language now it is a career choice.  Influencer.  The Cambridge Dictionary has two definitions which are relevant.  “someone who affects or changes the way that other people behave” and the marketing definition, “a person who is paid by a company to show and describe its products and services on social media, encouraging other people to buy them”
The reason the marketing definition is important is because the term was very much a marketing buzzword that became mainstream.  It has risen to prominence because of social media.  The whole aim of being an influencer on social media platforms, was to promote a certain product or event, in the hope that people would be influenced to purchase the product or go to the event.
It seems to be aligned with a term I hear a bit which is “on trend.”  I must admit something being “on trend” tends not to influence me, as what goes around comes around.  Having lived a while there are things being promoted now that were “on trend” 60 years ago.
I am happy to be influenced to get something now, not because it is “on trend”, but because I need it.  Naturally, I want to purchase something current, but I know it will soon be out of date and no longer “on trend.”
The thing for me is I reckon everyone is an influencer.  From the politician trying to influence millions to vote for him and the social media guru that targets me, to the person sitting next to me talking about their life and how they cope.
A guy I play table tennis with has influenced me.  He is elderly and has real health issues.  Like life and death health issues.  He says as long as there is no drug testing he should be right.  I love his attitude.  In the midst of what could pull him down big time, he is out there giving it a go with a positive attitude.
That is the other thing that gets me.  I think everyone is an influencer and it can influence me for good or bad. The person that lures another into the drug culture is an influencer – for bad.  The attempt to influence me to anti-social behaviour is one for bad.  Yet if someone influences another to see a particular path as destructive and causes the person to head in a different direction, they have influenced for good.
My take on the influence of influencers is that it is my choice.  All another can do is encourage me in a certain direction.  Going that way is up to me.  Sometimes the attempt to influence can seem all pervasive.  Perhaps the influence is in a direction that has been a real weakness.  Yet my take is that every time someone says no to something bad, the person is a little stronger.  Rome was not built in a day, and my failure o the road to success can be a steppingstone rather than a stumbling block.  My choice.  My experience is that saying no is sometimes really hard and seemingly impossible, but thankfully help is always available.
To me, it is ok to be influenced in a good thing.  To try to be influenced in a bad thing is always a downer, but I can be stronger because of it.  The choice is always mine.