Sometimes an effective way to look at defining something is to distinguish what it isn’t. Power is not force. Power is not manipulation, even though it can produce results. Power is not gained through fear.

Then, what is it? The formula I like is this:

                         RESPONSIBILITY X GENEROSITY = POWER

So, what does that mean? Now you are thinking. Let’s take a closer look.

RESPONSIBILITY
Powerful people take full responsibility for EVERYTHING in their lives. Remember this is not a conversation to identify fault or blame. This is saying I clearly see what happened and I am willing to identify what I learned and what action I need to take if I am able.

Sometimes all there is to do is move on.

A few years back Tiger Woods messed up his personal life. I don’t know what he learned or if he fully moved on. What I do know is the media and the general public made him wrong longer than any man in my lifetime. Wonder why? Regardless, what happened happened, and there is nothing for Mr. Woods to do to have any power in his life except to forgive himself and get on with it.

GENEROSITY
Generosity has many pathways. Powerful people are powerful because they have influence. It is not money or things or personality. It is the willingness to share themselves with their communities.

Oprah, Warren Buffet, Magic Johnson, Bill Gates, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and the list goes on. What they all have in common is INFLUENCE. Whether you agree or disagree with them does not keep you from hearing them.

They are committed to others. They share their ideas. They think big. They are fearful at times, yet are totally willing to step into that fear. They care.