What Two Excellent Strangers Taught Me About Influence
I met a couple of excellent people recently. They’re not connected—two different times, two different places—but both showed me kindness. More than that: they offered friendship, for no reason I could discern. Certainly not because I had anything particularly meaningful to offer them.
I’ve written in this space about attending the Factor Forum in Birmingham, AL a few months ago. That’s where I briefly met two of my leadership heroes: Dave Ramsey and Pat Lencioni. It was a great experience—but let’s be honest. The odds of developing a personal relationship with either are slim. Not because they wouldn’t be willing, but because of time, access, and the realities of influence at scale.
But they weren’t the only people I met at the event.
I arrived a day early for the diamond-level Q&A and dinner with several speakers. Killing time before the session started, I wandered through the atrium near registration. That’s where I saw a guy in a distinctive purple Maxwell Leadership pullover. One of us approached the other (I don’t remember who), and we struck up a conversation. He thought he might have recognized me from the International Maxwell Conference in Orlando earlier this year.
His name is Bill Goodwin, a fellow Maxwell coach from Minnesota and owner of Priority Living Consulting Group. He’s further down the road I’m trying to walk—and from the beginning, he spoke to me like an old friend.
We chatted off and on during the two days at the conference. He offered to exchange contact info. That could’ve been the end of it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s let plenty of potential connections quietly fizzle.
But it didn’t fizzle for two reasons:
Bill made the first move. He offered to help with something I was working on—something he had expertise in and I didn’t.
I chose to accept the offer. That might sound small, but it wasn’t. The help he offered happened to be related to a product he’s licensed to sell, so I hesitated. I was wary of a pitch I didn’t want to hear. But he respected that, didn’t push, and still offered help—with no sales angle and no strings attached.
Since then, I’ve asked Bill for advice several times. He’s always been generous, wise, and kind.
The other excellent person I met recently is Barbara Travis. We crossed paths when I spoke to the Rankin County Rotary Club a few weeks ago.
(Side note: This was my second Rotary visit—I visited another club a few days before because I didn’t want my first-ever meeting to be the one where I was the speaker. Just seemed wise.)
I gave a short talk on John Maxwell’s Law of the Rubber Band, and Barbara was among the kind members who thanked me afterward. Later, she sent a thoughtful email saying she enjoyed the presentation and wanted to learn more about my work. She invited me to coffee.
Our conversation covered M2, her professional experience, and many of her fascinating adventures over the years. She asked some excellent questions—many of which I wasn’t fully prepared to answer. A little humbling, sure. But also incredibly helpful in refining my vision for M2 and how we serve our clients.
Only later did I learn that Barbara is Rotary royalty in Mississippi. A widely respected leader who’s held top positions in the organization. She didn’t owe me her time or attention—but she gave it freely. I was impressed and grateful. So much so that I joined Rotary a few weeks later. And she agreed to sponsor me.
I share all of this for one simple reason: to express my gratitude to Barbara and Bill, two people who showed me what generous leadership looks like. They gave without expectation. They offered insight, friendship, and encouragement, just because it’s who they are.
I want to be that kind of person. That kind of leader. That kind of friend.
And maybe you do too.
Here’s a question worth asking: Who can you invest in this week, not because they can help you—but simply because it’s worth doing?
✅ Key Leadership Lessons from Two Excellent Strangers
🤝 Lead by going first. Initiative often opens the door to connection.
🧭 Give without expectation. Generosity is a hallmark of true influence.
🙌 Be open to receiving. Growth often requires humility and openness.
🔍 Ask great questions. Insightful questions can clarify vision and direction.
🌱 Invest in people, not outcomes. Leadership is a long game—and it’s personal.
