One of my heroes, Tim Elmore, sends out an email newsletter periodically that I find to be a great source of information, as I constantly search for new ideas, ways to better serve my family, and be a person that my children can depend on.

Today’s email contained the following information, I also went straight to Amazon.com to order a used copy of this book.

In their intriguing book, "The Influentials," Ed Keller and Jon Berry document the type of person who carries great influence in America. Their research says that one in ten people pretty much tell the others where to eat, how to vote and what to buy. They are the people that others listen to, watch, and follow their lead. Keller and Berry call these folks “the influentials.”

According to Elmore the common denominators include these characteristics:

1. They are able to sort out and define what matters.

2. They are more optimistic than the average person.

3. They are selective and discriminating in their choices.

4. They are authentic; they don’t just follow the norm but think for themselves.
These “influentials” don’t merely follow he crowd. They carve out a life that suits their identity and aren’t afraid to live a life that is a bit different than mainstream society.

5. They are good listeners and are very teachable.
According to research, these influentials list good listening skills as a high goal for themselves, especially if they’re in leadership positions. Although they know a lot, they listen to learn more.

6. They believe in God and are active in serving their communities.

7. They value education and believe it is key to the future.

8. They demand a job that is interesting, enjoyable and contributes to society.

9. They are visionaries, and keepers of society’s high ideals.
They possess a vision of tomorrow and it helps them maintain hope. They tend to dream and hold fast to society’s highest ideals and values. People lean on them to remind others of the big picture.

10. They feel they're responsible to their communities and the world around them.
This was interesting. Far and away, these influentials are most likely to feel responsible to their communities. They cannot just “live and let live.” They believe they are accountable to others.

11. They define success as loving and be loved by their family.

12. They believe in growth and change.

All moms are leaders and influentials. That's our place in the grand scheme of life.

I’ll buy these theories. I agree with them, indeed I’d recently told my nine year old that I have never been bored in my life. So many books to read, gardens to tend to, children to take care of, people to help, jobs to do, projects to get involved in…I don’t need to find amusements, I need to discover more hours in each day in which to get it all done.

I think to have excitement and optimism each day is a gift from God, one I’m very grateful to have, life is short and there’s so much to do.

As parents, especially as adoptive parents, I believe we are given a special place in children’s lives, a small window of opportunity in which to make a difference in their lives and in their future. I feel that I need to make the most of this time.