Education | Leadership

Leadership Influencers

Leadership is about influence. Leaders must be careful about where they get their guidance. The people listed in this article are trustworthy leaders which influence hundreds of thousands of people around the world either personally or through their respective organizations. While I certainly do not claim the levels of influence that these individuals do; I aspire to do so and try to take direction and ques from them. While many of them will be familiar to you I wanted to introduce them so that my readers may learn from them as well. I admire the individuals below for their creativity, leadership and insight; hopefully you will as well.

Andy Stanley

Communicator, author and pastor, Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries (NPM) in 1995. Today, NPM is comprised of six churches in the Atlanta area, serving more than 36,000 people weekly, as well as a network of 30 churches around the globe. As host of NBC’s Your Move with Andy Stanley, reaching over 36 million viewers in less than two years on the air, and author of 20-plus books including Ask It, How to Be Rich, Deep & Wide, Visioneering and Next Generation Leader, he is considered one of the most influential living pastors in America. Andy Stanley and his wife, Sandra, have three grown children and live near Atlanta.

Follow Andy on-line at AndyStanley.com or on Twitter

Seth Godin

SETH GODIN is the author of 18 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything. You might be familiar with his books Linchpin, Tribes, The Dip and Purple Cow.

In addition to his writing and speaking, Seth founded both Yoyodyne and Squidoo. His blog (which you can find by typing “seth” into Google) is one of the most popular in the world.

He was recently inducted into the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame, one of three chosen for this honor in 2013.

Recently, Godin once again set the book publishing industry on its ear by launching a series of four books via Kickstarter. The campaign reached its goal after three hours and ended up becoming the most successful book project ever done this way.

His newest book, What To Do When It’s Your Turn, is already a bestseller.

Follow Seth On-Line at SethGodin.com or on Twitter

Michael Hyatt

Michael is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. It is also a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon bestseller.

He is the founder and CEO of Intentional Leadership, an online leadership development company. We help overwhelmed high achievers get the clarity, confidence, and tools they need to win at work and succeed at life.

Follow Michael at MichaelHyatt.com or on Twitter

Rich Stearns

Rich Stearns is the president of World Vision U.S., one of the world’s largest nonprofit humanitarian organizations. In 1998, in the midst of a lucrative business career as the CEO of Lenox, Inc., he felt an unexpected, irresistible call to exchange “success” for service to those affected by poverty and injustice. Since then he has tirelessly exhorted the American church to recognize and respond to God’s heart for children and families in need.

Today, Rich is known among both Christian and secular audiences as a trustworthy voice illuminating the critical issues that affect the world’s poor, and urging those who can to make a difference. Rich is also the author of two acclaimed books — The Hole in Our Gospel and Unfinished — that address the vocation of Christ-followers to live out the whole gospel, bringing the good news to a hurting world in not only word but also deed.

In his time with World Vision, Rich has traveled to more than 40 of the nearly 100 countries where World Vision works, and has a firsthand understanding of the issues that affect the poor. Driven by his passion to raise awareness of those issues, Rich has appeared on CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, and PBS, and written pieces for the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and other media outlets.

Follow Rich on-line via Twitter

Kelsey Humphreys

Here is how Kelsey introduces herself on her personal web site –

I believe you were created for great things. My heart is all about unlocking untapped potential, especially in people, but also in projects and businesses. Right now I unlock potential through my writing and speaking, and I hope to inspire potential with The Pursuit. Life is too precious to waste stuck in a job you hate! I also feel for leaders in today’s changing marketplace, and I strive to create presentations to help them better lead entrepreneurial team members.
I started as a graphic designer, then learned the ways of marketing after working at three of the largest agencies in Oklahoma. I eventually worked my way up to my dream job, Associate Creative Director at an awesome agency in downtown Oklahoma City. I was then able to quit my dream job for my dream of starting my own business.

I took notes and blogged along the way and noticed there were many young would-be go-getters who wanted to do something more with their lives but needed help. I wrote out answers to questions about how I achieved career success, started my own business, found my passion, etc. Those notes eventually birthed my Bestselling book, GO SOLO.

I love the Lord, making people laugh, music (I forgot to mention my short popstar career), traveling and Sooner Football. I am really really trying to love running but to no avail as of yet. I live in North OKC with my high school sweetheart husband, Chris, our unbelievably cute daughter, and our two feisty dogs.

Wow you’re still reading. Cool. Maybe follow me on Twitter?

Lewis Howes

Here is how Lewis introduces himself on his personal web site –

My name is Lewis and I want to get real with you for a minute.

I’ve always dreamed big, strived for greatness and deeply cared about people.

My dream growing up was to be a professional athlete and be an Olympian. After getting injured while playing professional football, I immediately thought about how to achieve the next dream.

Broken, broke, and clueless on how to make money or get a career, my obsession for learning about business, marketing, and adding value to influential people (when I had no value to give) began. Since then it’s been a powerful journey for me – becoming a New York Times Bestseller, building up a multi-million dollar online media company, speaking all over the world, advising for billion dollar brands, receiving media praise from places like Details Magazine, being one of “5 Internet Gurus Who Can Make You Rich” and much more.

I’m a firm believer that how you feel every moment is more important than what you do or what you have. I got a taste of being a pro athlete for a short amount of time. Knowing what is possible in life when I commit to my vision and pursue it with 100% passion… anything is possible.

Living my ideal lifestyle is important to me instead of working to survive life.

It’s hard to think that without having any business experience I went from sleeping on my sister’s couch to running a seven figure business in a couple years. Hustle comes to mind when people ask me how I did it. Lot’s of hustle, passion, focus, and consistent vision.

Follow Lewis on Line at LewisHowes.com or on twitter

Robert Kiyosaki

Robert T. Kiyosaki is best known as the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad. This is the #1 personal finance book of all time, which has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money.

His book title holds four of the top ten spots on Nielsen Bookscan List’s Lift-to-Date Sales from 2001-2008 alone. In addition, Robert has been featured on shows such as Larry King Live, Oprah, The Doctors, Bloomberg International Television and CNN.

Educational Entrepreneur, co-creator of the CASHFLOW® board game, founder of the financial education-based Rich Dad Company and author of New York Times Bestsellers: Rich Dad Poor Dad, Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money, and Unfair Advantage