QOTD: Are You an Influencer Or Follower?
This is a trailer for Influencers, "a short documentary that explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends and creativity become contagious today in music, fashion and entertainment. The film attempts to understand the essence of influence, what makes a person influential without taking a statistical or metric approach. Written and Directed by Paul Rojanathara and Davis Johnson, the film is a Polaroid snapshot of New York influential creatives (advertising, design, fashion and entertainment) who are shaping today's pop culture."
You can watch the full documentary here. We strongly recommend that you do!
Now, we at Urban Cusp, believe this is a critical question for our generation. We want to know if you sincerely believe that you fit the definition of an influencer (a visionary/ someone who remains on the cusp of all things cutting-edge/ a forward-thinking person who pushes back against the mainstream) or do you tend to be a follower of current trends? We want to hear you make a case for the essence of an influencer!
Click to share thisClick to share this
Greetings Idren on this thread.
To say that I am an “Influencer” may be tooting my own horn a bit, (or at least too much for my own liking). Having been so described on occasions in the past has been gratifying though. Then, it would be naive of me, as well, to think that I am not often enough a follower. I have had several great leaders from whom I’ve taken lessons, after all. In fact, I am yet actively seeking a mentor, so please feel free to be obliging you uplifting lot…:o)
But really, I think as an Influencer, it matters not so much of how one views his/her self but rather how one is perceived by others.
I have long labored in the role of “Ras,” literally “Head” in the ancient Abyssinian dynastic tradition and, yes, I have consciously sought to be positively influential in this task. What I have found, in this regard, is that I needn’t even actively try to be a role model to be influencing. I mused, with that realization, that leadership must be largely founded on some innate quality. On acceptance of that possibility, I found it incumbent upon myself to be well aware in channeling the kind of qualities I myself will want to imitate, if even subconsciously.
Point in case: While ‘trodding’ through Ghana–on my maiden journey, I was being accosted by such a growing number of young people offering their reverence that, at one point, my Auntie, who is Ghanaian and resides there, was compelled to inquire of one lad about the apparent appeal. He explained, flatly, that the Ghanaian youth regarded me, the Rastaman, as a King to be welcomed, respected, and, yes, followed, and added that I would be “looked out for” wheresoever I was willing to venture on that land so alien to myself.
While I wasn’t surprised, (I respect and practice this ancient monarchical tradition myself, it did make me contemplate, even more deeply so, my grave responsibility to others. I have since made a very conscious effort to work even harder in my highly visual role rather than to simply kick back and enjoy the fruits of Rastafarian glory. Earning fully the esteem attached to this otherwise ascribed role became for me the basis for a, not so distant, renaissance of sorts.
Gee! I sincerely apologize for my typos in this post. My haste is apparent.
Nyamekye
INFLUENCER….I have to be…quite frankly I have no choice- I know that is what I am called to do. Even when I settle and try my best to be a follower for the sake of ease, or to not draw attention, or fright or sometimes even laziness something, someone, or some conscious jolt forces me to do otherwise. I wake up in the morning and immediately think about social gaps, ailments people ignore, and issues people avoid- even if it is in myself. It is what compels me to function. I really cannot explain it but im driven by that obligation.
Growing up, I always felt like an influencer, mostly because I was the black kid doing things that people in my little town weren’t used to seeing black kids do (ballet, journalism, community service). These days though, I’m definitely a follower, I’m continually inspired by the world around me. I’m always looking to see what other people are doing, saying, thinking and how those actions and words fit into my own life.
Depends on the day, the amount of energy I have, and the issue at hand. Have you read about Design Thinking at Stanford? Check it out! I was surprised by how much my mind is programmed to “stay in the lines” although my heart is always looking for ways to influence.
While I would like to think that I’m an influencer and always on the cutting edge, I have to admit that I’m a follower. Aside from my sister and maybe a few family members, if I were to look behind me and count the people I have changed, influenced or think differenlty, the number would be low. On a societal level, much of the way I speak and dress is due to the people I’ve interacted with and the music that I have listened to. I’m also a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ. Yes, I’m definetly a follower.
Is there an option for being in the middle? If not, I’ll roll with defining myself as being influential…Not sure if I “push against the mainstream” but I do find the need to be true to self and more importantly my God. It’s very easy to get lost in going with the flow of society and subsequently lose yourself or wake up one day realizing that you have never truly defined who you really are, but have simply taken on the label freely given to and by those whom you associate yourself with.
Just my 2 cents (sense) to the collective piggy bank…