Moving Beyond Your Influence
“Business is a vocation, and a noble vocation, provided that those engaged in it see themselves challenged by a greater meaning in life; this will enable them truly to serve the common good by striving to increase the goods of this world and to make them more accessible to all” (Evangelii Gaudium).
What is your place of influence, and how can you create a place of impact?
Nestled along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, you'll find the picturesque towns of the Amalfi Coast. My dream of exploring this coastline was coming to fruition. I prayed the Holy Spirit would accompany me and lead me to the people, places, and inspiration he desired (Galatians 5:16). Fresh out of college, the world felt like a land of opportunities, and the feelings of excitement and nerves about the future followed me to Italy.
As I navigated the winding streets, filled with colorful buildings that cascaded down zigzagging cliffs, a small and humble café tucked away from all the grandeur caught my attention. As the barista prepared my cappuccino, she shared the history of her family's café, which was recently passed down to her. She radiated confidence and excitement as she shared her dreams and desires to influence beyond the café and make an impact through her vocation as a business owner.
It has been 10 years, and this conversation continues to live vividly in my mind. It is a moment I occasionally refer to when sharing the beginnings of my own entrepreneurship journey. This conversation influenced me to pursue entrepreneurship and impacted me by providing the encouragement I needed to build a business on the foundation of a greater purpose: being God’s instrument on earth.
During a discussion with my spiritual director about the vocation of business, I told him about my encounter with the young barista. He concluded our meeting by asking me to reflect on the young woman’s choice of the words “influence” and “impact.” He also asked me to invite the Holy Spirit to guide me toward an understanding of how to use influence as a means to make an impact.
Influence as a Catholic Woman in Business
Influence inspires action.
Influence is your ability to affect someone’s behavior or emotion, whether through a purchase, thought, or action. Recognizing and being intentional about the influence you desire to have on the people who encounter and experience you (and your offerings) is a key step in being a driving force for truth, beauty, and goodness. Your vocation as a woman in business comes with the responsibility of understanding that your influence is powerful and does not end with you. Your influence extends into the touchpoints your customers and clients have each time they engage with your products and services.
What influence are you having on the people who encounter and experience you, your products, and your offerings? Is it the influence you desire to have on them?
Impact: From a Like to an Amen
Impact propels transformation.
As a Catholic woman, you understand that your vocation in business extends beyond the products you create or the services you provide. Business is your vehicle for evangelization. Impact happens when you can break through the surface of influence and propel a more profound transformation within the heart and mind of the person who encounters or experiences you and your work. Your impact is the ripple effect of your influence.
Understanding the influence you have and the actions you inspire will enable you to intentionally make a profound impact on your customers’ and clients’ lives and, in turn, the lives of the people they encounter.
As you move forward in your business, ask yourself: How can I use my influence to intentionally move the needle and propel a profound impact through my work? How can I move the needle “from a ‘like’ to an ‘amen’”? Remember: Influence inspires action, and impact propels transformation.
Natasha Lovely is the CEO and Founder of Aspen & Oliva, a premier personal branding agency. Driven by an entrepreneurial and creative spirit, she purposefully integrates her expertise as a clinical therapist and storytelling marketer to guide women to architect, refine, and master an iconic personal brand that effortlessly transcends into all areas of their lives - professional and personal. Her work with individuals and Fortune 50 companies to develop talent has led to her positioning as an authority on personal branding, an expert in leadership development, and a champion of the multi-hyphenate woman. Through her passion for business, Natasha has propelled her mission to inspire women to design a life of beauty, champion all things good and true, and guide them to become thought-leaders in their fields. You can connect with Natasha through Instagram, LinkedIn, or natashalucia.com.