Influence 1/2 of the world every day
October 29, 2009 at 6:18 pm (change, Influence, Six Degrees of Seperation, Social Networks, Social Science)
Currently I am reading Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. And while I am only 1/2 of the way though it, I am fascinated with the power of the social networks we are each located in. Especially in regards to the power we each possess in the networks we are in.
So here is something to consider from the findings in the book…
You and I are influenced by people who are three degrees away from us. So I have a friend (that is one degree) and they have a friend (that is two degrees) and they have a friend (that is three degrees). My friend’s friend friend has an impact on my life, as much as I do not think about it or as little control I have over that – this is the truth we each live with each day.
So we are influenced by people three degrees away from us, and therefore we have an influence on people who are three degrees away from us. But here is the kicker we are each separated from anyone else in the world by only 6 degrees. You have heard of “6 degrees of separation”?
Therefore, theoretically, you and I have the power to influence 1/2 of the world each day.
I just blew my own mind.
