Life Coach - Step 36 of 100 - Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence

I wish I could do something about global poverty, injustice against women and children, illiteracy, health and basic amenities, ... My circle of concern could be the whole world, my circle of influence is what I can control.

You as Commanding Officers or even as Officers have a Circle of Influence that is larger than anyone else. What you do affects lives of your troops -positively or negatively? You can influence your officers to get the grooming that you wish you had, you can raise the standard of your unit an echelon above what it is now.

There are so many things you can do because of the power you weld. Your circle of influence is huge and hopefully it will only keep increasing with every promotion you get in your career.

So why dont you take the leap of faith and start affecting things positively. Small steps, large steps anything that makes the transformation possible.

Is it worth it? As a Training Officer in 2TB, I could influence the recruits to pledge their corneas for donation. I got the Eye Bank officials of India involved. We collected 2000 pledges, Each soldier has at least 5 family members who would now be aware of cornea donation. We wanted to rope in the Colonel Commandant and have the entire BEG pledge the corneas. And we wanted to reach the entire army and their dependants. All the time I kept looking at the figure of 10 lacs corneas which was the requirement of the corneal blind population - it was so easy if my circle of influence was large. Maybe not immediatly but I was sure that I could do it in my life time.

And it started with 2000 pledges and unfortunately died at the next level of bureaucracy. But even if just 1 person of those 2000 recruits does donate his corneas and gives sight to two persons, all my effort is worth it.

You as COs can do wonders in so many ways in your large circle of influence. What is stopping you - you? Dont let that happen ever.