FIVE FOR THE ROAD

Never quite finishing a book can be dangerous. How many times have you not quite gotten to the last page in a business book, for whatever reason? Maybe the book got lost? Boredom set in? Whatever.

Missing the last few pages of Mr. Robert Dilenschneider’s book will be a gross error.

Among other treasures there appear a couple of essays written by five young people, under 25 years of age (Yes, some can actually write sentences and communicate in printable writing, but you can bet they sent these essays to Mr. Dillenschneider by e-mail!).

Apparently, these members of the “Look at Me” generation served as interns at Mr. Dilenschneider’s communications company. Somehow, he got them to sit down and write a few paragraphs about what the words “power” and “influence” meant to them vs. the thoughts of a veteran, successful chief executive officer.

There are so many jarring concepts and ideas in these few pages in the back of the book that, on the surface, they seem out-of-synch with conventional America, but a few might be worth a mentions here. Remember, this is the generation with NO HOME PHONE (just cell phones), that was raised on video games, and use text messaging and e-mail as bread-and-butter communications, the way other older generations have used letters (snail-mail) and brief, long-distance calls.

· One links power and influence to respect (and empowering others) - - you need the latter in order to hold the former. Agree? Consider: One might have power, but no influence, or influence without real power. The common denominator: Respect, which couples power and influence to a young person’s desires. Hummmm. Bring in fear with the power player and in come an immediate disinterest and distain for following and contributing. (Ah, many a parent is relating here…..). And, this young person claims that IBM’s exit from PC manufacturing represents the “true start” of the business transformation to the modern age. Hummmmm. The problem of information legitimacy surfaces, with the proliferation of anonymous sources on the world wide web.

· Another young intern points out that few individuals can wield power AND influence together. Look at our political leaders: Many exert enormous power, but have little direct influence on our daily lives. Today’s society is ruled by the powerful above and “fueled” by the news media. Technology changes this equation with anyone creating credible websites and other on-line information centers. What’s missing today? Leaders using the technological tools to affect people’s lives. [Aside from your Blogger, look at Al Gore. He never really made the radar screens of most Americans until he claimed to have invented The Internet! That put him on the map permanently.]

· One intern equates power and influence WITH TECHNOLOGY ITSELF! But didn’t society create technology, not technology creating society? Technology becomes the “agent of control” for the powerful and influential, for sure. Yet, aren’t power and influence simply “internal predilections” within us? If so, then it’s up to the INDIVIDUAL to unlock this potential and follow the path less traveled to success.

· Power and influence aren’t just money and fame, claims another young intern. Power means “knowledge, desire, and having confidence in oneself.” (Hey, who’s writing this book, anyway, you or Mr. Dilenschneider? It’s more powerful to be respected…that liked. This intern points out that technology represents a double-edged sword, both showcasing ideas and enabling others to sabotage one’s best efforts. In the wrong hands, these very beneficial communications tools become anonymously abusive and destructive.

· The fifth intern points out that power dies with the individual, but that INFLUENCE CAN LAST FOREVER. Therefore, influence may be much more important in the long run that power. (Think Jesus, who had now power, but whose influence continues 2,000 years later!)

The message: Read this small book right to the last page for maximum benefit.