The Obscene Power Of Social Leverage, 1 of 2

"I want a bicycle. I want more exercise and to bike to work instead of making the five minute drive every day."

You might hear a comment like this and respond, "my sister has a bike she wants to get rid of. If you ask her I'm sure she'll give it to you." Three people benefit. Someone gets a bike, someone feels helpful, and someone clears space out of their garage. You've been on the receiving end of simple exchanges like this but, like everyone, you took for granted the awesome power that it demonstrates. To borrow language from the movie "The Secret," someone just effortlessly manifested a bicycle out of thin air. A few words are spoken, and then there is a bike where there wasn't one before. Consider also the secondary and tertiary benefits. The exercise eventually improves the cyclist's health and attitude, and improves his relationships. The garage space becomes used for a project with an unknown future. The secondary results are where the real magic occurs, and they spread out towards infinite. The exponential power of social leverage is consummate. It is a power beyond belief and description, and can be harnessed and directed at will. It is also freely accessible, yet used haphazardly on a daily basis by everyone.

Simply put, social leverage is the activity of leveraging a relationship in order to bring into reality a shared idea or goal. It is also the central and ever-present element in all achieved goals or met needs. To stay with our example, someone can want a bicycle the live-long day, every day, but will not receive it until the desire is voiced to at least one other person and both parties have a mutual interest in transferring the bike. It cannot be otherwise. The giver or seller of the bike might have financial motivation, a generous personality or be repaying a debt, but regardless the desire must first be expressed to other human beings. What is interesting is how little leverage and effort is necessary in order to achieve most goals. You might be surprised.

I seldom write in the first person, but while writing this post I bumped into an new acquaintance and arbitrarily mentioned a private ambition I've had for about twenty years now - something I had never pursued or given a voice to before (flying an ultra light airplane). "Have you every heard of ultra light planes? They are basically glorified hang gliders with a seat and a small motor."

"Yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about," he said and his eyes lit up. "I know someone nearby who builds and flies them. If you're interested then he's definitely the guy to talk to. Let me look up his number on my phone."

That conversation arose from considering the power of social leverage. In other words, I gained access to the ability to fly through the air over treetops, power lines, banks, brothels, and churches as a result of casually saying a few words. I use two calories to ask how to fly and the universe instantly gives me a phone number. I could just as easily have asked for a pencil. Perhaps I can help him realize a childhood dream should he decide to voice something. Maybe next time. This power which is hidden in plain view works with small things and it works with large things - with the very largest things. Play around and observe social leverage in action, because it's obscenely powerful and always at your disposal, plain and simple.