Latest / Daily Influence / 716. You’re Never Too Small to Make a Difference: The Power of Everyday Influence

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716. You’re Never Too Small to Make a Difference: The Power of Everyday Influence · Daily Influence

• 0:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to Daily Influence, your daily dose of positive influence.
• 0:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Brian Smith founder of IA Business Advisors and co-author of the Iain team series.
• 0:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Each day we share stories and insights to help you find be and build your influence in a positive and responsible way.
• 0:27
  [SPEAKER_02]: And I'm Greg Clino, partner at IE Business Advisors, and co-host of Daily Influence.
• 0:32
  [SPEAKER_02]: Be sure to follow, subscribe, and share Daily Influence with someone who could use a little extra positivity today.
• 0:39
  [SPEAKER_02]: And make us part of your daily routine, whether it's during your commute, on a walk, or an quiet momentous for you, because you're influenced matters.
• 0:48
  [SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to Daily Influence, I'm Greg Clino.
• 0:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: Today's guest brings a powerful perspective on what it truly means to live with purpose
• 0:57
  [SPEAKER_02]: one interaction at a time.
• 0:58
  [SPEAKER_02]: Rabbi Mandel Greenberg of Chabad in of Shamburg has dedicated his life to strengthening community, sharing values rooted in faith and helping individuals recognize their ability to make a difference.
• 1:12
  [SPEAKER_02]: Guided by the teachings and influence of the Rabbi whose legacy continues to inspire moral and ethical leadership across the world.
• 1:20
  [SPEAKER_02]: Rabbi Greenberg's work reminds us that influence isn't reserved for a select few.
• 1:26
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's something we all carry from mentoring you to connecting what people in everyday moments.
• 1:31
  [SPEAKER_02]: His journey is a reflection of consistent, intentional, and responsible influence.
• 1:37
  [SPEAKER_02]: Rabbi Greenberg, welcome to Daily Influence.
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you for having me.
• 1:42
  [SPEAKER_02]: To start, could you share a bit about your background and what led you to where you are today?
• 1:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm very focused on using what we have to influence others.
• 1:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: I grew up in Shanghai, China.
• 1:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: From my father is a rap I over there.
• 1:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Runs the Kabad Center in Shanghai, China.
• 2:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: The Shanghai Jewish Center.
• 2:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Growing up, we're always inspired by our parents to share this little event.
• 2:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Even if you only have a little, always share it with somebody else, whether it's physical, whether it's spiritual,
• 2:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: have an influence.
• 2:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: I grew up a story that we only, I only found out much later in life, so it's how a visitor to sing high as he was in Israel.
• 2:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was visiting for business and he related to my father many years later how much, how much variety was by seeing the way this four-year-old was acting.
• 2:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: That little four-year-old was me.
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: I didn't know at a time I found
• 2:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: you're never too young to have a positive influence and never think they use the little.
• 2:52
  [SPEAKER_02]: This so true, we even say the eye and team that we begin influencing from the moment our parents find out their pregnant with us.
• 3:01
  [SPEAKER_02]: So her youth later in life to hear about how you were a positive influence at four years old is such a wonderful turnaround.
• 3:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: And that foundation of mentorship and outreach really speaks to the idea that influence is built over time.
• 3:17
  [SPEAKER_02]: to consistent action and looking back at your time as a student going out on Fridays to connect with others.
• 3:24
  [SPEAKER_02]: How did those experiences shape your understanding of your role in responsibility and influencing others?
• 3:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: So those experiences are actually inspired by the rubby, as the speaker is actually in the background over here.
• 3:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: Rabbi Schneerson, I spent a lot of time
• 3:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: and visiting is a great site in New York, which is called the O'Hell.
• 3:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: Some of you may have been there before.
• 3:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're heard about it and really that's inspiration to see everything as deadly and as deadly potential.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: And all sometimes you just need a little bit of influence and always bring out that beauty in the world.
• 4:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: As a student, those experiences going out on Fridays and are free time to help others really help me understand that idea when you see it in action.
• 4:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can study about it, you can learn about it.
• 4:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: But then when you discover that when you see it happening, you see it's true.
• 4:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: It really helps take you to the next level.
• 4:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: There are anecdotes when I was about when I was 15 years old.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: some members with a 14 or 15 other young.
• 4:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would, one of the places I would tricks was a office building, where there was a very high level accountants that worked there.
• 4:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: They queued on the radio during tax season.
• 4:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's the type of personality.
• 4:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: I didn't know that at the time, but we would visit every part of a me and my friend, and we would share with them thoughts about, particularly to our portions, about communities in the general who would ask the questions,
• 5:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: settlement we know.
• 5:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: And later on, I was thinking about it that you see the power of influence that we were working years old, 15 years old, this person was rather more advanced and a lot more at a lot more life experience than we had.
• 5:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: But he was interested in hearing what we had to say and it did have an effect on him.
• 5:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: So,
• 5:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: Again, you never know when you, you never do young and you never do little and whatever you know, whatever you have, there's always something you can always there it and some and I'm sure everyone will be happy there.
• 5:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: It is interesting how early experiences often define how we show up for others later in life.
• 5:53
  [SPEAKER_02]: Can you share a moment or experience where you truly thought you made a positive impact on someone's life.
• 6:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's very hard to pinpoint because every experience that we have has an effect on others.
• 6:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Every time you meet somebody in the store and you tell them good morning, every time you're in a Uber and you have a nice conversation with Uber driver or if you're just miles with someone on your daily walk, even more, even more if you have a conversation and you actually shared ideas and inspired you that you think might inspire them.
• 6:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's hard to say exactly.
• 6:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, point point something that this is the time when I felt it.
• 6:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: But again, I guess I'll share a story from when I was a student.
• 6:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: It was a place to go to, as I say, I think that was a type of barbershop.
• 6:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: New Jersey, I'm studying New Jersey then, and the owner was a person from South America who his mother was Jewish, but his father was not, so I was, and he basically at some point discovered that in Jewish thought, if your mother is Jewish, you are, and he wanted to learn about Judaism.
• 6:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: Now, normally when I visit people, I would like to, I would always just stop with them
• 7:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: that we read in the Torah or the week or the holidays, something else says we would talk to Pana, shared Jewish background and we would talk to we would have nice meaningful conversations.
• 7:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: This person didn't know anything else.
• 7:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: He had just discovered he was Jewish.
• 7:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I asked him if he was interested in I bought him a commercial, a commercial is the five books of Moses, from the distance I've brought in the distance and by perhaps a publication society.
• 7:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is very, it's not just a translation,
• 7:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's even the uninitiated, it's very able to read it.
• 7:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he was way older than me, but he seemed like he would spend time reading it.
• 7:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: And whenever I came, I'm Friday, I was asking, oh, what are you reading?
• 7:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he would share with me what he was reading.
• 7:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we would discuss it.
• 7:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we would have very meaningful conversations.
• 7:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: So that was a point when I realized that it was very to get never thought that that was something that I was able to influence somebody to do.
• 8:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: Again, it's not your own power, you know, you're doing the right thing.
• 8:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: You haven't got lead help, but it was a very, really moment to me.
• 8:09
  [SPEAKER_02]: Those moments really bring to life the idea that influence isn't always grand.
• 8:13
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's often deeply personal.
• 8:16
  [SPEAKER_02]: You know, in a big part of your work is grounded in values, ethics and faith.
• 8:21
  [SPEAKER_02]: How do you define responsible influence and what role do moral guidance and belief systems play in shaping?
• 8:27
  [SPEAKER_02]: How we lead and serve others?
• 8:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would say responsible influence and the connections to moral beliefs, I think, are not only intertwined, I think one is only possible with the others.
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: I guess I'll close my teacher, the Rabbi again.
• 8:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is something that he was very, very, very passionate about.
• 8:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: That morals and ethics and by definition, what we thereby influence other people with,
• 9:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you don't want to talk about it, it's all at a higher power, it's all something else.
• 9:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: But otherwise, if something that history has proven to us is unstable, there are people that can be very sophisticated societies and very intelligent societies.
• 9:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: But when the morality wasn't based on faith and God and what's the faith-based morality,
• 9:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: they ended up having, you know, they had animal rights.
• 9:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: They were, you haven't got to find if you killed the cat.
• 9:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: People with subtle means or people with a certain races were deemed unwanted and unneeded as a society and it was moral to kill them.
• 9:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure everyone can figure out which society I'm referring to in the past century.
• 9:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the idea that E. Focusing on, as well as folks who are in the past it is is that they've been based on a faith in God as something that doesn't change.
• 10:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: And there's a, in Judaism, there's a lot of talk about the universal message of Judaism, to Judaism, to Judaism, to Judaism, that I want to have to convert to Judaism, Jews have their job, and people that I enjoy stuff, everyone got created, everybody in their unique roles, and their unique influence that they must have, but the basic of it all is to, is that there
• 10:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: based on a belief in God, and based on faith in God.
• 10:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: And when I'll give one of the things that Derabbi pushed for, strongly, was a moment of silence.
• 10:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I think actually, you know, here in Illinois, it's actually mandatory, I think, that's even in public schools.
• 10:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: They should start every day with a moment of silence.
• 10:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Don't tell the kids what to think about, it's not the private schools, private parents.
• 10:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: But everyone's that they should, every morning,
• 10:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: and hopefully the parents will tell the children to think about a higher power, or think about God if they're, that's how they're comfortable in talking about it.
• 11:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: And that's really, and that's what's created here for a purpose to help each other and to influence each other and to build together a society which is a civilized place and moral place.
• 11:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: And when we start our day thinking about that,
• 11:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: to get their build civilized and moral place.
• 11:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I don't know if I'm adjusting the question a little bit, definitely faith and moral and moral are not only to find the basics of what you would want to influence other people with.
• 11:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And having faith in that there's a higher power and creator of the world and wants us to make it a better place is I think the only way.
• 11:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: to have a true effect on others and a good effect on others and ultimately bring the whole world to be a good place to the life place where we can all live in peace and harmony together.
• 12:06
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that connection between the values and action is something that we all could take, you know, and help make this world a better place.
• 12:16
  [SPEAKER_02]: And even in like leadership and community building,
• 12:25
  [SPEAKER_02]: including the recognition of education and sharing day.
• 12:30
  [SPEAKER_02]: What lessons from his leadership do you believe are most relevant today for individuals who want to make a meaningful difference?
• 12:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: There are various birthdays actually, and you'll be recognized as education and sharing that you are safe by president, by mayors, by governors, all over the United States and actually all over the world.
• 12:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: In recognition of this contribution of his moral education and ethical education,
• 12:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: the fact of a, you know, mass science, you know, the tools, but should be teaching them how to use those tools, but the ethical and more-always to use those tools, really education is about making a person not about making a machine that can do X, Y, and Z, that a child should be taught, not only that, it's wrong to feel because it's able to get caught by the police man and it's not worth it for you, because then if he's a smart boy, it's my girl, then I can do better, right?
• 13:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: the same way you think about it's about not to feel in school or math or science or what's different tools they can use in life, be teaching them how to be a moral person and a responsible person and a contributing person and an influencer and use those tools in an influence the way a leadership thing that I would say anyone can learn from the rubies, the rubies, look at everything is as divine.
• 13:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: Every single thing in the world, every single person is as far as there are
• 13:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: that's not, I need what's right, there's nothing in this world that's by chance, nothing in this world that's thereby chance.
• 14:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: So everything, even the small child, very always gave so much attention to, because they're, they're a godly spark that's there.
• 14:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And number one, just that by, in its own demand, my respect, and my need to be, okay, I'm not, I'm not saying that's right, yes, just on the side.
• 14:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I would say a leadership
• 14:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's look at everything as a design spot.
• 14:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: When you see, at every person being crazy, an image of God.
• 14:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so it means that when you see someone, when you see anything, you have a respect to them.
• 14:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: You appreciate them.
• 14:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And when you appreciate somebody, they appreciate you and what you have to say.
• 14:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: So the Ravi would even for small children.
• 14:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: and the children reflected that to the rabbit.
• 14:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: And they learned from him.
• 14:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: One of his favorite activities was one of the things that we do almost every single day was every given coin children for the charity class.
• 15:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: And as a way into the office and as a way out to the office on the way to the prayers and the synagogue and out, used to give children nickels of diamonds and put in the charity box whenever there was a children's gathering to give them two diamonds, once for you and once give the charity.
• 15:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Because he recognized that even people something shows him people right off as, you know, to be seen and not to be heard, but he very much recognized their potential and their what they are.
• 15:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: And also, it whether it was a mailman or was the garbage collector or was the professor or the mayor or the president of the United States.
• 15:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Every single person is here with a mission, with a purpose, and we have to respect that and help them,
• 15:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll throw that purpose and be the best person they can.
• 15:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: As the Rabbi actually told Mayor Dinkin in New York, was right after the 1991 Brooklyn riots.
• 16:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: So it was a time of high tension in Brooklyn to put a mildly.
• 16:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: And Mayor Dinkin came to see the Rabbi.
• 16:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he started, the Rabbi's message to him was that we used to unite the entire city of New York
• 16:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: not as two sides coming together.
• 16:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're all created in the image of God.
• 16:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: So we are all one people and let's respect that.
• 16:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: And when we truly respect that, that might be, that I think that's something that we can realize that might be the key to the influence we ever had.
• 16:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: Because if you truly see that in everybody's, they're influenced in that greater.
• 16:40
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's powerful to see how one person's influence can ripple across generations and communities
• 16:47
  [SPEAKER_02]: If you could go back and offer advice to your younger self, what would you share and how might that guidance help others who are early in their journey today?
• 16:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: Let's say two things.
• 16:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: Number one, not to be embarrassed.
• 17:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: A lot of things we just have in our mind and our brain that stop us from influencing others in the right way.
• 17:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it's really just on our head.
• 17:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: So get out there and do the right thing, do something to help somebody else.
• 17:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: Give it a quick to charity, talk to somebody.
• 17:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: I could word, say good morning, say hello, share an idea that inspired you.
• 17:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: And the second thing would be the pressures this time.
• 17:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're going now and after Passover, there's those that are familiar with it, after Passover, the Jewish holiday of Passover, there's a 50-day count to the holiday of Shavuist, it's called.
• 17:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's their commandments in the Torah at the count of dates.
• 17:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: Again, this is the idea that I heard from the rabbi, he would say that what's this idea of counting days?
• 17:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Day is time is something that is the one thing that doesn't care if you count it or not.
• 17:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's always going to be there.
• 17:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be the days going to pass and you're going to have a week with, if you were counting the days or you weren't.
• 18:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the fact that we have a commitment to counted days teaches us how precious time is and how we have to do everything in our power to make those days something that we can count
• 18:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I asked those two things not to be embarrassed and to be aware of taking each day to its fullest would be something I would share with myself and with others.
• 18:25
  [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that is great advice and that perspective is so valuable, especially for those still trying to find their voice and their purpose.
• 18:33
  [SPEAKER_02]: For all listeners who want to make a positive influence, but may feel unsure where to start, what message or words of encouragement would you like to share with them?
• 18:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: say very practical and you're using everything very we're very action based.
• 18:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of meaning a lot of deep meaning, but it all starts and starts and boils down to the action.
• 18:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would say I have a we call it a Tadaka Pushka, which is a charity box.
• 18:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, change is not so count is not so in style these days, but there's also different apps that could do the same thing, but you always have a box in your office in your home and every day take a dime, take a nickel,
• 19:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: And, or more, and put it into the charity box.
• 19:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's not about the amount that's going, obviously, the amount of matter in the end of the day.
• 19:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: People that need the charity need the money, but it's your way of doing an influence every single day.
• 19:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: You're giving something to somebody else.
• 19:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: You're taking something and could have bought something for yourself.
• 19:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's something that you worked very hard for, and you're giving it to somebody else.
• 19:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's something that is universal, and I think is a way, even people that are to afraid.
• 19:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: At the moment to step out and feel like they're having a big effect and big influence is an influence at every single person can't have it should have that is great advice Rabbi Greenberg this has been such a meaningful conversation.
• 19:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: What stands out most is the reminder that influence isn't about position.
• 19:59
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's about intention.
• 20:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: It's about showing up, sharing what you have and recognizing that even the smallest actions can create a ripple effect.
• 20:08
  [SPEAKER_02]: If our listeners want to get in touch with you, what is the best way to do so?
• 20:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: You can contact me via email, rabai at www.thraboutchomberget.com or you can go to our website www.thraboutchomberget.com and contact us.
• 20:21
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you.
• 20:21
  [SPEAKER_02]: We'll put this information in the show notes.
• 20:23
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you for the work that you're doing in the community and for sharing your insights with us.
• 20:28
  [SPEAKER_02]: I'm so grateful for you.
• 20:29
  [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you.
• 20:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: Have a great day and happy to pass over.
• 20:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: All I do is to do a solicitor is pass over is coming up April 1st and April 2nd.
• 20:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you need some Mata or you need help or any help of the place for the say there.
• 20:44
  [SPEAKER_02]: That is no.
• 20:51
  [SPEAKER_02]: Share it with someone who could use a little positivity today.
• 20:54
  [SPEAKER_02]: Remember, every interaction is an opportunity to lead, to lift and to influence in a positive way.
• 21:00
  [SPEAKER_02]: Until next time, stay inspired and keep having a positive, responsible influence.
• 21:05
  [SPEAKER_02]: Bye-bye.