3 Reasons Why Understanding Your Platform Changes Everything
Every person has a platform. Period. Whether you are a CEO, a stay at home mom, a coach or a congressman, you have a platform.
A platform is simply a specific arena of influence.
Your platform is the place where you have influence.
[Tweet "Your platform is the place where you have influence."]
It's been said that our nation has so much influence that, "If American sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold!" Now, that is influence. And with that influence comes a huge platform and great responsibility.
The truth is that there are people who trust you, respect you and allow you the privilege of influencing their lives because of your platform.
Some Christians shy away from this kind of talk because it is easily confused with narcissism or seeking to draw unnecessary attention to one’s self. Confession time…I’ve felt and believed that way before as well.
For quite awhile, the Holy Spirit has been challenging me to think differently about this whole topic.
#1 God gave each of us a platform for our light and for His glory.
God has given the sacred trust of a platform or “stand” to each one of us.
I think Jesus knew what He was talking about when he spoke on platforms and influence.
Matthew 5:15 NLT "No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house." (emphasis added)
Ultimately, the purpose of this is to shine a light on Who He is. But Jesus understands that in order to do that, we sometimes have to be comfortable with people first seeing and being attracted to who we are.
People will be attracted to our lives and not fully understand why.
Matthew 5:16 NLT In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
The key is for us to never forget the ultimate purpose of our God-given platform. “If you don’t stand on your platform, no one else will.”
Virtual mentor and platform guru Michael Hyatt has excellent teaching on this topic. As does my really good friend Mike Kim.
Last week I got to listen to a fabulous webinar for first time authors by Kary Oberbrunner. Fantastic content. The dude is seriously brilliant.
Kary shared three approaches to getting a platform:
- We buy one. (you try to expensively buy space and market your way to the top.)
- We build one. (you faithfully build trust and influence over time by adding value.)
- Or we borrow one. (you are given favor from someone with a greater platform that wants to help get your message out.)
#2 When I embrace my platform I am free to celebrate yours!
Every light has it’s own stand and every person has their own platform.
It’s hard for me to celebrate your "light" and influence, if I think I am competing with you for space on the same platform.
I don’t want to live an envious life that simply tolerates people. I want to genuinely celebrate them. In order to do that for real, we can’t be insecure about our own platform.
I remember vividly the day I felt the Lord say to me, [Tweet ""There is no such thing as obscurity within My sovereignty.""]
God was trying to get the message across to me that I was not hidden.
He knew how to find me.
And He won't let what He's given me go to waste.
How many times have you believe the lie that you were "off God's radar" and would never get the "big break" you needed to really fulfill your calling? It's a lie, but it will work for you if you empower it to.
Do what you can, where you are, with what you have and that won't be all that you have for very long!
In our hyper visual and social media overloaded culture, don't get distracted or discouraged by someone else's platform. It's an easy trap to fall into for any of us.
Just remember...[Tweet "“A self-focused life is a small life. Eventually it will actually sabotage any kind of platform you’ve been entrusted with.”"]
Mike Murdock said it so well...“Envy is proof that you have not embraced your distinction.”
Mike was scheduled to speak at a major leadership conference. The organizer of the conference was bringing in some of the top world-leaders to speak. He offered for Mike to chose which spot in the speaking line up he would go. What a gracious offer. It can be pretty intimidating speaking at events when your “heroes” in the faith are also there to speak. Mike calmly said, “Just put me wherever you’d like. No one else is going to share what I have to say anyways.” I love that!!
[Tweet ""No one else is going to say what you have to say, like only you can say it.""]
Every messenger has a message and every message requires a unique platform.
We were each born a priceless original and it would be a shame to die a cheap copy.
#3 Platforms are tools to help people grow their INFLUENCE, IMPACT and INCOME.
All three are important for anyone wanting to take serious their God-given assignment.
Leadership is influence. The point of leadership is to make a positive impact. And as we all know it takes provision to carry out the vision.
Jesus didn’t entrust to you a message, idea or cause to simply keep it to yourself.
You aren't called to do everything, but you are made to do something!
Why not step up onto your platform?
It was made for you and no one else. You have something to say, value to add and an impact to make.
This life is not a dress rehearsal.
We only have the time we’ve been given. Like you, I want to make the most of it.
I gotta run...I’m busy stepping up onto my God-given platform to serve people and fulfill my God-given destiny. I hope you’ll do the same!
For more on this topic check out a message I did for our church called “People & Platforms” in a teaching series called Greater Things.
photo credits: Itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com,Michaelhyatt.com, Mavrck.co