influence = power

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Posted by tobysturgill in culture, feature on May 19, 2010

Voting for inclusion on the TIME 100 list has now closed, with Mir-Hossein Mousavi having won the honor and I have to say… I’m not surprised with some of this year’s nominations. Are you?

It’s almost a given that Jeff Zucker (head of NBC Universal), Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi would make the list… they’re in positions of power and key decision makers; very influential.

But Lady Gaga, Sandra Bullock, the creators of LOST and Taylor Swift? You betcha! Anyone associated with creating popular culture deserves to be on this list just as much as President Obama. I’m not going to say that their influence is greater than, say, Steve Jobs (that’s all relative and subjective)… but they are just as influential in creating moments and memories that impact entire generations.

All week long my roommates and I have been quoting lines from last week’s SNL hosted by Betty White (also a nominee, and surprisingly very vulgar). The jokes and one-liners never seem to get old and always make their way into our vernacular. That… is influence.

My question to the ones sitting in the writer’s room at 30 Rock and The Ellen Show is “Are you aware of the influence you have?” Influence equals power and “with great power comes great responsibility.” Some are using it for good: Bill and Melinda Gates for example, while others seems to be squandering their influence: Andy Samberg’s “I’m on a boat” for example. Really?!? C’mon Andy, really…really?

So how are YOU using your influence? You’re more powerful than you might imagine and in this era of social media someone is always watching you; noting what you say and what you do. How are you using your influence? Because you have some whether you know it or not.

Click “READ MORE” to see the 2010 nominees for TIME’s most influential people: