3 Steps to Become an Influencer (90 Second Read)
Daniel Crosby • February 23, 2023

Do you want to become an influencer? Some of you just rolled your eyes at that question didn’t you? The others secretly cringed at having to admit to themselves that they dream of this.


What if we talk deeper about INFLUENCE than just the shallow social media influencers we all know and love.


Human beings, when we’re at our best, want to make a difference in the world. We want to have INFLUENCE on the world for its betterment.


What if your influence goes against what I believe? Now we have friction!


What if the influences in our kids lives are different than what I think should be influencing them.


What if my husband or my wife is letting things influence them that I don’t think are healthy.


Here are 3 principles for having greater INFLUENCE on those around you:


1.    Listen to people – Let the people in your life know that you hear them and understand their point of view.


2.    Connect with people – Common ground makes us feel safe. Find the parts of an issue where we do agree.



3.    Love people – There’s an old saying that says, “Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still.” Being harsh will not grow your influence. Having influence in someone’s life may not happen overnight but keep loving them.


Shameless plug for counseling:

Counseling is a great way to bring someone else in on a big decision or a big challenge you’re facing. It’s another voice who can give you a different perspective and potentially INFLUENCE your thinking for the better.


If you’re wondering if your situation is right for counseling, then shoot me an email at daniel@danielcrosbycounseling.com. It’s free and I’ll send you a real-life personalized reply!

"Uncomfortable" Book Review

By Daniel Crosby • May 7, 2025
“Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community” by Brett McCracken is a great book to read if you’re a church person or if you’ve become somewhat detached and frustrated with the church. McCracken challenges all of us, conservatives and progressives, to think about the WHY behind Christian community and one of the fundamentals of finding the WHY is approaching it with humility. Maybe you having it your way and telling everyone else they’re wrong wasn’t exactly what Christ had in mind when He instituted the church. iPhones and iPads seem to have morphed into iChurch in a sense. American culture has turned Christ’s church into a business that caters to our comforts aesthetically, relationally, and politically. It’s made us consumers, critics, and reviewers of the Church rather than servants of THE Kingdom. It’s not wrong to have preferences and to like some things better than others. Music, décor, and speaking style are all over the spectrum at different churches, but he argues that the point of picking a church and serving in it should be less about does it meet my needs and more about whether I’m showing up and using this place along with this group to glorify God. He annoyed me in parts because he steps on my toes but maybe we need that a little more often. If you’re disenfranchised with the status quo and you feel like it’d be good to be challenged about church then go grab “Uncomfortable” by Brett McCrackin.

Look for Beautiful Things

By Daniel Crosby • April 28, 2025
Look for beautiful things when you're restless, uncomfortable, or on edge. There's something about acknowledging the good around us that helps us reset and realize that it's not all bad. If you're struggling to see beautiful things in the world, come see me and we can talk more about it. www.danielcrosbycounseling.com

"The Needs of the Heart" Book Review

By Daniel Crosby • April 24, 2025
“The Needs of the Heart” by Chip Dodd is a book that will blow your mind. When I picked it up, it’s a very small thin book. Less than 100 pages. I assumed I’d breeze through it in a couple of hours. About a month later I finished digesting it. The truth is we cannot fully live the life God has called us to unless we acknowledge that we do have needs, that these needs are good, and discover the healthy ways of meeting these needs. Chip takes common human needs like Security and Accomplishment and he unpacks what they really are pointing us to in his typical concise but brilliant depth. There’s no fluff here. With chapters just 3-4 pages each, you’re going to want to have a highlighter ready to underline, to ponder these topics, and maybe then to discuss them with someone you know and trust. You’ll come away from this book with a deeper sense what is already fulfilled within you and ones that might be lacking where you need to go do a deep dive with a lot of prayer and introspection. If you liked Chip’s book “The Voice of the Heart,” this is one is your next read. Go grab “The Needs of the Heart” by Chip Dodd.