Hey there!

Years ago, I started learning an Angolan dance form called Kizomba.

I wasn't very good at it at the start, but thanks to online courses and a

few equally eager dance partners...

I'm a fairly decent dancer.

But here's the thing...

I would never have made it this far, if I didn't at some point in the beginning have Mayowa ( @the.mayowa on instagram) as a partner.

I absolutely love Mayowa!

Why?

Well...

Aside from the fact that I think she's hot and all....

She's also incredibly intelligent...

And...

She's a shining example of who you need to be to set off a mind virus.

For those of you wondering what I'm blabbering about...

A while back...

I was in Kizomba class...

And even though I enjoyed the last few classes, I wasn't particularly confident and so most of my prior partners didn't really have that great an experience with me...

So here I am with Mayowa and I guess she must of seen the doubt in my eyes...

She moved in so close that our cheeks touched and then whispered:

"Don't be afraid to hold and touch me. There are no mistakes, just two people having fun and getting to know each other. I will enjoy dancing with you and you will enjoy dancing with me"

Brethren in the Lord!

The Kizomba dancer in me finally showed up.

And we laughed and teased each other through out the session.

Later I walked up to her to say thank you:

She graciously thanked me too, gave me a hug I can still feel as I write this and we went our separate ways...

We've not met again since...

Or spoken.

But I'll always be a huge fan.

When it comes to being the leader that other leaders follow...

There are millions of things to consider...

But as far as the Community Mastery Method is concerned...

You've got to be a certain way with people so you can inspire three key results...

First...you want them to pay attention to you..

Second...You want them to do what you recommend...

And third...you want them to become your evangelists and go convert their friends and family to your way of thinking.

Achieve this with leaders and people with influence and you are good as gold.

So how do you do that...?

Well that's for tomorrow #evillaugh

For now...

Let me tell you a perfectly disgusting story for absolutely no good reason...

Ready?

Once upon a time...?

(Your Response: Time Time)

I wore the same underpants for a month...

Yep...

I did.

#thuglife

When I finally got round to taking them off and washing them...

The water stank so much...

I was afraid to put my hands in it...

Finally I got over that...

Washed the demonic underwear...

And hung them outside to dry...

Now that's not a big deal...

Except for the fact that my pesky younger brother had broadcast to the whole neighborhood what I'd done...

And people came from far and near to see my demonic underpants.

At first it was annoying...

The teasing was relentless...

But after a while...

It didn't matter any more.

My point?

When most of us think of building community...

A major problem we tend to have is the fear of no longer being in control..

And having everybody's nose in our business.

I've learned however that you're always in control...

You determine just how much exposure you get or don't get.

So in closing lemme pull a Mayowa-with-a-twist on you...

Imagine my voice in your head whispering in a slightly creepy way...

Not too creepy...

Just creepy enough to get your attention.

Imaging my voice in your head saying:

Have fun and be yourself. Your people will love you for it. And for those who don't, may their ankles be twisted so we recognize them by their limp!

Till tommorow...

Get out of your own way and play a bigger game than you've ever played before.

CTM

PS: That's not Mayowa in the picture #sideeye