People influence the world for the better by working purposefully and with excellence. This idea was modeled by Jesus. He stayed singularly focused on his purpose and mission of bringing healing, hope, salvation, redemption, and restoration to people and to the broken world. He brought the good news that life with God was available to everyone, not just to the rich and powerful as many people thought at that time. He attended to the people who were usually overlooked. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and gave sight to the blind. He loved and served, ultimately sacrificing his own life so that people could be restored to relationship with God. The influence from his life of purpose cannot be overstated.
Just so, when people follow the example of Jesus and live out their purpose with faithfulness and consistency, they influence the world for the better. There is a leadership maxim that says leadership is not about role or title, but about influence. In an organization, the person with the title of leader (such as supervisor, manager, or CEO) may or may not be the actual leader. The actual leaders in an organization are those with influence. To identify the true leader, pay attention to who people follow. Leaders may exert a positive or negative influence. By following the model of Jesus and loving and serving others, people influence others in a beneficial way. By loving and serving others, the purposeful leader demonstrates that they see the image of God in others and find them worthy of love and respect. In return, the leader receives the inner assurance that his or her life is making a difference.