Julia Hemingway

Julia Hemingway

McArthur, Ken. Impact: How to Get Noticed, Motivate Millions, and Make a Difference in a Noisy World. Franklin Lakes, NY: Career Press, 2008. Print. 

The Personal Impact System

Ken McArthur’s book, Impact: How to Get Noticed, Motivate Millions, and Make a Difference in a Noisy World, gives ordinary readers the tools to become extraordinary in the real world. He visits the idea of what it means to make a personal impact and reminds readers that they make an impact, whether they know it or not, every day. McArthur begins the book with a story about a young man, A.J. who began to make an impact on the world at a young age. The audience is left with a cliffhanger after A.J.’s life was changed by a spider. Delaying the outcome of A.J. gives the readers incentive to complete the book and McArthur the power to hold the attention of his audience.  The story concludes with the message of making a difference by referring back to A.J’s incident and mentioning how the smallest of things make the largest impact. Impact persuades readers to recognize the power of influence that everyone owns, yet few people choose to put into action. People tend to forget the importance of standing out in a crowd of millions of people that share the same interests.  It is important to stand out by making a personal and massive impact that will set one person apart from another. He provides readers with tools to do so by commenting on Jack Canfield’s 5 Step Rule that pushes individuals to note daily objectives that slowly inch closer to achieving a goal. He introduces the idea of making an impact by solving a problem that has never been addressed. He urges the reader to welcome others to collaborate and help achieve the personal dream. Impact cannot be created alone, like a PR campaign cannot be carried out alone. 

By setting measurable goals for the future, an average person can make an excellent impact. McArthur urges readers to think about personal ideas and dreams and then set goals to achieve them. He writes in a clear and simple style that invites readers into a sort of one-on-one conversation. This personal relationship between the reader and author is a refreshing approach to a book on becoming the best leader and most successful manager in whatever career one begins. McArthur recommends that people become the type of leader that learns from the example of another excellent leader. By modifying his or her leadership skills, a new type of successful leader will evolve. The goal achievement tips were helpful and honest in stating that a legitimate impact involves having ideas, time and most importantly, money. With the discussion of goals, Peter Drucker’s MBO system came to mind as a parallel. Ultimately, the most important lesson was focus on the customer service to build trustworthy relationships. By doing so, one must allow partners to contribute to making their personal impact in a way that reflects the collective-decision making of Mary Parker Follett’s Collaborative Management System.  

 PR students should read McArthur’s Impact in order to gain an understanding of the necessity to make a difference in the world through personal actions. PR is all about working with the client and maintaining a positive image with the public. The book is helpful in terms of offering useful personal tools that develop an individual’s influence in his or her profession in a positive light.  Following the tips will push some readers to accept leadership positions. McArthur recommends that no one should rush the process of making a massive impact, but simple actions will change the way they are looked at through accountability, connections, and trust.