When you sell on price, you are a commodity. When you sell on value, you are a resource.
Influence is the ability to move a person to a desired action.
It's not better to give than to receive. It's insane to try to give and not receive.
The essence of influence is pull. It's an attraction. Great influencers attract people, to themselves, and to their ideas.
Edify a person in advance for the positive traits you want him or her to have, and you'll find them making a concerted effort to live up to your praise.
Most people just laugh when they hear that the secret to success is giving. Then again, most people are nowhere near as successful as they wish they were.