Me? An Influencer?

Why CSR Works in (Almost) Every Scenario

Over the past few days, I’ve been approached by a number of colleagues, friends, and family members about my last post — specifically about my vision board. The questions surprised me.

• “What does that actually do for you?"

• “Do you just stare at it?”

• “How would I even think about making one for myself?”

• “How did you go about doing yours?”

I didn’t expect so many people to read into it, let alone consider creating one of their own. While I was more than happy to answer the questions, it did leave me thinking afterward:

...... Oh No! Am I an influencer now?

(You know I had to get my helper, Kai, in there! )

Not the traditional sense. No brand deals or algorithms here; but in a different, quieter way. Something I shared caused people to pause, reflect, and think about change.

At the very least, it got their minds turning. And that’s influence in its simplest form.

What inspired me most wasn’t the board itself. It was what those questions revealed. The people who reached out weren’t looking to quit their jobs or overhaul their lives overnight. They were looking for structure — a way to process what they were feeling, think more clearly about where they are, what they want, and how to move forward intentionally.

That distinction matters.

For what it’s worth, the vision board itself isn’t the point. It’s simply a visual output and constant reminder of the thinking that happens before it — clarity about what matters, structure around priorities, and an intentional response. I don’t spend my days staring at it. I use it as a reference point, a reminder of the direction I’m deliberately designing toward.

This experience genuinely energized and excited me. It may have only been a handful of people (five or so), but it was still meaningful. People were reaching out to me for perspective or guidance (I hesitate to call it “expertise,” but I’ll own that it came from lived experience).

That moment aligned closely with a few things that have been sitting on my own vision board for a while: finding my voice, building a brand, standing out, and not limiting myself.

In both my professional and personal life, I’ve always preferred a thoughtful, intentional way of doing things. While I thrive in operational environments (including high-stress control centers where decisions have to be made quickly and under pressure) — whenever the opportunity exists, I like to slow things down and think them through.

Those who know me know that I operate pretty rigorously. I’m very much a "no BS, no fluff" person. An old boss of mine used to say things like, “Rent is due every day,” and “If you don’t have at least one visible achievement per week, you should rethink whether your role is truly required.” Harsh? Maybe. But those principles stuck. I care deeply about clarity (and then more clarity), and I’m all about getting things done.

What most people don’t know is that I tend to anchor that approach in something I call my CSR method — a simple framework I use to think clearly, choose deliberately, and create real change.

I don’t always write it down formally the way I am here. Most of the time, it’s happening quietly in my head. But for your own purposes, here’s the simplified version.

The CSR Method

1️⃣Clarity - Get honest about what actually matters. Strip away the noise, name the real issue, and stop solving the wrong problem.

2️⃣ Strategy - Choose deliberately. Decide what you’re focusing on, what you’re not, and which trade-offs you’re consciously accepting.

3️⃣ Results - Make progress visible. Define what “working” looks like in real, observable terms — and use that feedback to adjust.

That’s it.

CSR is about replacing reaction with intention, whether you’re navigating a career decision, leading a team, or figuring out what you want next.

It also helps explain something I see often: why high performers in organizations tend to feel the most stuck. When you’re capable and reliable, you keep moving forward because you can.

Without moments of clarity and redesign, momentum slowly turns into misalignment.

This is exactly why I think of career as infrastructure, not identity. When your career supports the life you want — rather than defining your worth — decisions feel less existential and more intentional.

CSR is simply one way to build and maintain that infrastructure.

So… The question remains: AM I an influencer?

Probably not in the way the internet defines it. But if influencing means encouraging people to slow down, think more clearly, and realize that change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful..... then maybe, in a small way, yes.

If this post does nothing more than help someone pause, reflect, and redesign instead of react, then it’s doing exactly what it’s meant to do.

Until next time,

Graydon.

AI disclosure: This piece was written by me whilst using AI tools to assist with structure, editing, clarity, and image creation — not to generate ideas or replace original thought.