One of the Most Influential People You've Never Heard Of

At some point in our lives, most of us have wanted to achieve greatness and make a difference in the world. We dream about it as kids, and it’s a popular theme at almost every high school and college graduation.

But for every Billy Graham, William Shakespeare, or Abraham Lincoln, you need a Max Talmey.

My guess is Max Talmey (pictured left) isn’t a name you’re familiar with. Consider yourself in the majority. Most people don’t know he was an ophthalmologist and scientist in the early nineteen hundreds. In fact, outside the scientific community, he was virtually unknown. So you might assume Max lived a life of obscurity with barely a ripple of influence worth remembering.

But you’d be wrong.

Max Talmey didn’t influence generations of people or change history with his own scientific discoveries. But he was instrumental in the life and education of someone who did.

A young man by the name of Albert Einstein.

So, take a look at the people in your life.

Who can you influence?

Maybe you’re a parent, passing along wisdom to your children. Or a teacher, guiding the lives of young people. Or a spouse, encouraging your wife or husband toward their goals. Don’t under-estimate the importance of your efforts. You may never have a direct impact on millions of people yourself. But you just might have the opportunity to influence someone who will.