Steve Mills- Posted on
Let’s start with a hard truth.
Income in almost every industry is not evenly distributed. In fact, a very small number of people earn more than everyone else combined.
This isn’t because they’re working harder. And it’s not because they’re luckier.
It’s because technology, visibility, and influence have created what’s known as a power law.
The Old Model vs the New Reality
For decades, during the industrial age, income followed a bell curve. Most people earned roughly the same, with a few outliers at either end. That world has gone. Today, income stacks aggressively towards the top.
In almost every industry:
- The majority earn a decent but limited income.
- A small percentage earn significantly more
- And everyone else wonders, “What are they doing that I’m not?”
That’s exactly what we’re going to explain.
The Shape That Explains Everything
About 10 years ago, I came across a book by Daniel Priestly called ‘Become a Key Person of Influence. The book is great and I’d recommend that you buy it. In it was a simple diagram that completely changed how I think about business growth.
It was a visual representation of income distribution.
Here’s what it showed:
- Most people are in a narrow income range
- Typically “either scraping by, or comfortable but capped”
- Then, at the top 5%, income shoots upwards dramatically
- And above them are the multi-million-pound businesses.
Every tiny step up at that level creates a massive jump in rewards.
And here’s the key insight:
👉 This shape appears in almost every industry.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a consultant, coach, professional services firm, trades business, or tech company; the pattern is the same.
The Three Groups in Every Industry
Once you understand this, the picture becomes very clear. Every industry is made up of three groups:
1. Learners (Newbies)
These are people new to the industry.
- Full of energy
- Keen to learn
- Building skills and confidence
Their currency is experience and knowledge.
2. Workers (The Majority)
These are skilled, capable people.
- They know what they’re doing
- They get paid reliably
- But income tends to plateau
This group makes up most of the industry.
3. Result Influencers (The Top Tier)
This is a small group. They are:
- Well-known
- Trusted
- Well-connected
- Highly visible
- Great at marketing and branding
And they earn disproportionately more than everyone else.
Not because they’re smarter — but because they’ve positioned themselves differently.
The Trap Most People Fall Into
Here’s where many business owners go wrong.
They see someone at the top of another industry and think:
“That looks easier. I’ll go and do that instead.”
So they jump industries.
What happens?
- They go from being skilled… back to being a beginner
- They repeat the cycle
- And end up stuck on the merry-go-round
The Road Less Stupid
The breakthrough comes when you decide:
“I’m not changing industries — I’m changing my position within my industry.”
The goal is not to do more. The goal is to become more influential. And here’s the good news:
👉 Becoming a Results Influencer does not require more technical skill.
It requires five new capabilities that anyone can develop, but most people never do.
The Five Drivers of Influence (Results Mastery Version)
1. Pitching – The Ability to get people to know, like and trust you
Influential people can:
- Frame ideas clearly
- Make them compelling
- And enrol others into action
You’re pitching all the time, consciously or not.
The question is, are you any good at it?
2. Publishing
Publishing is making your thinking, ideas, experience and knowledge visible.
Publishing simply means making your ideas public.
This may include:
- Short videos
- Articles
- LinkedIn posts
- Podcasts
- Speaking at events
- Webinars
- Being a guest on other peoples webinars, podcasts
- Blog posts
- TV, radio
- Press releases
- Case studies and testimonials
- Or ultimately, a book
Authority follows visibility — not perfection.
3. Products – Stop Selling Time, Start Building Assets
Influence does not scale when income is tied to hours.
The most successful businesses build:
- Entry-level offers
- Core services
- Ongoing client relationships
Not one product — a product ecosystem.
Put your product, or service in a box. Give the boxt a name. Market the hell out of the box
4. Profile – Be Easy to Understand, Easy to Find
Your profile is how you’re perceived from a distance. If someone Googles you
Is it clear what you do?
- Who you help?
- And why you’re credible?
Profile is not about ego.
It’s about clarity and trust.
You don’t chase the spotlight.
You become it — by putting your ideas and clients centre stage.
5. Partnerships – The Growth Multiplier
The fastest growth rarely happens alone.
The biggest leaps come from:
- Brand partnerships
- Product partnerships
- Distribution partnerships
The right partnership can compress years of effort into months.
But partnerships are led — not delegated.
The Bottom Line
You already have more value than you realise.
The challenge isn’t ability.
It’s positioning.
When you focus on:
- Clear messaging
- Consistent visibility
- Measurable actions
- And strategic relationships
You stop competing on effort, and start winning on influence.
Your Next Step
If you want help applying this practically to your business:
- 📞 Book a free Results Awareness Meeting
Call 0114 303 2952 or email steve@results-mastery.com - 🎧 Listen to the Results Mastery Podcast
https://stevemillssresultsmasterypodcast.buzzsprout.com/ - 📊 Complete the Self-Assessment Marketing Audit
https://results-mastery.com/results-quiz/ - 🌐 Visit Results Mastery
https://results-mastery.com/
Let’s turn insight into action and action into results.
