Clout

In the old days, the best influencers were a bit mysterious, strangely reasonable, definitely inscrutable. In fact, being so inscrutable is what made them so compelling.

They were careful, like a winter crossing, and reserved, like respectful neighbours. They were as serious as they were polite, but chill, like melting ice. They were as true as timber, as wide as valleys, as messy as mud.

Who else would quietly clean up by calming us down, and who else would quietly steady us by keeping us moving?

These days, people like that don't care about clout. In fact, they don't flex because their superpower is making a difference without making it about themselves.