Broadband's Top 10 Most Influential Characters

This week is Top 10 week as I give you my Top 10 who's and what's of any field that comes to mind. Today is my Top 10 most influential characters. Realistically I'd put a family member and Jesus Christ for the first nine places and then the girl who challenged me in secondary school to do better in at number 10 (shout out to Yen Tru). However for entertainment and legal purposes (lol) I'm gonna stick with those who I appreciate in more noticable industries. Unfortunately there wasn't enough space for Jamie Foxx, Carlos Slim, Mark Zuckerberg, Carol Vorderman, the Google brothers, whoever invented Jollof Rice and George Bush (Im kidding) but a mention should go to them. So from 10 to 1....

10 . BARACK OBAMA - When a man can gain the level of respect Barack has over the past two years how can you not be influenced by him? It's not necessarily his history making appointment as the first ever Black president that has grasped my attention but rather his journey to that moment. Here you have a guy who is relatively unknown to those who dont follow politics and are not up to date on Trivial issues; who takes on not one but two already powerful figures in american history. If he wasnt up against the former First Lady of america's best president (while I've been alive) he was up against a man who was honoured for serving his country in war. Yet his presence, vision and collectiveness allowed him to stand above them. His ability to attract diverse crowds ranging from little kids to 101 year old residents and those of all different races, religion and creed is almost unparalleled. In the space of two years Barack Obama has made his way into my top 10 and who knows where he could be by the end of his presidential reign.

"Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. "

9. WILL SMITH - What can I say the dude is talented. He can play a serious role as good as his comedic roles and where he may not excel at rapping I can respect the fact that he can make hit songs without swearing. What I admire most about Will Smith is that he hasnt let stardom and accolades get to his head. He is still a devoted family man and has a sense of humility that hardly anyone in his industry possesses. I can still watch him on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and laugh my head off even though it's likely I've seen that same episode a couple of dozen times. He's one of the few actors I'd spend money on to watch act in a film just because he knows how to make a character his own....and like me, he's a mummy's boy.

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like"

8. OPRAH WINFREY - Oprah's moved abit further down my list after her religious antics this year. However despite this blip in her journey I appreciate the massive steps she has taken to gain such success, status and longevity. She's the first talk show host I remember watching. I still remember the old theme tune and the little cartoon they had of her at the end of the credits when they showed the Oprah Winfrey Show on Channel 4. Fast forward a few years later I was shocked yet proud at how much money she accumulated for herself and how much she had donated to charities and different projects. She hadnt tried to take advantage of her wealth for personal gains but rather spreaded her wealth for the good of others. I think it would be right to say she is a strong, educated black woman who is not only amongst the most influential people in media but the most influential people period.

"I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity"

7. RUPERT MURDOCH - As a Business Management Graduate I like people who know how to create, build and maintain business and no-one does it quite like Rupert Murdoch. Whatever country he entered Rupert made sure he left with company...literally. His intelligent thinking enabled him to gain shares in major print media corporations such as News Corp and is now owner of Fox News aswell as having a stronghold in British News entities such as The Sun and The Daily Mirror. However it didnt stop there, rather than settle for print media why not own all forms of Media? Out of all his major purchases in the United States, UK, Asia and Australia the ones that stand out the most are the acquisitions of BSKYB and InterMix Media Inc (owners of Myspace). He is a mogul to say the least and where some may have signalled it to be a sign of greed, Rupert's main purpose has always been to expand a product and create better business. I wouldnt say I'd want to be exactly like him but his ethics are definitely relatable.

"In motivating people, you've got to engage their minds and their hearts. I motivate people, I hope, by example - and perhaps by excitement, by having productive ideas to make others feel involved"

6. SIR ALEX FERGUSON - It's no easy feat to be awarded an MBE or an OBE by the Queen, it is even more difficult and all the more commemorative to be knighted. This is what has happened to this old glasgow Scotsman. Sir Alex is a man with vision and ethics that have proved successful in Football for almost 30 years. It's his will power to maintain success that has reaped the awards; even as he appraoches 70 he still has the same passion as he did all those years ago and he still plans to stay in football after his retirement as a manager. Two main things I admire about his Sir Alex..1. His will power 2. Proving his doubters wrong. As in any demanding industry you are always going to be scrutinized and criticised even for the smallest mistake you make. Often in Sir Alex's career he has been deemed to old or naive to stay in his field and that he is "losing it". Yet time after time he has trounced the critics by bringing success to the global phenomenon that is Manchester United. He backs down from nobody and earns respect from all.

“Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat"

5. MICHAEL ERIC DYSON - It's one thing to be smart, it's totally another thing to be intelligent. Michael Eric Dyson my friends is intelligent. He is able to articulate himself in such a way that you cant help but admire what he's saying. He has a vast knowledge of Theology, English and African American studies and utilises it to teach and influence others from hip-hop artists to students in the variety of universities he has taught in. Dyson uses the terms "Afristocracy" and "Ghettocracy" to describe a bifurication in American black society. I'd love to attend one of his lectures because amongst all he has love for his craft and you just dont get that in every field nowadays.

"Charity is no substitute for justice. If we never challenge a social order that allows some to accumulate wealth--even if they decide to help the less fortunate--while others are short-changed, then even acts of kindness end up supporting unjust arrangements. We must never ignore the injustices that make charity necessary, or the inequalities that make it possible"

4. KELSEY GRAMMER - Frasier Crane himself is someone I've watched from a young age from his bit-part in comedy Cheers to his precedented seat in the boardroom as Executive Producer of hit comedy show Girlfriends. Much like Simon Cowell has a knack for creating great reality TV concepts, Kelsey Grammer has an equally great knack for picking great sitcom concepts. As a writer and creator of a comedy drama myself there is always a level of influence that I am likely to extract from and Grammer is one of those. He is intelligent in every decision he makes in an industry that is over-crowded and quick to shut down ideas. Not only does he create great shows such as Frasier (longest running sitcom of all time) but he is a pretty good actor in these shows aswell. He has a subtle charm that always shines through and you will rarely have anyone who has a bad thing to say about him. That's exactly how and where I wanna be in years to come.

"I think it's your duty to overcome what you inherit in life"

3. MICHAEL JORDAN - "Everybody wants to be like Mike" Haha not exactly but I do want to inherit the same morals and beliefs he has. If there was one word I could use to describe Michael Jordan it would be faith. Faith in his ability, Faith in those around him and Faith in himself. He always had a sense of optimism and positivity which allowed him to be the best he can be. Hard work, talent and faith is what Michael was all about and he often used those attributes to try and influence others to do the same. He was more than an icon of sport he was an opportunity for growth because he believed....therefore he achieved. Through this he was able to build in other avenues as shown by his Air Jordan empire and his numerous charity work. He strived to be the best as I hope to do in life too

"I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-heartedly. Because I know if I do, then I can expect half-hearted results."

2. BILL GATES - Here you have a man who took a small idea and turned it into something huge. He forsaw something that the majority of the world hadnt even considered and several years on, Microsoft is pretty much the most pervasive product in the everyday life of home and business. Gates' eagerness to create a household name meant he wanted to reach out to more than just one section of a target audience, he wanted to reach out to everyone. There is no doubt it took years of hard-work and dedication to get to this stage and although he has stepped down as CEO of Microsoft, Gates can take pride in being the third richest man on earth for all that he's done. I am equally pleased to know that he will give only $10million (haha only) to his children after his death and donate the rest of his money to charity.

"I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act"

1. EDDIE MURPHY - Alot of people may be shocked in me picking Mr Murphy but he really is my most influential character. He has talent that you can't nurture and amongst being my favourite comedian of all time he isnt afraid to lose or make mistakes. It takes a strong character to take risks (especially with some of the movies he's created) and there's not many stronger than Eddie Murphy. Eddie is part of the traditional sob story; someone who went from nothing to something. He wasnt raised in the greatest neighbourhood and had a troubled childhood until he got his major break. From there he never looked back and went on to not only produce in my opinion the best stand up act of time in Eddie Murphy Raw and Delirious but he is actually the highest grossing actor of all time with his films grossing around $4billion. I'm a huge fan of comedy in all formats and so watching Eddie Murphy movies such as Boomerang or Coming To America is like receiving good news for a straight 2 hours. Despite much known antics on his behalf I've always concentrated my thoughts onto Murphy's work and I cant help but smile at the numerous laughs he's giving me over the years. Role Model? Meh... Influential? Most Definitely!

"If I don't die in a plane crash or something, this country has a rare opportunity to watch a great talent grow."