From The Perspective Of A Shy Introvert Part 4

The Conversation Ride Actually Won't Start Without You

For those of us who have a hard time engaging and connecting with new people, the prospect of actually walking up to a complete stranger can be terrifying. Whether it's meeting people at a networking event or striking up a conversation with a complete stranger at Starbucks, putting one's self out there like that can cause a great deal of stress and nervousness. Especially for those of us who are shy and introverted.

I know some people who break out in sweats just thinking about having to engage someone new. I must admit, I have been known to do the same from time to time. But here's the thing, most people are genuinely nice and almost none of them bite. Most are more than willing to have a conversation with you and are actually desperate for you to make the first move. As strange as it sounds, they are actually hoping you will say something, anything to get the conversation ball moving.

Listen my contention and this comes from experience is that most people are open to meeting someone new and interesting like you and me. Does that mean opening your mouth and having something to say is any easier? well yes, it actually does!

You see the odds are in your favor. If most people are just waiting for someone else to talk to them and you can offer a warm smile, a "good morning" or some other easy way to kick off the conversation well most people will gladly punch their ticket and buckle in to see where the ride will take them. As crazy as it might seem, you my friend are needed out there in the world to get the conversation started. So really the pressure isn't on you its on "them!" That's right the pressure is all on them to be lucky enough to have crossed your path, caught your attention and appeared interesting enough for you to want to open your mouth and say something to them. That's where the ride really begins.

So go out there in the world and realize that fun of the ride for these people won't start until you start the engine. People want you to break out of your shell --- hell need you to break out of your shell otherwise the fun and possibilities of where this ride might take them will never be realized. They will be left still unengaged and uninvolved at the platform and who in the heck wants that!?! So really you have a duty to help THEM out and you know as well as I do, when we are put in a position to help, our shy introvert characteristics somehow magically disappear.

Oh and the really cool thing is there is already a full line of anxiously awaiting people just wanting to have their turn to take the ride with you. Don't disappointment them will ya!

Ripple On!!!

From The Perspective Of A Shy Introvert Part 3

More Personality Please!

Ironic timing with this series. This past week I was in Albuquerque where I was born and raised to speak at a health care conference. I was excited to go home and spend a little one on one time with my dad and eat as much green chile as I could possibly stomach. I am quite sure I achieved my goal!

As I was preparing for my trip early last week I received an email from a old friend named Jason Riggs. Jason and I have known each other since the 3rd grade and he is now a singer and fantastic musician. He was letting everyone know he was going to be performing on Friday night at a little swanky venue in Northeast Albuquerque and I was thrilled. I own several of Jason's cds but have never seen him perform live! And man is he amazing!

As he rocked the little venue he was singing at I couldn't help but have flashbacks of Jason and I sitting in 8th grade drama. Mrs. Wheeler wasn't too particularly crazy about Jason and I because we tended to goof around a lot. Despite all the horse play I could remember thinking to myself that Jason was born to be a performer. Though I tended to get him into more trouble than he got me in, there was no doubt that Mrs. Wheeler was way more fond of Jason and could tell he belonged on stage. Something she often reminded him when she was reprimanding us for screwing around.

As I sat there Friday night the memories came flooding back to me and Mrs. Wheeler's voice popped in my head. "Mr. Harper more personality please!" She pounded that into my head each time we did an improvisation or short skit. She reminded me that personality was what caught the audiences attention and would endear me to them. She would always tell me to pay attention to Jason because his personality, his enthusiasm and energy shined through every time she said "Action!"

As a shy introverted little guy I remember trying desperately to find a way to show more personality. Everything I tried seemed fake and often my reminder reprimands or frustrated corrections from Mrs. W drew snickers from my classmates which caused me to draw even further back in to my shell. It wasn't until Jason and I were hanging out after class one day when he gave me one of the best pieces of advice anyone could give me. He said, "Be yourself and just have fun and your personality will come through. You can do it!"

As Jason strummed his guitar those little interactions and vivid memories came rushing back. I remember the one short improvisation skit that I was assigned that I finally found a way to be funny and drive home my lines. The class laughed, Jason sat there beaming from his chair and even Mrs. Wheeler was left speechless at my delivery - something that almost never happened. It was a defining moment of my life: being me was just fine thank you very much!

I give Mrs. Wheeler and Jason Riggs a whole lot of credit for helping me remember that being myself does in fact help me bring my personality to the forefront. It's that personality we all have that does in fact endear us to the ones we most want to impress, impact and connect with.

It's your personality and charm that people most want to see in this movie we call life. Use it often enough and the draw of the spotlight will warm even the darkest of introverted and shy shells. And remember....each day is a stage and from the moment your feet hit the floor you've gotta remember someone somewhere is calling "Action!" and your audience anxiously awaits!

Ripple On!!!


P.S. Be sure to check out www.jasonriggs.com and support this amazing musician who played a big role in shaping the Ripple Man!

From The Perspective Of A Shy Introvert Part 2

Show 'Em Something

Louis Williams was a larger than life personality with a thick southern draw that could wrap around you like a warm comfortable blanket. An excitable chap with a lot of fire and passion and I was fortunate enough to have him as my soccer coach.

Coach Williams from day one took me as a little guy and molded me into a competitive and quite accomplished soccer player. His big bear hugs and booming voice of "Way To Go Steve!" from the sideline motivated me week after week to score as many goals as I could.

During that first season everyone on the team had their own little friends but I was somewhat of a loaner - the by product of being painfully shy. I would hang out to the side of practice just juggling the soccer ball until Coach put us where we needed to go. My lack of interaction with my teammates really seemed to bother Coach Williams. He often encouraged me to join in on the fun with the other boys, many of whom I went to school with, but I never did. I just kept juggling all by my lonesome.

One day at practice Coach took me to the side and asked me what was going on. I was terrified that he was mad at me and that he wasn't going to want me on his team anymore. I couldn't tell you for sure what I said but words never came easily to me and when push came to shove I just started crying. Why would anyone ever want to be friends with me?!?

He wrapped me up in one of his patented bear hugs and told me my friends would come if I just showed them what kind of great little man I was. I had no desire to go show anybody anything. In fact I am pretty sure from all the embarrassment of crying at practice, much to the snickers and laughs of my teammates (and schoolmates), I was never coming back to soccer again.

He grabbed me by the ears, another patented move of his, looked me in the eyes and told me I needed to break through that shell of shyness and handed me the soccer ball and told me this was how I was going to do it. He said "Now go show 'em something!" He lined us all up to play a little scrimmage and put me in as center forward. He said all I want you to do is go score! Being the mannered kid that I was, I did just that. The kids on my side of the scrimmage went nuts after five minutes we lead 5-0 thanks to my five goals.

Pats on the back, the high fives, the praise from my teammates and of course Coach's big goofy smile showed me something that day. Sometimes people just need to see what you can do first in order to want to get to know you.

The next day at school kids from the team were saying "Hi!" to me - a big change. Two of my teammates sat down at my table in the cafeteria and talked about our scrimmage. We were off to the races and became fast friends.

That Saturday I went out and scored several goals and helped us win one of the first games of the season and man did I feel like a million bucks. Coach was excited. My teammates were excited. And for just a brief moment, I realized that that shy little boy that I knew I was somehow on "the pitch" transformed into something else and I liked the results.

I played my heart out for Coach Williams for those next several seasons, scoring a whole lot of goals adding some great teammates turned friends along the way. There's no doubt I drank up the invaluable lessons Coach offered on soccer and in life. His over the top personality and way of capturing all of our hearts and minds still stands as an indelible example to me to this day. But the single biggest lesson of breaking through that shell of shyness by showing 'em something taught me the most.

Today whenever I find myself wanting to retreat back into my shell I think about coach grabbing my ears and handing me that ball. I try every day to go out and "show 'em something" and you know what, people respond very much like my teammates did way back when. I thank Coach Williams and that bit of advice as there is no doubt many of my greatest connections come in large part because I continue to follow his advice.

Ripple On!!!

Fort Hood Needs Your Thoughts & Prayers

I had planned to continue this morning with my next excerpt in the series From The Perspective Of A Shy Introvert but in light of all that has happened at Fort Hood in the last 24 hours it doesn't seem right. The words are simply not flowing like they should and maybe that's for a reason.

I have a few friends that over the years have been stationed at Fort Hood and know that base to be a tight knit community. My heart goes out to all that were involved in yesterday's shooting. I ask my readers to take a few moments today to stop, reflect and say a little prayer or send a good thought to all those who were affected by yesterday's tragedy.

I found this poem this morning and boy does it sum it up perfectly.

In Times of Trouble by Clay Harrison

Often in times of trouble
we don't know what to say,
So we choose to say nothing,
and sometimes run away.

When friends are really hurting,
we don't know what to do,
So we offer weak excuses
or say we're hurting too.

It really doesn't matter
what kind of gift we bring;
We only need to be there
if we don't bring a thing.

It truly is amazing
what a hug can do,
When heartache numbs the senses,
and friends depend on you.

There's comfort just in knowing
that you are not alone,
When tears are overflowing,
and hearts are cold as stone.

It's the loving prayers of others
that balance our accounts,
For when we measure love,
it's still the thought that counts.

Credit: Ellenbailey.com

From The Perspective Of A Shy Introvert Part 1

I have the great fortune of speaking all over the country on the power of Rippling. I truly feel blessed that I have such an amazing opportunity to share through my work exactly what the power of connection can mean to one's own personal and professional life. I am living proof that Rippling yourself to the right types of connections can mean the difference between a successful and happy life or one that offers neither.

I am having a blast doing what I do but I would be the first to tell you it isn't easy.

You see everything I present on or write about comes from the perspective of a shy introverted person. That's right! I am not naturally a "people person" never have been and likely never will be. People to a large extent scare me. It's the God's honest truth!

So why do I do it?

Because even shy, introverted people can do little in this world alone.

Simply put...we ALL need people.

And let me let you in on a little secret...they need us too!

I was fortunate enough to have good examples, let's call them guides, along the way that showed me how to crack that nervous shell and come out and play - if even for a little bit. Over the next few posts I want to give you some tricks that I have learned along the way to make connecting a wee bit easier for you - especially if you are like me and that process doesn't come naturally. And if you are already comfortable talking and connecting with people perhaps you'll pick up a few ideas to enhance and advance your connecting efforts.

Stay tuned and as always....

Ripple On!!!

A Halloween Trick That Ripples To This Day

My best assistant ever was a woman named Laura Brown. Laura came to work with me at my last company and she was a fun loving, uber excitable young lady with a tough shell but sassy undercoat. A fiery red head and a temper to match and boy did I get to see that temper firsthand one fateful Halloween.

I am a prankster always have been and likely always will be. Well one Halloween years ago I decided to pull a little trick on Ms. Laura and wait and watch for the treat to come! Laura had recently joined my company and was still in that "need to impress Steve stage" when I told her that it was company tradition that we all dress up for Halloween. I planted the seed in early September and kept prompting her with little comments here and there about the challenge of coming up with the best costume.

She took the bait.

A few days before Halloween she began to brag about how she would easily win the company's best Halloween costume contest. In fact she went as far as to downright smack talk me and a few of the employees about her intended domination of the contest. Having let my entire staff in on my little trick we all did our best to keep from cracking up whenever she brought the subject up. We all had great fun with it and couldn't wait to see what Laura decided to wear as her costume.

The morning of Halloween we all arrived extra early and gathered in my office which had a bank of windows facing the parking lot. I had breakfast tacos and coffee there for my staff and we all eagerly watched the parking lot for Laura's arrival. We were all like a bunch of little school kids giggling with excitement knowing full well how this trick was about go over.

We saw her car pull into the parking lot and we all started jumping up and down. What's she wearing? No one could tell. People were working themselves up into a pretty good frenzy anticipating her getting out of her car. She parked and just sat there for the longest time. We started to panic thinking she could somehow see all of us through the mirrored glass. What was she doing?

Finally after what seemed like five minutes, Laura emerged from her car floppy hair and all. She had taken the contest really, really serious and had gone all out to be one of the best looking clowns I had ever seen. As we watched her walk towards the building my employees were howling! For a moment I felt a pang of guilt - she had clearly intended to win that contest hands down.

We decided to remain in my office so the front of our offices would be empty and Laura would come looking for us. Let me tell you when she walked in to my office she looked like the happiest clown in the world. That all changed when she realized she was the only one wearing a costume!

Since this is a family BLOG I can't exactly tell you what she said but that clown taught us all a few new cuss words which I hate to say it but it is true, just absolutely made the trick for us all. After she calmed down and we all had a good laugh about it, Laura included, we told her she won the contest hands down and I think we awarded her a breakfast taco as first prize.

Some might consider that a mean trick. Laura wasn't exactly thrilled about it either a least not at first. But as the day wore on she came to love the extra attention everyone at the company and in the building gave her. Years later I can still call her and ask her if she's dressed up as a clown and that connection point and all the fun attached to it will bring a smile to both of our faces. That trick has a treat that Ripples to this day tastes just as sweet (I smiled the whole time writing this this morning!). No doubt it is one of my best Halloween memories and clearly one of the best tricks I've pulled off to this day.

Happy Halloween Ms. Laura and I just have to ask....are you going as a clown today?

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Ripple On!!!

The Omni Hotel Understand The Ripple Effect Of Social Media Tools

I think many companies are beginning to learn about how incredibly powerful social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are becoming to manage and monitor the scuttlebutt in and around their brand. I had an opportunity to witness this firsthand this past week.

I arrived in Corpus Chrisiti, Texas shortly after lunch on Thursday afternoon to speak at the South Texas Realtor Conference. After stopping by the facility where I would be speaking the next day and running through normal pre-event logistics I headed over to check in to my hotel. I arrived at the Omni Hotel on North Shoreline Blvd. After some initial issues getting checked in I went up to my room to get settled in.

After putting up all of my clothes and prepping my clothes for the next day (did I mention I am a bit of a control freak about such things?) I fired up my Mac to check out the wifi situation. To my disappointment I discovered that I was being prompted to pay an additional $9.95 for access which perturbed me to say the least. In today's day and age I sort of think that airports and hotels should offer Internet access as a convenience. Given this wasn't an option I reluctantly agreed to have the charge applied to my room - after all I couldn't conceive of being offline! Yes...I am also addicted to being connected...what can I say?!?

After going through the traditional sign-up process I was at last able to start connecting to my email server back at the office, check in with my Twitter peeps and do a little quick searching for where to eat that evening. We'll it seems that I was ready but the wifi wasn't. It was slow as Christmas. I was extremely disappointed. Each website I went to seemed to drag on and on while it loaded of eventually timed out. Given that I usually operate in three to four online environments at once (between email and the various social networks I utilize), I was frustrated.

Though it was slow I finally fired off a Tweet that communicated my disappointment by asking the question (of no one in particular mind you) why I was paying the Omni Hotel for wifi access when it was seemed as slow as dial up? Since my Twitter account is tied into my Facebook account I instantly received a few quick quirky responses from friends about my situation and how it was perhaps a sign from God that I should stay offline or that I had a dependency problem on being so connected. These of course made me smile and relax about the whole thing.

Then out of no where I received a public Tweet from @OmniHotels asking me where I was staying and assurances they would look into my perceived wifi speed issue. It concluded with a suggestion for me to sign up for their Select Guest Program. The first part really impressed me but I didn't pay much attention to the last part about their "program" figuring it was some tie-in marketing effort. I publicly responded to their Tweet with my location and figured that would be the end of it; perhaps my speed would be magically increased but I doubted it. I fired off my response Tweet to them and closed my Macbook Pro.

Twenty minutes later as I was reviewing notes for my upcoming keynote speech I received a call from a Guest Loyalty Specialist (title might be wrong but that is what I remember) named Silvia. She was a delightful energetic woman with a very engaging voice. She informed me that they were looking into my problem and wanted to offer to sign me up for free on the Select Guest Program. She gave me the run down of the features of this free program and offered to waive my wifi charges for this stay altogether. Then, and this really impressed me, offered to move me up to a higher floor where I assume my already great view would be further enhanced. I declined but none-the-less was impressed with her and now solidly with the Omni Hotel and their efforts to make me a happy guest.

I signed up for their program and gave them a little bit of "travel information" which I can assume will be used to cultivate more business from me at some point. I understand marketing after all. However it was the personal touch both on Twitter and in real life that extended the power of Omni's commitment to my satisfaction. Their decision to monitor and respond to my random Tweet clearly engaged me as their customer and overcame a perception issue that ordinarily would have been left unchecked and likely never voiced. Come on you know most of us will say everything was fine when asked during check out how our stay was even though it may not have been. At that point we reluctantly raise the white flag and surrender, certain that a complaint at that point would be a waste of breath. Sad but true but come on you know you've been there too!

The Omni clearly didn't want to leave a potential point of dissatisfaction to chance and took action when they saw there was a problem! They used my Tweet as an opportunity to leverage the power of social media to capture what was happening in a customer's mind in real time and respond. Clearly Silvia and their social media person did an outstanding job and no doubt created a Ripple in my mind that will certainly extend to influencing where I stay next time I speak out of town.

So I have to ask, is your company actively mining the various social media tools to not only take the pulse of your customers/clients but leveraging what it discovers to enhance their overall experience and impression of your company. If not why not? I bet you the folks at Omni could give you a bazillion reasons why you should.

Ripple On!!!

P.S. If my new friends at Omni Hotels happen by this post I would love to know who on the Omni Twitter team responded to my Tweet. Additionally I would love to know Sylvia's full name and supervisor's name so that I could pen a quick note of appreciation for their efforts on my behalf.

My Friend & New Author Randy Cohen

I met Randy Cohen entrepreneur extraordinaire a few months before my book first came out in 2005. The connection to him came through a mutual friend who thought my unique approach to customer service might provide some value to Randy and his team. In true Ripple fashion a random speaking gig turned into a friendship that has lasted to this day.

I am proud to say Randy has joined the ranks of published authors with the release of his new book Ticket To The Limit. The party which is sure to not disappoint is happening this week and I wanted to invite my readers to attend.

	BOOK RELEASE PARTY

Date:	Friday, October 23, 2009
Time:	5:30pm - 9:30pm
Location:	TicketCity Offices 5912 Balcones Drive
	Austin, TX

I recently asked Randy to participate in a semi-interview/guest BLOG post!

Steve: What was your motivation for writing this book?

Randy: Motivation! Everyone should have a bucket list in life and this was an
important one in my bucket. Plus I wanted to make a difference by motivating and inspiring others.

Steve: What are the key reasons for your success?

Randy: Passion, passion, passion! That plus surrounding myself with a great management team.

Steve: Who is Randy Cohen if you had to describe him via Twitter (140 characters or less)

Randy: Randy is the Chief energizing officer of TicketCity that wants nother
more than to help people feel great about themselves.

Randy's Guest BLOG Post:

Ladies, Gentleman and Ripplers,

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Randy Cohen and I am the Chief Energizing Officer of TicketCity. I started my company over 22 years ago, helping to make dreams come true. My mission is to give our clients the most amazing Ticket experience and I have recently written a book called Ticket to the Limit (How Passion and Performance can Transform Your Life and Your Business into an Amazing Adventure)

Today I want to share with you my why. The reason I wrote this book was to make a difference. If you receive one takeaway from my successes or my failures I will have helped make a difference in your life.

Ticket to the Limit is about Passion, Energy and Performance. I guarantee it will help direct you in life and in business. It will teach you to love what you do, do it well and keep on doing it. Ticket to the Limit will guide you on an inspirational adventure and help you realize that you must never stop learning as well as never be afraid to take chances.

I was very fortunate to have many endorsements on the book including Roy Spence (CEO GSD&M) and Will Wynn (Mayor of Austin) I also have 10 amazing profiles in the book. I will share stories of Roy Spence, Will Muschamp, Sam Goodner, John Calipari, Jesus Chavez, Jon Daniels, Bodie Miller, Tom Mcewen, John and Burt Jacobs and Richard Garriott.

Finally I will share with you, the adventures of TicketCity. I will carry you through events such as the Olympics, the Masters, U.S. Open Tennis, the Super Bowl, World Cup Soccer, Amazing Concerts and National Championship events.

Please pick up a copy and get ready to Ticket to the Limit!

Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Woo Woo!

Randy Cohen

Author Ticket to the Limit

You can purchase Randy's book at the book release party tomorrow night or at Amazon.com.

Woo Woo Randy and may this book bring you many Ripples of success!!!

Ripple On!!!

Is It In The Genes?

Sometimes in order to find where you are today and where you should go to tomorrow it's a useful exercise to look all the way back to see if your destiny wasn't somehow ingrained in you long before you took your first breath. You see my great grandfather owned five businesses back in the late eighteen hundreds (on top of raising four kids). My grandfather, his son, dabbled throughout his career in various ventures. So much so I am convinced had he pursued it Albuquerque could have possibly been called Harper, New Mexico instead.

My dad chose not to pursue an obvious career as an entrepreneur instead opting for a corporate career as a damn fine engineer. Yet still he dabbled and was without question an entrepreneur. He was a brilliant woodworker and jewelery maker and sold a lot of his work. I remember as a kid his long Saturday afternoon sessions in the garage always carving, whittling or sawing something. He put such intense diligence into whatever he was working on at the moment that I can remember being impressed with his tenacity even as a young kid.

Three generations of entrepreneurs; three men that inspire me more than I could adequately tell you with my meager words.

I would have loved to have known my great grandfather just so I could ask him in the world he could run a general store, a livery an ice house not to mention in spare time found energy to invent and coin the term soda pop with his unique bottle design (family legend - still looking for a Harper bottle in antique shop).

I would have loved to have known my grandfather as an adult so that I could ask him how he had such diverse interests; real estate, filling station proprietor, constructing a parking garage, owning a big rig repair shop and of course hotel/motel owner. Instead to me he was just Papa and someone I got a kick out of jumping out of no where to scare the begezus out of! I feel bad now as I probably weakened his heart a great deal as a young lad.

Both men would have taught me a lot no doubt.

But with Dad I think I have learned the most. I have learned invaluable lessons such as paying attention to the details. Treating people squarely and they shall return the favor (most of the time). Respect other people's time and never be late. Work hard and never ever give up on the problem....the answers will come. And above all else, put God and family first.

Three inspiring entrepreneurs that no doubt play a significant role in where I am today. And where I plan to go tomorrow.

Was entrepreneurship in my genes? You bet. Is my success guaranteed? No. But when I carry the genes of these three amazing men I wouldn't bet against me.

Ripple On!!!

In Those Late Night Moments Before You Go To Sleep

I have a bit of a ritual. Each night before I go to sleep I try and spend a few quite moments thinking about the Ripples I have created that day. It is in the quite moments just before I drift off to sleep that my heart grows incredibly warm and I am at peace knowing that somewhere out there I made a difference to someone.

One of the things I most enjoy about Rippling is the impact that I can personally have on someone else. For me there is no greater feeling than to know I played a role in helping someone. And that role doesn't necessarily have to be super huge either. Small works just fine thank you very much!

You see when it comes to Rippling I think the greatest reward is knowing deep down in your own heart that you did something...anything! You took action on behalf of someone other than yourself. Not because of how it would make you look. Not because of what you might get in return. No...you take the action and do whatever it is you do because you know it's the right the thing to do and at the end of the day the score reads favorably on your world contribution column.

I've said it a thousand times and you'll likely hear me say at least another couple of thousand more - the Ripples you create for others may not seem like such a big thing to you in that moment but the impact it can have on someone else could mean the world to them. But in those quite moments alone when your mind finally settles down and lets you start thinking about the impacts you've made that very day, that's when the impact of the Ripples you've created come rushing back to you. The feeling overtakes you and it's hard to keep a smile from spontaneously appearing on your face because you know deep down inside the day you just lived was a good one.

Good Ripplers don't look for payback when it comes to the actions they take on behalf of others. They know, like I know, that the reward comes late at night moments before they fall asleep when a feeling of real peace washes over them and covers them like a warm cotton blanket. They sleep like a baby because they know tomorrow will be another day, another chance to contribute and they've got more Ripples to create.

Ripple On!!!