The Pursuit of Happyness

For those of you who don't know I am a huge movie buff. I love going to the movies but with kids and a wife who doesn't like to go to the movies, my movie trips have significantly diminished over the years. I still go from time to time (I am the lame guy sitting all alone with his soda and bucket of popcorn) but I have become far more of a DVD kinda guy. That's why I simply LOVE Netflix and the vast array of movies, documentaries and newly discovered concerts that are just a mouse click away.

Last night was my semi-regular movie night and boy did I watch a good one. I had intended to see The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith when it was in the theaters but never got around to it. I had heard it was an amazing movie and very inspirational so I was excited when it landed in my mailbox fresh from Netflix yesterday.

The movie is about Christopher Gardner, a man that literally faced insurmountable odds to provide for his son and to create the life that he knew he was destined to have. Here is a brief summary from Christopher's website as to what he faced:

Always hard working and tenacious, a series of circumstances in the early 1980’s left Gardner homeless in San Francisco and the sole guardian of his toddler son. Unwilling to give up Chris Jr. or his dream of financial independence, Gardner started at the bottom. Without connections or a college degree, he earned a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program. Often spending his nights in a church shelter or the bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland, Gardner was the sole trainee offered a job at Dean Witter Reynolds in 1981. He spent 1983-1987 at Bear Stearns & Co., where he became a top earner, and then in 1987, he founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Co. in Chicago.

I can not tell you how inspirational I found this movie and ultimately this man to be. The odds he had to overcome in an effort to make his life work stands as yet another example of just what is possible if you truly, truly believe in yourself and have a little faith.

If you have a dream of being somewhere other than where you are today, take a page from Christopher Gardner. Go pursue your Happyness (watch the movie and you will understand).

Thank you Mr. Gardner for helping reignite my passion for pursuing my happyness.

Ripple On!!!


Steve Harper

Perform With Passion

I had an insightful meeting yesterday in which a colleague of mine asked me where I seem to get my endless supply of passion and drive. It seems that her and several of our joint acquaintances were talking recently about how infectious my drive and desire to help people can be. Apparently they all wished they could plug into me for a "passion and drive fix" from time to time. Needless to say I was very humbled by her comments and proud.

And of course, I reminded her, like I might remind you, plugging in with me is easy! It's the only way I know to coach and I am very, very good at my job!

Anyway it made me recall a BLOG post I did way back in 2005 just after launching my book on the very subject of passion. I thought it might be worth a revisit. Hope you enjoy it and will post a comment or drop me an email.

Click here for the Power of Passion Post

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Technology Bug Strikes Again

I hate to admit it but I am a technology junkie. My wife believes I need to seek help. I have multiple digital video recorders, a rocking stereo and of course an assortment of computers, hand-held devices and my ultimate favorites...my Playstation 2 and Xbox. No I haven't upgraded to the newer systems much to the surprise of those who know me.

Well I just had to share my latest purchase. For months now I have been toying with purchasing a little device called the Slingbox. This little magnificent gizmo allows you to watch whatever may be showing on your home television on your computer. Yep...that's right! You can watch your television on your laptop, PDA or phone from anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Though this technology isn't exactly new as people have been able to get television to their computers for years, the Slingbox is a bit more cool. For example the Slingbox allows you to fully control your television virtually with your television or DVR's virtual remote control. For me this is so cool because I record a lot of things including the History Channel, tons of sports (shocker huh?) and a few of my favorite television shows. Now whenever I like, I can watch live television such as the news (I am a news junkie), change the channel at my leisure or use my handy dandy remote control to peruse my recorded programs and watch those wherever I am and whenever I want.

I am a fan of Jim Rome the sports talk radio guy and right now through his program they are making acquiring a Slingbox even more cost effective with a pretty snazzy discount. That's what finally got me to bite and after playing with this for a few hours last night...I am so glad I did. I am sooooo sold!

Anyway if you want to check out the Slingbox or the offer click here.

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Oh Canada...Thanks For The Order!!!

Off in the distance you can likely hear Oh Canada playing while I sip ever so slowly my Moosehead Beer. The bubbly lager ignites my palette as I drink a toast to my second favorite country in the world...Canada!!!

Yes it was only yesterday that I shipped multiple cases of my book, The Ripple Effect to a Canadian wholesaler who had won an agreement to exclusively distribute my book to the Canadian Government. You can imagine my shock when they called to place their order.

"Is this the "real" Steve Harper eh?"

"Yes it is. Who is this?"

"This is Sumer from Canada. You and I spoke a few weeks ago about the possibility of us ordering your book in bulk for the government here. Well I am calling to place that order."

"Jump back (a favorite saying from the movie Footloose)! Now you do realize that I am not, nor likely to ever be your Prime Minister right? Don't want to cause a international crisis."

"Oh course I do you hoser! We don't think the other Steve Harper could possibly write as fascinating a book as you my dear boy! Besides, I have seen your videos on your website and you have a personality. No confusing you with him that's for sure!"

"Why thank you!"

"Oh course. Though I do suspect that after the folks in the parliament get a hold of your fine work they may want you to run for office eh?"

"What does it pay eh?" --- see what I did. Made him feel like I was one of them! :-)

"Oh a lot. Plus you get an unlimited supply of Moosehead Beer. Do you like Moosehead beer?"

"Does Rosie O'Donnell like to eat?" I replied.

"Who's Rosie O'Donnell?"

"Never mind. Count me in if that is one of the perks of being the Prime Minister of Canada. Have Ripple and able to relocate."

"Well....can you send the books first?"

I still have no idea how my book ended up on the Canadian Government's "want" list. I hope it has nothing to do with me being on some watch list up there! Either way, it was a super huge order for me and I can now say officially I am internationally known and sought after author.

(Well I could have said that before having sold my book into 6 other countries but never in bulk!)

Oh I must go....I believe that the Moosehead Beer guy is here with a delivery for my pre-prime minister election campaign planning and speaking tour strategy session.

Ripple On Eh!!!!

Steve

P.S. Perhaps Carlon's video actually worked! In case you missed it...click here!!!

P.S.S. Thanks for reading my BLOG. Hope you don't mind when I depart from the more serious stuff to share the fun stuff that goes on in my life! It makes it more fun because I get to share it with you....my loyal readers!

Ripple Connection Question of the Week

It's baaaaaccckkkkk......

I know, I know I have been a bad boy and haven't been giving my loyal readers their Ripple Connection Questions on a regular basis. What can I say but I am sorry. I have had a lot to say as of late and didn't want to interrupt the flow so I temporarily postponed doling out the Ripple Connection Questions temporarily. But don't despair Monfrair....here is your Connection Question for this week.

What Made You Most Proud This Past Week?

This question is a good one if you really want to find out something about someone. You will find that people almost invariably want to brag on something! I ask this question a lot and find that people get this cat stole the bird look on their face and end up blurting out something that really made them proud. It's infectious to see it as it happens and the insight you gain into the person as to what really makes their heart and mind go a flutter is truly amazing.

So....since I have had several of you ping me to say "Why Steve you never answer your own questions!" let me give you my answer.

This past Saturday my son Zachary made the leap from super successful soccer player (the sport which is a true passion of mine) to football player (which is another passion of mine). He started in his first ever flag football game. My little guy, who as of late, has been sensitive to his size thanks to the cruelty of some bigger bone-heads at school transformed into an 8 year old version of Brian Urlacher. My kid, yes my kid, was responsible for 4 individual tackles (flag pulls --- he's only 8 after all), 2 tipped passes and 1 HUGE INTERCEPTION in the end zone that absolutely turned the tide of the game (well maybe not, he is 8 after all, but let a dad have his moment okay?).

My son for just a short period of time forgot about his size, forgot about any of his self-doubt and played like a champion. You would have had to get a crow bar to remove the smile from my face for the rest of the day. Seeing him prove to himself he could play and play with such fierce passion and excitement was absolutely the thing that made me the most proud this past week.

Ripple On or Z-man the Terminator might be lurking and looking for another tackle! :-)


Steve

P.S. Stay tuned for an exciting annoucement about a Ripple Coaching Program you won't want to miss!!!