You Read Me....Do You Want To Hear Me?

Brian Oates with http://www.daxle.net/ asked me to participate in his business podcast to talk about my book, my philosophy on networking (and why for some it doesn't work) and some other assorted Ripple topics.

I am honored that Brian thought enough of the book and my unique approach to Rippling to ask me to be his guest. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.daxle.net/archive/the-ripple-effect

Ripple On!!!

The Power of You

Do you realize that you are powerful?

I am serious.

You are important!

You have a defined purpose and reason for being here.

You mean something.

Your job, your friends, your family, your church, your community are all better off because you are who you are and because you play the role of being you. Say that outloud to yourself....things are better because I am here. Empowering self statement if I ever saw one!

Understanding and appreciating that we are all here for a defined purpose is something I myself have only begun contemplating for my own life but I have to admit the process has been amazing and incredibly enlightening for me. Maybe this is something that comes with age and experience but I honestly believe that isn't it. For me it was focusing on the wrong sorts of things; waiting somehow for life to magically make things good for me. My life has always been incredible and I have been lucky to have abundance of enormous proportions much of which I have always failed to understand and appreciate. But yet it wasn't until I started looking inward and seeing me for who I really am (and destined to be) that the real blinders came flying off.

What would your life look like if you rose tomorrow, looked at yourself in the mirror and thanked God, the universe or whatever you believe in for having another day on this Earth to make your contribution; a literal thank you for having the ability to be powerful in your presence and impact on the here and now! How might your perspective be shifted? How might your priorities magically realign to focus less on the small stuff and perhaps embrace more of the bigger picture? What challenges might not look so insurmountable? What changes in the world might you decide right there that you are going ot be responsible for? What brush strokes might you use to paint the new landscape you call your life?

I write this tonight knowing that I am a valuable person and I am here right now living my life for a specific purpose. I honor that which created me by embracing this fact and trying each day to find yet another piece of the puzzle to complete the picture of what makes Steve Harper Steve Harper. I also realize that I have largely spent a huge portion of my 36 short years taking with no thought of giving back.

The landscape isn't perfect. Life is hard...especially at certain times. Things aren't always going to go my way. I am owed NOTHING! But somehow that's okay. The good and the bad is what makes me who I am. It's all of that and then some and that's what I think people somehow seem to be drawn to. The power in me is the fact that "me" is a work in progress and my comfortableness in knowing that and verablizing it is what I think at times inspires others. They find power in what powers me and that fuels me to get out of bed every day. It inspires me to continue working towards being me and to further my journey and collect more pieces of my puzzle.

I also write this tonight knowing full well that the same can be said of you too. Take the time to recognize the enormous power that you bring to the lives that you touch and those you have yet to touch. Decide to take the time to realize that you are here for a purpose and give thanks for the opportunity. If you, like me, are still trying to figure out exactly what that purpose is...that's okay. Your journey of a million miles begins with that first step. Let your power be your guide and the steps come easier I promise. I guarantee a new perspective, a new reality awaits.

And imagine what Ripples this just might bring forth for you!

Ripple On!!!

Steve

The Power of Ripple Connection Questions

Right now there are people that you need to meet...you want to meet....you have to meet....and yet you aren't meeting them. Why? I have said it before and I will say it again that people cross our path in life for a reason. It's what we do with them when they show up that is the question.

A little less than two years ago I embarked on a journey of sorts to help people find new ways to connect. To help people bridge a conversation with a complete stranger and/or expand their knowledge and depth of awareness with the people they already knew but would like to know better. So I started sharing some of my own Ripple Connection Questions; questions that I developed for my 8 Minute Ripple Connection Events right here on the BLOG.

Well I have received some awesome responses to these questions and how people are using them. The stories and the results that people share have been overwhelmingly positive as more and more people start to understand that setting oneself apart from the rest of the herd can mean the difference between just living or living a more fulfilling and rewarding life. It's true...the questions help set the stage and springboard the relationship building process whether it's meeting someone new for the first time, making a favorable first impression on a job interview, making that first date anything but awkward or deepening the relationship with one's spouse, children or aging parents in a whole new way.

I am honored that so many of you have found the courage to use the Ripple Connection Questions in your life and I love hearing your stories so please keep them coming. If you aren't using the questions to make the impact you want in your life let me encourage you now to go back and search at the top of this BLOG for Ripple Connection Questions or check out my online store for first officially released set of questions that are now available for sale.

No matter whether you use my questions or come up with some of your own....just do something to not let the opportunities that life has afforded you pass you by. People are put in our path for a reason and opening that mouth and engaging them somehow is the first step. The uniqueness of what comes out of your mouth is what insures that it isn't the first and last step.


Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper


P.S. In case you have interest in learning more about what Rippling can do for you, check out my book by clicking here. If you want to take the book, your relationships and your career to an entirely new level you might be interested in my one on one coaching program. Contact me at steve@ripplecentral.com for more information.