Friday Fun - Reindeer Walk Out

Special news bulletin from my crack team of Ripple reports currently stationed in the North Pole with Santa and his crew. It seems today that despite all efforts, negotiations with the Reindeer Coalition of Magic Flyers and The Ho Ho Group dba Santa Claus and The Little Dudes have broken down. This walkout of course couldn't come at a worse time with Christmas Eve just ten days from now.

As first reported last week in Santa's Inside Track weekly newsletter there was a mass walk out by Santa's Reindeer led by Vixen the head of the Reindeer Coalition of Magic Flyers. The first rumblings of trouble were first reported when the reindeer reported for training camp to get ready for the upcoming Christmas season. One reindeer was ominously missing: Rudolph. At the time it was dismissed as a schedule misunderstanding (Rudolph was apparently sitting on a beach in the Bahamas) but various news agencies reported that Rudolph's top Elven Agent, Little Big Ear, was actually trying to shake down jolly old St. Nick for a cut future Christmas profits. Santa finally managed to get Rudolph to training camp by agreeing to pay to have his nose rebrightened and to review his contract at the end of this season. This action reportedly left the other reindeer more than a little annoyed.

If you remember fur was ruffled at the end of the last Christmas season when Rudolph released his controversial book "Just Follow My Damn Nose and I'll Lead You Home You Fur Balls." Despite an early bump in sales and a number of appearances on the late night talk show circuit, book sales trailed off. The book fiasco and other apparent hard feelings were seemingly forgotten by everyone, including the reindeer as they broke camp and moved into the Christmas season. But now it appears...maybe not.

"We want our fair share. This is a team and there is not one reindeer here that is more important than any other," said Vixen as he walked out of the North Pole Complex yesterday evening carrying his sleigh bells; a sign that this walkout might just be permanent.

Doner was reached at home and had this to say, "The old and yes I am going to say it, fat, dude has been riding us and riding us for years. We work hard for our money and we want out respect. You know he kisses Rudolph's red nose every chance he gets but where's our love? Can you tell me that?"

Comet had no comment.

The other reindeer refused to talk to our Ripple reporters as they walked into to the adult reindeer club 10 Points. But according to my inside sources tell me that there is discord on multiple levels and that this action has been a long time coming.

This isn't the first time controversy has struck Santa and his team of reindeer. If you remember just two years ago Blitzen took his name a little too seriously and showed up at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Blitzed (see picture). The team pulled together then and showed their support by getting Blitzen into the Cold Mountain Rehab and Treatment Facility and were able to get him detoxed and cleared to fly before that year's Christmas Eve. It was hoped that some of these personality conflicts and other issues could be overcome too with the team coming together but it doesn't look good.

Well boys and girls of Ripple land, I am taking the first flight to the North Pole and see what I can do. It definitely looks like the power of connection amongst this team is needed and though I make no promises, we will see what my eleventh hour attempts can do to avoid what is sure to be a Christmas disaster if we can't get the two parties back to the candy cane conference table.

Stay tuned.....

And Ripple On!!!


Steve


P.S. If anyone sees Rudolph, can you tell him to call me as we really need to talk.

A Little Ripple Goes a Long Way

When was the last time you recognized or complimented a coworker, good friend or even a complete stranger for something, anything? You know unexpected recognition, praise and encouragement can impact a person in ways that you could never imagine. Sure it takes a little risk on your part and can maybe at first seem a little uncomfortable but that's alright. The more you do it, the more comfortable you will get at doing it.

There is a particular coffee shop that I drop by nearly every day for my daily caffeine fix. The woman behind the counter is, I think, somewhat introverted. Her shyness could, and is, easily misconstrued as her being somewhat rude or aloof about her duties. I somehow recognized this about her after she first started working there and I consciously decided to do my part to take some action to change that about her; well at least when she deals with me.

I refuse to let a day go by that I don't at least try to joke with her on some level or compliment her either on what she is wearing or note how good it is to see her. This invariably makes her smile big as Texas and I like to think, happy that I come in virtually every day. She really seems to love it when I kid her when there is a line of people standing behind me. I don't know if my efforts somehow yank her out of her introverted dungeon of fear or if my jokes are just that funny and entertaining, but I can truly see the Ripple my efforts are creating. I watch as I step aside to prep my coffee and watch her personality really come out and shine with the next few people in line. My simple act of attention I believe helps her to be better at her job and the people who used to not care for her (and it was obvious) really seem to now enjoy seeing her every day.

What does my effort cost me? Absolutely nothing! I have had the opportunity to get to know a really nice lady whom I likely never would have gotten to know had I just been a mindless customer coming in for my coffee day after day. The changes that I have seen in this woman are nothing short of amazing and I believe are, at least in part, due to taking some action to recognize, compliment or joke with her every time I see her.

People matter and whether you are serving me coffee, driving me to the airport or taking my phone call, I like to show it through my efforts, my attitude and my way of Rippling. Give it try and just see how amazing a small effort on your part can impact another person and how incredible you feel for doing it.

You just never know what kind of Ripple it might create. This morning....my little investment of daily Ripple may have just gotten me a free day old Danish. Yummy!

Ripple On!!!

Steve

When In Doubt...Clarify Your Meaning

So having a frank and honest conversation with my dad last night and with my wife again this morning, it was pointed out to me that my BLOG post the other day might have possibly offended some of my readers. I thought that I was hopefully clear in communicating throughout the post that this was not my intention nor my desire to diminish the accomplishments of any professional in any industry. I stand by my comments but realize the main point of what I was trying to say might be have been said clearer. So let me give it another shot.

Titles or impressive letters following one's name don't make the person...the person makes the person. My intent was to communicate that titles, certifications and professional achievement though important and absolutely something you should be proud of, very well may be intimidating to new people when you first meet them. The real question is, does your title or letters after your name tell the average person something important about you that they, as a common person can immediately recognize and understand, or does it have the opposite affect? Does the average person possibly get intimidated or annoyed with the fact they don't know what a PhD does, let alone how to connect and communicate with him or her so they just don't.

Simply stated....I would hate to see someone great miss out on meeting someone else who is great simply because a title or professional certification presents a connection barrier.

Maybe I am wrong, maybe the impression I get is not every one's and that's okay too. I simply think it might be worth examining on some level.

So now that I have opened this can of worms what do I do to get them back in. Well if you sport one of these acronyms, signifying letters or educational accomplishments on your card, ask yourself if you think the average person could identify with their meaning. Don't stop there..get the opinion of family, friends and some complete strangers along the way. See what other's have to say about their first impression.

If this unscientific yet powerfully insightful survey yields mixed results consider getting two cards printed up. One to use when you are out in the general business public that states what you do in simpler language and one that you can use in environments where those who attend will get and understand what your higher level of achievement means and signifies.

In closing, I just want to say I apologize if my comments offended any of you in any way. But the goal with my BLOG is, and will always be, to get my readers to look at things from hopefully a different and sometimes controversial perspective. But please trust that I would never do anything that is intentionally mean-spirited or diminishes you my faithful readers in any way. And if Thursday's post did...please accept my apology!

Ripple On and Enjoy Your Sunday!!!

Steve