Dear You

It was July 1993. I had just started my first company - a Xerox agency. I was young, inexperienced and quite possibly the most scared individual on the planet. I was convinced the level of B.S. I had spun to get Xerox to authorize me as their local Xerox agent was going to surely be my undoing. What was I thinking? How would I ever make this work? I was convinced I was never gonna get anyone to buy something from me - especially a product that was old technology, 40% higher than most of my competitors and was being sold by a guy that still had pimples!

I was the youngest Xerox agent owner in the country and prior to that first week, one proud hombre! But now after a torturous week of doors slammed in my face I was feeling anything but proud. I was scared sh**less that I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

I was thinking about that first week this week as I prepared remarks for a talk that I am giving next week to about 300 executives. I still can't believe how far that I have come and how little faith I actually had in myself way back when. That first week was hard but I still remember the moment that defined it. It started with a letter that I wrote. It was both the shot in the arm that I needed and the foretelling for what I would discover about life, business and my ability to be successful in both.

Thought it was worth sharing:

Dear You, You will have the courage to walk through strange doors, meet new people and show that you are capable. You will take wild chances because the chances will be yours to take. You will do that which feels uncomfortable – just to prove to yourself that you can. You will play the cards that are dealt to you because you can’t win if you don’t play.

Whenever you are discouraged take a breath and say.

I will pay attention because life leaves clues and this is a mystery I know that I can solve. I know that I cannot do this alone – nothing happens in a vacuum - I need others. I will break free from this shy self of mine and rise up to meet the people I most want and need to meet regardless of who they are or how different they may be from me. Even if at first they aren’t impressed, know that they soon will be.

I will honor those that enter my life, personally or professionally, by adding value and being a resource when and where I can. I know that this is a journey and the people that I meet along the way will open the doors of opportunity for me if I take the time to let them.

Forget your doubt. Forget the odds are seemingly stacked against you – in they end they won’t be. Trust in your ability. Prove that you are able and most importantly be yourself.

It’s worked out pretty well for you so far.

Go on – the world, your world, awaits!

Yours truly,

Me

Ripple Connection Question Of The Week

Ripple Connection Questions are a unique way to engage people in conversation. Whether with a complete stranger or someone you already know, but want to know better, using Ripple Connection Questions (RCQ) accelerate the dialogue and deepen the connection. The questions are by design, fun to ask and fun to answer, and can take your connection to an entirely new level. Come on, break out of that shell of yours and start Rippling.

This past weekend Zachary, my 9.999 year old (he turn's 10 tomorrow), and I were watching an interesting show on the History Channel about Benjamin Franklin and the technology he created. I was fascinated with how many modern day conveniences could be directly linked back to this amazing founding father. What was even more interesting was watching Zach take it all in and absorb it like a sponge.

After the program ended Zach turned to me and said, "Benjamin Franklin sure thought a lot didn't he? And what he didn't know he went out and tried to learn all that he could about something. He never gave up until he got an an answer to whatever question he was asking. I think that is so cool." Indeed.

It got me thinking about this week's Ripple Connection Question. How many of us think that just because we are out in the "real world" that we no longer have to learn new things. Oftentimes I ask that question at companies I am asked to speak at and I get answers like learning was for school or who has time to learn new things when there is work to be done. It's quite sad when you really think about it.

I myself equate learning to living. Though I don't have the insatiable appetite that Benjamin Franklin obviously had, I was inspired by the program and my son's enthusiasm to apply that same eagerness to learning to his life. I certainly hope it sticks - given the kind of kid he is I am sure it will.

But it did get me thinking about this week's Ripple Connection Question so with no further adieu:

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU
WOULD LIKE TO LEARN
ABOUT OR LEARN TO DO?

I hope you will ask this question and watch the doors of connection open wide open when you do. Heck, don't forget to answer the question yourself and if inclined, post it here!