The Old Man's Advice

I am not exactly sure in what context my dad taught me this lesson but regardless of the circumstances it's a lesson that has always served me well both in life and career.

I can see the conversation going something like this..."Boy, God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. You should always use them in direct proportion."

Translation: Listen before you speak. Understand what you are hearing. And when you do finally speak have something important, insightful and valuable to say. Otherwise zip it!

Do you want to know the secret to becoming a good Rippler? Follow my old man's advice. Not because he's obviously a brilliant and insightful man - though I will admit he is that. Not because he raised such an incredible son. Stop it you're going to make me blush! No, you should follow his advice because without question it works.

Good Ripplers continually keep their eyes and ears open for opportunities. They pursue information and knowledge which can be shared with others like a thirsty man pursues water in the desert. They ask well thought out questions and really listen to what people have to say. They look at life as a puzzle, carefully arranging the pieces until they seamlessly fit together. They become a careful catalyst of connection, information and ideas amongst those who know them.

Want to start practicing today? Grab a colleague, friend or client and go have a cup of coffee with them. A few well placed and thought out questions and you'll be off to the races!

Ripple On!!!

Newty's Law Of Rippling

One of my biggest heroes is Sir Isaac Newton. Old Newty (he let's me call him that) and I became friends when I began discovering how spot on accurate some of his laws were to the process of Rippling. In fact some, if not most, of what I speak and write on today can be supported by some this man's shear "genius." He loves it when I call him that.

Take for example Newty's Third Law. Newty states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. That means when we throw that pebble in the crystal clear water something happens. There is an action (you throwing the rock) and the rock hitting the water and sinking (outcome or result). The result of this action is that the crystal clear water is now transformed by your action. Ripples cascade out from where the rock (your action) went in and those Ripples go on an on for as long or as far as they are able. Touching places that are unpredictable and often unforeseen.

Newty and I would tell you can use his Third Law anytime you want. Heck he and I have even struck an exclusive deal that he won't even charge you to use his Third Law. Can you say jackpot!?!

You can begin applying his Third Law right here and right now in your life. No not by picking up pebbles and tossing them in your nearest pond though your use of opposing thumbs would undoubtedly be impressive, it goes much deeper (thankfully) than that. Your ability to make an impact in far greater ways comes through the actions you take each and every day. Actions you take on behalf of others.

Newty would tell you that your actions and the impact of those actions has an ability to make such a major difference in the lives of others. He and I recently met up for coffee and he actually said that his law bore revision. He now believes that his Third Law should be aptly renamed The Law of Rippling. He and I got into a rather heated trademark conversation and it resulted in him throwing a muffin at me and leaving in a huff but I digress (between you and me he's sort of a baby sometimes).

The point is he believes, as do I, that if we can each day use his Third Law to go out and create actions on behalf of others that the Ripples we create not only for other people, but for ourselves as well, can and will have a positive reaction. Hey he's the genius, I'm just his modern day, coffee drinking, muffin stuck in my hair messenger.

Oh by the way Newty and I did make up. He's now working with me to develop a model of this very topic for a future speech or training. He's all jazzed up about telling me about the Law of Motion too and how it fits so nicely into this ongoing dialogue. Stay tuned but stay low...when the dude gets wired up muffins tend to fly everywhere!

Ripple On!!!