What Can 9-9-09 Inspire You To Do?

Image by luc legay via Flickr

Well folks it's 9-9-09! How cool is that?

Hmmm what can we do with that? Surely there is something. Let me think, let me think!

AhHa! I've got it!

Make a list of 18 really cool people. Maybe they are friends, business acquaintances or cool and interesting people you've met online through a BLOG (hmm say like this one?) or through a social networking site such as Facebook or Twitter.

Come on you can think of 18 cool and interesting people can't you? Heck my problem is just limiting it only to 18.

So that's step one. Now for step two.

Write all of these people's names on a list. Break that list in half. This is where a little brain power is required. Look at each person individually and determine at least one interesting factoid or creative talent or skill that you know they possess and that will be your Connection Point (you know how I love those!). Now look at the other people on your list and start matching who needs to know who and well....you get the picture.

The final and most critical step is step three. Take Action TODAY!

Introduce, connect or somehow engage each of the 9 people on the first side of your list with the at least one person from the other side of the list. Use the Connection Point as your baseline for why you are connecting them and give a little heartfelt push and encouragement and sit back and let the connecting and Rippling happen from there.

Do you know that if you connected 9 people with 9 other people that your would easily improve your standing with each of those people 10 fold ---- oh wait I had a theme going here! Let's call it 9 fold instead! (Smile)

Heck what if you connected all 18 people with one another! You will have created 81 total connections from this little exercise. And you thought you weren't that powerful! You carry a big rock and have the power to create many big Ripples my friend! Wait a second...my did I sound like Tonto from the Lone Ranger there?

Anyway....you can either sit on your hands today and watch 9-9-09 go by like every other day or you can step up to the plate and use this magical number day to do something with it. It will only come along once in your lifetime so why not give it a go?

Come on people! Let's Ripple!!!

Ripple On!!!

Real Change

On the morning after a historic election where the core message was change, what are we as Americans prepared to do to really change? Regardless of which candidate you supported the message is loud and clear. Change is needed. Change is wanted. Change is the only way that we can see ourselves through the difficult economic and world problems the lie ahead.

Forget politics for a moment and focus on where we all need to go. The word change is more than just a campaign strategy or a convenient uniting chant. No, the word change signifies that in order to get a different result we must collectively be committed to doing things differently. That is true for our elected officials, for the organizations we work for, or run, as well as for you and I and we how interact and connect with one another. Change can really only happen when two or more people come together to focus on achieving a different result.

So the question becomes, what does change really mean?

In my humble opinion it means that the decisiveness of today's political climate is over and today a new path forward must be paved. It means that we must stop fighting and start listening. It means that collectively we begin working towards something better than we have today and that we do it together.

The time to connect with others is never more important than it will be in the days, months and years ahead. Connection with others is the only way real change, social, political, economic or otherwise can be brought about. Having real conversations with real people and insuring that we are all working to help and support one another. Imagine the Ripple Effect of that!

So today I announce my candidacy for real change. The office I seek is not one that requires you to vote at the ballot box or side with a particular political party of influence. The office I seek is the one that encompasses all people, includes all voices and shows just what can happen when our society comes together to really connect, really unite and really change.

As Chief Rippler I will show everyone through my actions, words and deeds just how powerful the Ripples of connection can be and that by coming together there is no problem too big or too small which can't and won't be solved or defeated.

Will you join me?

Ripple On!!!

Can You Smile?

Do you realize a smile is the most powerful tool you have in your arsenal of connection? It announces before you even open your mouth that you are approachable, friendly and someone someone needs to know. It's one of the greatest Ripple makers of all time. Guaranteed!

When I give my customer service training I encourage my students to practice smiling every morning to prepare themselves to be more friendly towards their customers that day. In fact, I encourage people to utilize the same mirror that they use to brush their teeth, hair or put on makeup, to practice their smile before they leave the house. Yes, I said practice!

Give it a try tomorrow morning. Think to yourself....that Ripple guy told me to try this so let me give it a go. THEN SMILE at yourself. Tell me if that doesn't lift your mood. Tell me if it doesn't make you laugh..just a little...to yourself while you do it. Tell me if it doesn't make you think just a little bit about what positive effect you could have on those who may cross your path in the day ahead.

Smiling is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself and for others. Start practicing pulling it out and using it at least three times a day and I will assure you that many a Ripple will follow.

Here's a little piece I wrote about Smiling Costs Me Nothing if your interested
Click here to read it.

Remember to Smile and Ripple On!!!

Steve

Use The Holidays To Discover

So the holidays are here and for many of us that means spending hours, sometimes days, with family; many of which we don't get to see all that often. Whether it be with the grandparents, parents, cousins, in-laws, extended family, our own children, spouses and/or significant others an opportunity to do something very special is available to us all. It's an opportunity to learn about these people we call family. I don't mean just catching up on how people are doing physically or how the new job is going....I mean really learning about the people themselves.

When you take a broader look at our time on Earth, we realize that time is not infinite. For many of us the next year may or may not be our last. The time we all have here is so precious and yet so many of us spend our time focused on the things that aren't all that important. In fact, we fail to connect with those in our family on a level that reveals much about them at all. Sad when you think about that sister of yours that you know less about than the woman who sits in the cubicle next to yours isn't it?

Use the holidays to ask the insightful questions. Ask grandpa when he was your age what he dreamed he would be when he finally grew up. Ask your cousin what they are truly passionate about and what makes them tick. Ask the elders of your family how your family came to be and what they think of the family as it is today. Spend the time asking your mom and dad questions that let them be Jim and Janet (my parent's names) rather than mom and dad.

Is this hard? I won't lie to you....it can be. Especially if your a family that doesn't truly know one another. But families should know one another don't you think? So when you decided to really get to know the people who you seldom see but really should know better, blame it on your old buddy Steve. Tell him this crazy Ripple author guy suggested this as a way to pass the time over the holidays. Blame me if it eases the reason for doing it, but no matter what, do it.

As most of you know, my mom has Alzheimer's disease. There are so many of those Christmas afternoons I wish I had back. I wish I could spend that time not looking at the cool loot I had just been given but really talking, really communicating with her. I know she had to have had hopes, dreams, fears, opinions, things that excited her but my friends, I never asked about them. I now sit here writing this post and realize that her disease has robbed her of her mind and me of the opportunity to have known what once was floating around in there. I really never knew my mom and that makes me sad.

Don't make the same mistake. Everyone has a story and like I preach incessantly throughout my BLOG, my book and my speeches and training, you just have to have the courage to ask.

Use the holidays to do some asking won't you.

Ripple On My Friends!!!


Steve

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

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.

So with no further adieu....this week's question is:

There's 35 days left to go in 2007....

What do you plan to do with
the time left in this year to
insure that this year is one
of your best so far?

It's a valid and very revealing question don't you think?

So what's your answer?

What are you going to do with the next 35 gifts that you are given in 2007?

Ripple On!!!


Steve

Walking Lottery Ticket - Part Two

So you remember yesterday we talked about my giving you a lottery ticket every day without any financial obligation on your part and the only real expectation was your need to come meet me every day to pick up the ticket. One tiny little action that you had to take every day in order to pick up the ticket that gave you a chance at millions of dollars was all that I asked. All it took was investment of a little bit of time and effort on your part...every day without fail.

You got excited. You couldn't believe someone would be so kind and generous at first. You found yourself fantasizing about what the money would do for you and how it would absolutely change your life right? Plus when you won, I wouldn't expect a thing from you....not one red cent of the money would you have to share. What a bargain right?

But then the excuses came. You had this going on or that going and now that golden ticket, the one that could change your life forever, somehow took a backseat to your procrastination, to your excuses, to your laziness. You began to bargain...to make deals for me to watch the ticket, to hold on to it for you but all the while still hoping, still praying that the ticket would payoff. You hoped that even though you didn't have to do a thing (literally) for it that your lottery ticket would finally cash in. I think you and I both know that life doesn't work that way.

I took my time explaining this scenario over two days for a reason.

This happens every day, though the lottery tickets you are given are walking up and down the halls of your office, standing in line with you at Starbucks, will be at today's Chamber luncheon, is the person you rode up with in the elevator this morning and is that person whom you've yet to meet...but will. Your walking lottery tickets are the people whom you know and don't know. They are the ones that literally have the power and capability to do far more than six numbers on a piece of paper could ever do for your life, your career and for your own personal psyche. No, these lottery tickets have the power to effect real change in your world.

And....there's good news!

Every day you and I have the opportunity to meet one of these walking lottery tickets. Yes it takes effort. Yes it takes time. No I can't do it for you...neither can anyone else. It takes you and only you. But just like in our scenario it takes your willingness to show up (and do it every day) wherever the ticket might be to have any shot at cashing in on the opportunity.

People are like a lottery ticket. You have absolutely no idea what you might get when you meet someone new or make that extra effort to get to know someone better. The possibilities are truly endless.

Many of you who've heard me speak or read my book understand that my willingness to go the extra mile, to seek out the walking lottery tickets in my life enabled me to become an entrepreneur and find real success in my life. Those lottery tickets weren't just going to land in my lap...I had to go seek them out and make the effort to find them. But let me tell you it was worth the effort!

No I won't give you any daily lottery tickets but I will tell you that if you would take a different view of the people who cross that path in your life you might just find that your life is filled with tons of potentially winning tickets. The question then becomes, are you going to let the excuses control your destiny or are you going to rise above it all and seek out your winning numbers?

Give it a try because the odds are so much better than any real lottery. Life, by design, works in our favor. You just have to know how to play the game. But just like with a lottery, you have to pay to play.

Good luck and good Rippling!!!

Steve

New 8 Minute Ripple Video

Mitch Lobrovich with Channel You Productions has created another fantastic video for me that really helps explain the power of what The 8 Minute Ripple can do and all the various ways it can be used. Whether it be for a corporate team or workgroup function, executive board retreat or organizational gathering, conference or convention, or simply to aide in the recruiting process to help a company find and discover the talent they most want to be interviewing, The 8 Minute Ripple philosophy is incredibly adaptable and amazingly powerful.

I invite you to check out this new video by clicking here!

If you want to learn more about what the Ripple can do for you, your organization or your next conference, let's chat! Or if you know of an organization or upcoming event that could use a little Ripple added to their agenda or workplace environment, I would be happy to share the wealth and pay you a referral fee for any Ripples that I may book. Email me at steve@ripplecentral.com

Thanks to each of you for your continued support and interest in all things Ripple. The connections and relationships I have made through The 8 Minute Ripple, the book, this BLOG and my speaking appearances and trainings mean the absolute world to me!

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Loquacious Introvert

Most of you know that I enjoy the reputation as the Starbucks Stalker as I am not afraid to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. I truly love the variety that Starbucks offers as I can think of no other company that provides us all with such a rich selection of opportunities to reach out and connect. Think about it. Your local Starbucks attracts people from all walks of life with an unbelievable array of backgrounds, education and professional experience and the conversation and connection possibilities are truly endless.

Secretly I like to think that Starbucks creates all of these "hot spots of connection" just for me to get my people fix. I know that is likely not the case but let a fella fantasize won't you?

Most of you that are regular readers of my BLOG likely recall that my dad lives in Albuquerque. He has truly become my best little walking press agent for my book, my Ripple training and ultimately my desire to reach outside the box and connect. So much so that he now goes to Starbucks and the other "local" coffee shops I think more than I do in a week and often finds an ear to bend about this thing I call Rippling. He's a proud papa indeed! I know these little jaunts up to coffee house gives him a great break from taking care of my mom and allows him to be an observer and often, in his own and very inspiring way, a conversation stalker

Well it seems dad and I may have some conversation competition at the old Starbucks! As my dad told me the story, he was sitting in a Starbucks a few weeks ago when he noticed an elderly man spring through the front door of Starbucks. He sashayed up to the old counter and plunked down the exact change for his black coffee and then proceeded to scan the shop. My dad noticed he purposefully scanned each and every patron with a keen eye and then with coffee in hand and a smile on his face he proceeded to engage each and every one of them.

He commented here and there about how busy everyone was. He interrupted two students embroiled in a study debate and asked about their day. With answer in hand he greeted a young lady listening to an IPOD and refused to let her recoil into independence alley until she removed her head phones to acknowledge him. He asked what people were working so diligently on laptops and asked about the books that people were reading, he was making it his mission to engage the world; to change the world with a smile and genuine interest in everyone. To hear my dad tell it, he was accomplishing his mission as he left each person somehow forever altered and better than they had been just minutes before.

Then he came to my dad who had watched with much amusement and observation. "Even you my fine sir, you have your nose stuck in a book. What are we reading" he asked. What are we reading? I love that! Talk about a great way to start a conversation!!!

My dad is 72 mind you and looks great for his age but could never be mistaken for a spring chicken. But as this man pulled up a chair the mildly humorous comment of "all you kids are so busy with your books and laptops" that came from this incredibly engaging man was both funny and insightful. You see this man, it turns out, is 92.

He like my father has a wife at home with Alzheimer's. His days are filled with going to Starbucks, the grocery store any other place he could possibly engage one in conversation. I am certain, like my dad, he uses the experiences he has with the people he meets to share with his beloved when he returns home. A recap of conversation bounty that they can both share even if it is just him telling the tale to her. You can almost see that scene can't you?

As he sat there and visited with my dad, they found many "connection points." He challenged my dad by informing him he had participated in four wars and asked if he could guess which ones they had been (three were actual well know wars and one was never officially constituted as a war but don't tell this man that!). They talked about the Alzheimer's and their deep love to care for their two wives. Two men from two different generations and in fact two complete strangers...connecting, sharing and and reminding us all that that is what life is all about.

He talked with the speed and vigor of a man more my age. Their brief interaction covered a myriad of topics and just as soon as it had begun it was over. With the flip of his card on the table he said he would look for my dad again but he had errands to attend to and people to see. He sprang to his feet, turned and was gone.

There on the table at Starbucks my dad picked up his card realizing that he had given this man his name and asked for his but somehow in the gust of conversation the man had never obliged. He closely examined the card and realized he had just met.....

Sir. Duke Wellington
Loquacious Introvert

At 92 and 72, if these guys can reach outside to connect, don't you think you and I can too?

Ripple On and go stalk up a conversation at Starbucks today! If you see the Duke say hello from the Ripple Guy!

Steve

Ripple Connection Question of the Week

My readership has just exploded over the last few weeks so I wanted to take this opportunity to quickly explain to those of you who are new to my BLOG what the Ripple Connection question is and how to use it.

I believe that every day we have people who come into our life for a defined purpose. I also believe that we as a society have lost our ability to reach out and connect. We are too myopic and often oblivious to the opportunities which are right in front of us. I also believe that those of us that want to connect with others are often afraid or unsure of exactly how to bridge a connection with someone. Whether that connection is with people we already know, but want to know better, or simply complete strangers who cross our path in life we may be lacking the tool or resource to start a conversation.

That is why I created the Ripple Connection Questions. These questions are an ideal way to get to know somebody and to hopefully find a common connection point which creates jump off points for future dialogue and increased connection. These questions aren't the maby pamby (one of my favorite sayings) b.s. kind that most people are accustomed to hearing. No! They are by design fun to ask, fun to answer and guaranteed to make the interaction memorable for you both.

So give it a try! What do you have to lose? Not a darn thing! Whether you want to get to know a co-worker better, develop more rapport with your boss or simply engage the complete stranger at Starbucks, the Ripple Connection Questions will get people talking. Most importantly....they will get you noticed and appreciated for being different from the rest of the herd.

Try it....You'll enjoy the experience, the answers and the connections. I promise!

So to this week's Ripple Connection Question:

What is the one question you would most like people to ask you when they first meet you?

Thanks to my friend Matt Homann with realBIGthinking.com for reminding me of this fun and engaging connection question!

Ripple On!!!


Steve Harper

P.S. We still have a few books left from our Dang Those Shippers Sale so if you want to pick up a copy of my book The Ripple Effect cheap and don't mind a little damage to the cover (some of the damage is so slight you won't even notice it) then Ripple on over to my store and pick up a book full of Ripples for a real song! Click here!

Plane Inspired by Dolls

I want to thank literally the hundreds of people who have written and called to check in regarding my mom's surgery. I am thankful to report she came through with flying colors and actually got to go home this evening which was fantastic. We won't get the final word back on the biopsy until Monday but the surgeon seemed extremely optimistic which is a huge relief to us all.

Thank you for keeping her and my entire family in your thoughts and prayers. It is most appreciated.

Now back to regular BLOG business.

On the plane ride out to Albuquerque I was fortunate enough to witness first-hand the unselfish act of children and found such inspiration in what I saw. Two sisters probably no more than 6and 8 years of age came onto our plane in Dallas. They were seated next to another girl that was 7 years old (she proudly announced to whoever would listen) and had been the hit of the plane ride up from Austin as she warmed everyone in her view with an infectious impish grin and giggle that simply stole your heart.

These girls immediately exchanged pleasantries and big smiles were shared all around. It was one of the purest forms of sincere connection that I have seen in quite some time. After a round of names and associated kid topical business was out of the way, it was determined that they all would be heading onto Los Angeles following a quick stop over to drop a few of us off in Albuquerque.

I bet it didn't take five minutes and these girls who were otherwise perfect strangers were exchanging candy and showing off their Easter loot from the day before. Despite having no personal connection the 7 year old offered up her suite of dolls for the two sisters to play with without hesitation or worry for her possessions. She gave specific reasons for each of the dolls names and pointed out the features she most liked about each one of them. The other two girls were enthralled and took careful measures to treat the dolls with kid gloves. Play ensued and all three of them engaged like they had been life-long friends.

Laughter and pure joy was infectious as people all around took notice and seemed to catch themselves, if only for a minute, asking themselves why can't it be that easy for us as adults to connect that way. It looked like fun because it was.

I was truly inspired that these little girls played and joked throughout the flight and I found myself almost wishing I was a kid again (but no I didn't want to play with dolls...had to say it before someone posts a comment on it). It did seem so easy for them to meet.

The concept of strangers rarely exists in kidom (my own made up word for the world of all things kid) and somewhere along the way we lose that. We forget how much fun meeting new people can be. We become too introverted and fail to approach those people who sit next to us on the plane or at Starbucks (or hospital waiting rooms) with the same kind of kid gusto. How pathetic is that?

What might your life look like right now if you treated everyone like that little girl did when these two sisters crossed her path? One thing is for sure, it might make your plane rides go oh so much faster and you might just learn a thing or two about what makes that new person's dolls special.

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

P.S. I have just made space for five new coaching clients! Interested in putting the power of my unique approach to Rippling to work in your personal life or career? Drop me an email at steve@ripplecentral.com and let's chat.