Reveal What You Need

I don't care who you are.....you want to accomplish something. Maybe it's getting the promotion at work or a new job altogether. Maybe it's becoming a better athlete or getting control of your weight. Maybe it's starting a new business or landing that big client. Whatever "it" is, people need and should know about.

People spend too much time fantasizing about what they want in life but often get bogged down in the details to truly take action. Revealing something you want to accomplish, earn, achieve or need to other people helps bring things from simply dreaming about it to breathable reality. The moment you publicly declare something is important to you and you need help to accomplish it....something changes. It becomes real.

What do you want out of your life. Think about it. Make a list. Dream and think big. Decide what is most important right now. Find a friend. Find a mentor. Share your goals and aspirations with your boss, spouse, kids, neighbors and BLOG readers. Then...and this is the big part...ask them to help you in some way accomplish that which you desire.

Maybe the person you are asking for help has some special ability, connection or resource to help you make substantial progress in your quest. Maybe their help comes in experience or knowledge. Or maybe their help just comes in the form of accountability - making sure you are taking necessary steps towards the achievement of something you have shared.

Bottom line....in order to accelerate accomplishing whatever "it" is for you....you have to reveal and share it with someone in order to make it really real. Then and only then can people take action to help you.

So let me put my money where my mouth is.....

I need help with the following:

Getting more paid speaking opportunities for corporations, conferences and workshops.
I need to gather personal stories of how and why The Ripple Effect book has helped someone.
I need to get more exposure to this blog, my website and my work.

There's mine. Now what are yours?

Ripple On!!!

You Need A Map

Man: I know where I am going.
Woman: You should stop and get directions.
Man: I don't need directions I know where I am going.
Woman: Then why have we passed that gas station three times?
Man: Just wanted to get my bearings. Hmm, yes, this is the street. I got it now.
Woman: No you don't. Admit it we are lost. Why don't you look at the map.
Man: We are most certainly not lost. You may be lost but I know exactly where I am.
Woman: It's just too bad you don't know where you are going.
Man: (actually he doesn't say anything because the truth hurts)
Woman: Are you sure you don't want to take a look at the map?
Man: Give me the damn map already!

Although this might be a humorous look at a couple of people trying to get somewhere they need to be, how similar is this conversation to the one you are having right now with your spouse, significant other, or even yourself? Except the conversation isn't about where you need to drive to but where you need to drive your life? Ah ha....you didn't think I knew about that did you? Well of course I do and now you are busted!

Of course your conversations with those in your life or even with yourself may use slightly different dialogue the impetus is the same. You think you know where you want to go in life and you may even have some vague understanding of how to get there but something is holding you back. Maybe it's the experience. Maybe it's the understanding of what it takes. Maybe it's your unwillingness to recognize when you need to stop and ask for directions (aka help). Or how to use your own map!

Whatever it is, it's important to understand that we should all be packing a map. Not a map to show us how to get from New Mexico to Texas but a map that outlines the major destinations we want to take in life and how we plan to get there. You wouldn't think about leaving your home today with a desire to drive to a major city (pick one) that is clear across the country without using a map would you? Why would you want to go through the next year, five years or next thirty without a clear understanding of where you are going and how to get there.

Without a map we are simply a passenger of life. With our own map we can be the conquerer of it.

Here's a great exercise that might be a great way to get your map started. Go to an office supply store and ask for big paper. You can get rolls of paper or use some sheets from a flip chart. Buy some colorful markers and some fine pointed pens. Spread it out over a conference table or pick a nice big space on your living room floor. Give yourself at least an hour, preferably several, to just imagine, think, contemplate, create, dream and just play.

Start by asking yourself as many questions as you can think of. For example, what age do I want to live to? Write that in the upper corner of one of the sheets of paper. Write your current age at the absolute opposite end or corner of the paper.

Ask....

What do I want to see myself trying? Do I want to skydive? Do I want to ride horses in Italy?

What kind of careers do I want to try? Maybe I want to go back to school and get my law degree.

What kind of trips will I go on? What far away lands do I want to explore?

What hobbies do I want to take up? Will I be a budding woodworker in fifteen years?

Will I be driving an RV or speeding down the freeway in a brand new Corvette? Put it on there.

Write, draw, play. Put anything and everything you can think of on the paper. Draw pictures, create life-like mile markers, create recognizable landmarks...draw, write, doodle, scribble...Have fun with this map as it is yours.

Once you have your destinations mapped out then its time to become your own Google Maps Direction function. You need to, in detail, write down on a separate piece of paper, your destinations and the very precise steps you need to take to get there. If you don't know, put that down too. Guaranteed someone you know or heck, someone you meet because of this BLOG or our Ripple community surely can help!

Try this exercise and have some fun with it. It will be amazingly insightful and a great way to start planning this journey we call your life.

Ripple On (with map in hand!),

Steve

How To Make and Keep Your New Year's Resolution

Well it's that time of year and a lot of us are beginning to make plans for the new year ahead. For many of us that means making the dreaded new year's resolutions. You know those little goals we set with good intention and obligation but secretly understand and expect to break before the end of January. Or maybe that's just me.

You know the kind.

I am going to run every single day. Yep....as soon as that alarm clock goes off at five a.m. I am hoping out of the bed and running my way into a new body.

Or

I am going to start going into the office early and really putting out the kind of effort that will get me noticed by my boss and that promotion I have been wanting for so long.

You get the idea right?

Why is it so hard to keep resolutions? Well in my opinion it's because they aren't realistic. We make resolutions at this time of year because that's what we think you are supposed to do. We focus on things we would like to have or things we would like to accomplish but the thought is more romantic than the work that will be necessary to make it a reality. Maybe we really do want to drop that fifteen or twenty pounds and might even show our commitment by joining the local gym (gym owners love this time of year by the way!). But as the weeks go by, it just becomes easier to go home at the end of the day rather than hitting the aerobics class and before you know it the resolution to lose those pounds isn't nearly as important as catching Grey's Anatomy on the tube.

So how we do make resolutions that we will keep?

• Start by being clear. What is it that you really want to accomplish by making the resolution? What will sticking to this resolution bring to your life? What will it really mean to you?
  

• Don't make a lot of them. Focus is key here. If you are really committed to making some resolutions and sticking to them then make one or two and focus all of your energy on sticking to them. People get overwhelmed when they decide they are going to try and stick to a long laundry list of resolutions and before long it just becomes easier to ignore them all.
  

• Feel it. You have to feel the obligation in the pit of your stomach to make the change. This feeling will keep you on track if you know you are about to stray. It's really important to feel it because that is what will make the difference and help you to focus and stay on task to sticking with your resolution rather than taking the easier road.

• Position...Position...Position. Put yourself in the right position/environment(s) that will encourage and support you, not work against you. If you decide you want to give up alcohol let's say, agreeing to go to happy hour with the crew from work isn't going to help you.
  

• Accountability is key. Working hard at something can be a struggle especially if your battle is being fought alone. Engage your family, friends, co-workers and let them know what you resolutions are (remember only do a few) and ask them to help you stay on track. You will be amazed at how many people will rise to the occasion to help you but you have to include them. Don't be shy about the resolutions you are making.

Resolution can be broken into two powerful meanings.

Resolut(e) -
Solution

When you are resolute to make a change, obtain a goal or whatever it is you want to accomplish the solution lies in your ability to believe in yourself and take action to make it so. And let's face it, when you do that...when you truly believe in yourself, anything is possible.

Good luck and if you need a little extra push, drop me an email and let's chat.

Ripple On and make 2008 Your Best Year Ever!!!


Steve

Gotta Get Goals - Tag Your It!

I recently signed up for www.mybloglog.com and have simply been overwhelmed by the amazing community of Bloggers and just generally cool people that I have met over the past month or so. One of those amazing people is a Blogger by the name of Marjie who created The Cure For Silence Blog. Check it out as this young twenty-three year old really has some great posts and an interesting take on the world.

Marjie "tagged" me last week to participate in a series called Gotta Get Goals where I have to outline five of my goals and explain why I want to achieve them. This tagging thing is a fun way to encourage Bloggers to connect and learn something about one another on a whole host of interesting topics, questions, etc...

So thanks to Marjie for thinking enough of me to "tag me!"

My Gotta Get Goals are....

1. Take The Ripple Effect to the big time....I want to Ripple Nationally Baby!

I want my concept of Rippling to reach epic proportions. I want people throughout the country to learn how easy it is to connect and Ripple their way to build more successful personal and professional relationships and ultimately better lives. By getting the concept traction in all parts of the country I want to stimulate more interest in the book and in organizations and companies willing to bring me to them to teach them to Ripple.

2. Write The Second Book

Yep...it's about time that I get crackin on my second book! I have learned so much these past two years and I know that my experiences and the amazing stories I have collected will manifest into something amazing.

3. Create the Ripple On Course

This is sort of cheating as I am almost finished (development wise) with this goal but it is worth sharing it anyway. I wanted to create a program based on The Ripple Effect that is like no other follow-on training or coaching program out there. I have worked hard to put together a "experience" that I think for the right person will absolutely help them take their personal and professional life to the next level...Ripple style of course! The 12 month intensive program is called Ripple On and I am truly excited about how it will apply the concepts and the content of not only my book but my own personal philosophy for success.

4. Get More Centered

I want and need to find some more time to focus just on me. I plan to stick to my exercise regime (lose a few pounds and gain some more muscle) and find more opportunities to get quite every day so that I can open up the old cabazza and let my creativity flow!

5. Show More Gratitude Every Day

I have an amazing life filled with a vast assortment of incredible people (including you my faithful Blog readers) and I don't nearly say often enough how grateful I am for every one of them. I have so much to be grateful for and I intend to show my gratitude through my thoughts, words and deeds every day.

Okay...so there are my five Gotta Get Goals.

Now it is my turn to "tag" a few people whom I know we will all enjoy hearing from and perhaps playing a hand in helping them achieve their Gotta Get Goals.

Asha Prasad

Thom "Two Booker" Singer

Prince

Carlon Haas

Drew McLellan

Matthew Homann

Donna Karlin

Terri

Ripple On!!!

Steve