Randy Pausch My Hero

Last year I discovered someone who has become one of my all-time greatest heroes. His name is Professor Randy Pausch. Randy Pausch at the time had become an Internet celebrity for giving an inspirational Last Lecture for the students and faculty of Carnegie Mellon University which had been shown on YouTube.com countless times. This young, vibrant man with so many incredible antedotal lessons on living was actually dying at the time. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

I had discovered the Last Lecture from one of those countless email trails that people forward on and on. I rarely open those due to the enormous amount of email I get but for some reason this particular one caught my attention so I watched. I watched it over and over again - riveted by what I was seeing, what I was learning and what I was hearing. I found myself at the time both inspired and scared; I hadn't been living life to its fullest...not even close.

Last October I was sitting in a hotel room waiting to go down to deliver one of the biggest speeches I had ever given up to that point and flipped the channel over to Oprah. As luck would have it Randy Pausch was giving a modified version of his last lecture. I found myself sitting in a hotel room alone, crying my eyes out and wishing that I could trade just a few years of my life for his. This amazing husband and father of three deserves so much more than what life has dealt him. After the show I went down and modified my remarks to an audience of executives to honor the lessons Randy had shared and taught me. I think to date it is still one of the best performances I have given.

I became incredibly inspired by this man who was dying but possessed an insatiable appetite for living. Longing to know more about this man I read everything I could find; his various bios, BLOGS and countless interviews. I found myself logging onto to his website and checking his health updates regularly. For Father's Day my wife and kids gave me his book The Last Lecture - which has to be one of the best gifts I have ever received for Father's Day.

When Kathy emailed on Friday that he had passed I felt as if someone had just taken my knees out from under me. I wanted to go home, crawl into bed and just cry. I didn't want anyone at the office see me as I suspect the wrong word would have easily brought me to tears. I walked around the building a few times and composed myself and tried to go on with my day. It wasn't easy.

I found myself hugging my boys a little tighter this weekend. I found myself looking at my wife and appreciating her a little more for what she does for us all. I found myself thinking of Randy and how hard and difficult it has to be to leave such a loving family. I found myself replaying so many of the lessons Randy shared in his lectures, his writings and his just plain being. I found my sadness was somehow transformed into inspiration and a desire to live.

Thanks Randy...another lesson you taught me.

My friends, we could all be so lucky as to have a hero such as Randy Pausch. A man that truly inspired countless Americans to remember that life is not only fragile but oftentimes is short -though never any less valuable. Live. Have fun. Dream. Inspire.

Go take on your Monday and say a prayer for those three heart-broken kids and a grieving wife. Then say another Prayer for Randy - and tell him you will do a better job of honoring your life and really living it to its fullest.

God's Speed Randy Pausch. God's speed.

Ripple On!!!

Friday Inspiration - Team Hoyt

I saw a story about Dick and Rick Hoyt last year on HBO's Real Sports. It is such an inspirational story that I won't do it an injustice with my words. Just watch these two videos and see how inspiring this father and son are. It's incredible.

Ripple On!!!

Inspirational Story To Get You Thinking

Fellow Author and professional colleague, Tim Sanders, tells an amazing story that will really make you think about just how important it is to create Ripples for those who cross your path in life. Whether it may be a co-worker, employee, customer or friend, you just never know what your actions might mean to another. After hearing this story, I am most certain you will appreciate just what kind of power your Ripple might hold.




Check out Tim's Book by clicking here!

Even The Bad Can Cause Good

I couldn't help be see the Ripple-esq qualities of this story that a good friend of mine shared with me recently. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Have a great weekend my fellow Ripplers!!!

STORY NUMBER ONE

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from boot-legged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.

Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly.

Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.

So, he testified.

Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.

The poem read:

"The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power to tell

Just when the hands will stop

At late or early hour.

Now is the only time you own.

Live, love, toil with a will.

Place no faith in time.

For the clock may soon be still.

STORY NUMBER TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship.

His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.

The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.

There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now-broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent.

Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet.

He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.

This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.

A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.

A Quote To Ponder

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Powerful words from a powerful man.

And for the Ripplers out there that I know that are struggling with various issues....a good reminder to stay the course. The decisions you are making, though difficult at the time, will undoubtedly prove to be the right ones.

Ripple On!!!

Steve

Circle of Problems

This past Sunday I was watching Inside Actor's Studio and James Lipton's guest was Michael J. Fox. I love Lipton's rapid fire interview style and what open honest answers he is able to get from some of today's leading movie and television stars. And I have to admit, I enjoy hearing what famous people did to get their big breaks. Success leaves clues you know and we just have to know where to look to find them. Mr. Lipton's guests have provided me many fascinating clues, that's why I enjoy watching the show whenever I can.

On Sunday it was repeat episode of Michael J. Fox's appearance from 2005. As most of you probably already know, I am huge fan of Michael J. Fox having blogged previously about his inspirational battle with Parkinson's disease.

I always pick up something from these interviews and this one was no exception. Mr. Lipton had asked Michael about dealing with the problem of Parkinson's and he relayed a great story about God. It seems God invited a bunch of people who had been complaining about their lives and problems and invited them to all gather in one big circle. He then asked everyone to take "their" problem and put it in the middle of the circle. With the "their" problem now gone they were free to select a new problem from the pile of problems and to take it as their own.

Everyone went back to the pile and picked up their old problem and went home.

I am totally paraphrasing this story of course but the point that Michael J. Fox was trying to make was his problems aren't any bigger or worse then someone else's problems. When we compare them to what other people are going through ours don't seem all that bad. Perhaps when faced with the opportunity to switch problems it helps us gain a better perspective and anchored reality that we really aren't that bad off after all.

What problems are you facing right now that you think are just so insurmountable that you think about giving up or giving in? Compare that to be being diagnosed with cancer like my sister Sheri was. Compare that to being faced with the possibility of going blind (again) like my father is. Compare that to someone who lost a small child to an accident. Compare that to this being the last day of someone's life.

No I suspect when faced with placing our problems in the middle of our little circle they wouldn't look so bad after all. No...not so bad at all.

Thanks Michael J. Fox for being such an inspiration to me and to helping me remember no matter what I am facing in my life, someone else always, always has it worse than me.

To see an unrelated but very inspirational segment of the show where Michael talks about getting his big break click here. And to learn more about The Michael J. Fox Foundation click here!

Ripple On!!!

Steve

It's Not The Size of the Body but the Size of The Heart That Counts

When I was a kid I was unfortunately small. I was a severe asthmatic and the medications that I was constantly on I often wondered if it somehow stunted my growth. I remember feeling insecure way back when I started soccer at the age of five and hating my size. I was just plain smaller than the rest of the kids and the other kids often made fun of me for it.

Despite being smaller than most kids and having less than 50% lung capacity because of my asthma I always had to work harder in sports. I never let my size or other physical limitations be an excuse for giving my all. I played harder, worked harder and always focused on doing me best at all times and in the end I excelled at whatever sports I played...though soccer became my signature sport.

Unfortunately Zachary inherited my small stature and when he started the camp with a 100+ other eight year olds it was noticeable that he was one of the smallest guys out there. Though at times during the school year Zachary would complain about being a little smaller than the other guys he too has never let that be an excuse. I think he gets that from me. He has always gotten in there and roughed it up with the biggest and best and usually comes out smiling on the other end; usually with the ball too!

After an outstanding week attending Brian Urlacher's Football Camp Zachary got to experience something that will likely be with him for the rest of his life. My son received a special award for outstanding effort and performance from Mr. Urlacher himself! That's right...Zachary's had been recognized for putting that heart out there on the line and forgetting that size sometimes doesn't matter. Out of 600 campers (ages 8-18) he was amongst a handful of kids to be recognized! Talk about thrilled....getting recognized in front of all of those kids and by one of his all time heroes to boot! Can you tell the smile is still plastered on my face right now?

I don't know who was more proud...Zachary or me for the autographed NIKE football with Brian Urlacher's signature on it. There are very few days that I have stood prouder of my boy not because of the trophy award itself but for what it symbolizes and for the Ripple it has created in my son's confidence. He now knows more than ever that his physical size is only a limited by his imagination and he can and will accomplish anything he wishes if he is willing to put his heart, soul and effort into achieving it.

He inspired me this week and I can honestly say he is my hero.

Ripple On!!!

Steve

P.S. Special thanks to my wife for inspiring me to write this post.

P.S.S. Thanks to Brian Urlacher and the rest of the coaches for making a memory that will inspire him to push himself forward and to never give up.

What Will You Do At 92?

Last week on the CBS Evening News, Steve Hartman profiled Nola Ochs as part of his Friday Assignment America segment. Nola Ochs is mother, grandmother, great grandmother and as of last Saturday the oldest person to finish college. She is 92 years young.

I felt inspired by Hartman's story of Ms. Ochs. It seems that Ms. Ochs started taking correspondence courses back in 1972 after her husband died. This past year she decided to kick her studies into high gear and finish up her degree so she decided to mosey on up to Fort Hays State University grab a dorm room and finish what she started so long ago. What makes this story even cooler, is she would finish up and graduate with her granddaughter Alexandra.

To read the story and watch the video of last week's segment, click here.

What do you plan to be doing at 92?

In a time when people work to quit working, Ms. Ochs stands as a definite example that life and learning certainly doesn't end when the retirement party is thrown and your desk is taken by someone else. No, in fact I believe that very possibly that just might be when life actually begins.

How many of us fixate on retirement and the day we don't have to go to work anymore? How many of us have visions of playing with the grandkids and piddling in the yard? Though I submit those are all very worthwhile ways to spend your time I suspect that achieving more, learning more and being more might just be as rewarding....if not perhaps slightly more rewarding.

Rather than looking at being 36 and over a 1/3 of my life being over, I think it might be more appropriate to wonder what I will be learning, who I will be advising and just how inspiring my actions might be in 56 years. What about you?

Thank you Ms. Ochs for inspiring me and creating a Ripple in Austin, Texas. I hope our paths cross at some point in the future though I understand you may be busy. Ms. Ochs starts course in July to begin working towards her masters degree.

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Listen For The Bell

Maura Nevel, founder of Burget Avenue Management Services, Inc. is an amazing friend and one inspiring Rippler. She lives and breaths the concept of Rippling and it is so amazing to have such a good friend that helps me spread the word of The Ripple Effect.

I have attached the link to her company and encourage you to check out her amazing work!

Well Maura sent me this incredible story and I found it so inspirational that I just had to share it with you. You, like Maura are the bells that I follow and I am so grateful for you all!

Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.

His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller
horse in the field.

Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray.

When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. God watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.

Good friends are like this.

You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

~Author Unknown~

Many a Ripple Blessings to you and yours in this holiday season!

Steve