Want To Connect At SXSW Whether You Have A Ticket Or Not?

I love this time of year in Austin.  There's a creative funky vibe that fills the air as March picks up steam.  And it's more than just the beautiful spring weather that's blown in to take memories of the past cool winter months away for another year.  No it's SXSW time in Austin, Texas and the air is right for connecting!

SXSW is an amazing conference that brings the best and the brightest from music, film and a technology (interactive everything - web, gaming, technology, business) together for 9 days.  Having spoken an attended SXSW previously I have to say those who are lucky enough to score a ticket to this year's conference are in for a treat.  Not just from the amazing sessions, music and films one can see but for the incredible people one can meet, engage and connect with.

Everyone knows that attending sessions is a great place to meet people.  It's the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation as you're waiting for a panel to begin or a speaker to take the stage.  Although many people miss this golden opportunity to ENGAGE.  They settle into their seat and immediately start playing on their laptops or fiddling with their Blackberries or IPhones. 

Want to connect? try unconnecting for a little while.  Put away the devices and engage the person next to you, in front of you or behind you.  Ask them what brought them to this session?  Ask them what sessions they've already attended and what did they like?  Ask them for any recommendations on sessions you shouldn't miss.  Ask them where they're from and how they like Austin.  Share with them what you love about Austin and what should be on their not to miss lists while they are here.

Each of these simple but powerful conversation starters will get you engaged in conversation and perhaps connecting with someone that could prove to be a powerful resource, professional alliance, a ticket to a great party (hey it happens - I met some powerful people from Pay Pal one year), or heck just a new friend.  Not a half bad result any way you slice it if you ask me!

But you don't just have to have a ticket to capitalize on all the hub bub but you do have to participate.


Let me explain.

Let's say you don't have a ticket to this year's SXSW....no problem!  There are tons of places in and around the convention center that people will be hanging out.  Coffee shops, bars, restaurants galore are within walking distance of the Austin Convention Center.   All places guaranteed to be packed with tons of people who are attending the conference or simply want to be near the incredible vibe that permeates downtown Austin.  This means there is no shortage of engagement, connection and conversation opportunities!

If you don't know where to go check out the Serious Eats BLOG for some great ideas.


Regardless of whether you are attending the conference or not you can still strike up incredible conversations with those who are.  In fact in year's past, I've made even more connections hanging out at the local coffee shop, grabbing a mid-afternoon beer (met one of the Flickr Executives doing that) or just going to one of the bars or clubs after hours than I have in many of the conference sessions.  In fact engaging those people in conversation you meet "out and about" is even easier because there's no speaker about to go on stage or other conference distractions to limit your conversation time.  If the conversation goes well you might just find yourself downing more than one cup of coffee or multiple beers and is that such a bad thing?  I should think not!


So how do you engage those people that you see out and about?  I knew what you were thinking before you even thought it. 

Why you Ripple your way to starting a conversation of course!

You might start with a question like....

So are you attending SXSW?  How do you like it so far?

Where are you from?

So what do you think of Austin so far?

What sessions, bands or films are you excited to see?

What portion of the conference are you most excited about?

The point is it takes very little to get the conversation ball rolling and whether you are actually attending or not, this next week and half opens up so many opportunities for you to engage in some amazing conversation opportunities with incredible people from around the world.  Don't let it pass you by just because you may not have a ticket.  There's too much cool stuff going on that's free or near free to not be doing your own SXSW 2010 tour.

I'm off to speak at Microsoft and so bummed to be missing my own connecting opportunities.  So do me a favor...pinch hit for me will ya?  Go create some connections and make some lasting Ripples.  Trust me...you can thank me and fill me in on your people adventures later over a beer!

Ripple On!!!

I Twit, They Twit, We All Twitter

So last year at SXSW I started using a service everyone was talking about called Twitter. It's a unique way to keep friends, family, fans, etc. informed of 'what you are doing.' Well I used it several times last year during the conference and to be perfectly honest, never thought about it again....until this year's SXSW Conference.

I dusted off the old log in, requested a new password (I only use three so I was shocked it wasn't one of those) and bam! I was back Twittering with what I found to be a huge community of other people around the world. Upon logging on and seeing all the buzz from those in attendance at SXSW I suddenly felt like the kid left out of the school yard pickup football game. "Hey cool kids..I want to play!"

So I did.

I got back on Twitter and started giving updates every so often. Before long I found I had two people following me. Then three. Then four. Now I have about fifty new people I would never have found nor would have likely found me had it not been for Twitter. I have become addicted to giving updates and to checking in on my Tweet Posse to see what's happening in their lives.

I originally had the question about whether anyone would give a rat's you know what what I was up to on a daily basis but to my surprise....some do and you know what? I care about they are up to too. It's a whole new way to bridge and make connections and I am having a lot of fun doing it. It's a whole new way to Ripple!

Check it out and look for me. My "Tweetal" (I just made that up for handle) is RippleOn. Go figure!

Hope to see you in Twitter land!

Ripple On!!!

Steve

SXSW Time!

Every year Austin hosts the SXSW Interactive Conference. Last year I had the honor of speaking on a panel and doing an official book signing for The Ripple Effect (second best seller at the conference last year by the way!). Though my travels have cut into what I could commit to do this year, I will be participating in a couple of unofficial events this year and planning on hanging out and listening to some great bands and of course, meeting some incredible new people. After all an event like SXSW is an excellent opportunity to meet so many amazing people from all around the world....you know the Ripple Guy can't miss that!

Here is a link to a great website that offers some of the various activities you can participate in and around SXSW even if you didn't sign up to be a part of the conference. If you happen to be outside of Austin I hope you will still check out the conference and make plans to come on down to Texas next year and be a part of SXSW. It is such a unique blend of personalities and interests that it simply can't be missed.

Well off to a jam-packed day of Rippling!

Ripple On!!!

Seattle's Best, SXSW & The Employee Loyalty Deposit

Well for those of you who kept emailing me this past week to quit partying and hob knobbing and get to work....I did just that today I am happy to report. However it was in the commission of this work that I witnessed a first hand SXSW Seattle's Best Ripple and I just had to share it.

I was scheduled to have a meeting at our downtown Seattle's Best with a colleague and someone that she was introducing me to. As is my custom, I always arrive a minimum of 30 minutes early to any meeting I have downtown because Austin traffic is very unpredictable; more so because of the SXSW Conference and Music festival going on through this weekend.

Well I walked into the Seattle's Best location downtown where our meeting was to take place and found a very nice young man happily greeting me behind the counter. As you know I always perk up and appreciate someone who is exceptionally attentive to customers (especially when it is me) and I decided to chat the young lad up a bit. I asked him if they had been absolutely overwhelmed with business given the SXSW hustle and bustle? He happily replied that they had in fact been very busy, actually "slammed at times" but it was "all good" as he cheerfully handed me my tall dark roast. You have to love it when someone has a positive attitude about receiving business...especially in the retail industry.

I noticed he had a SXSW music band on so I inquired if he had seen any good shows. He said he had made several shows last night but was really saving his energy for the next few days when he would be off and able to stay out for some of the later shows. Then he told me something that actually floored me and made me an even bigger fan of Seattle's Best (SB) than I had been previously.

He explained that SB had allowed him and two of his co-workers to work their way to Austin so that they could attend SXSW activities and still get their hours (and pay) in by working at one their Austin locations. This was the third year he had attended SXSW and simply loves coming and serving Austin customers and experiencing our great city.

He went on to explain that SB truly "get's their employees" and does special things like allowing them to transfer temporarily to locations where concerts or special events are happening. They do whatever they can to accommodate their people so they can pursue their lifestyle interests.

Totally fascinating!

This guy was truly passionate about SB. I learned he had worked there for five years and despite originally thinking it would be a stop-gap job, he has successful made a career choice to work there for at least the next several years. You would have to assume that the effort that SB has made on his behalf to accommodate his desire to see SXSW these past few years only serves to increase his loyalty and make him a happier more engaged worker. If his demeanor this morning is any indication then this strategy is working flawlessly and the positive Ripples it is creating are likely too large to measure.

If you run a company what could you being doing to copy what SB is doing to generate the kind of loyalty and employee satisfaction that obviously is working to their brand advantage?

Way to go Seattle's Best!!!

Ripple On!!!

Steve

P.S. We are making a push to grow our Yahoo Ripple Community! Are you signed up?

CLICK HERE TO JOIN. IT'S FREE!!!

SXSW Hangover!

Okay, so I must admit that it's not entirely the hangover you likely assumed when you first read the title to this post...but it's close.

Attending SXSW has truly been an awesome experience. My panel on How To Attract Your Ideal Clients with Jen Blackert and Carlon Haas went very, very well. See the picture...that's me blocked behind the head and computer monitor ---great PR eh?

My last minute idea on NOT HAVING a power point presentation was apparently a hit as well as the second picture shows a picture of the slide I made (my contact info is alas covered by the speaker!) that said we weren't doing any slides. Several people sent me links to this yesterday and I thought it was hilarious we made someone's official photo from the conference and that our straightforward approach to presenting was appreciated by those who attended our session.

My book signing could not have been better! I actually had the second best selling book at SXSW according to the Barnes & Noble folks. How awesome is that?

Last but not least the connections just keep mounting as I met an up and coming rapper from Detroit, the head of the movie commission from San Antonio, and three producers who all "dug" (their word not mine) the concept of the Ripple and want to talk "possibilities" when they return to Los Angeles. I can't believe how resonating the concept of the Ripple is with the people whom I have spoken to at this conference but it is been invigorating and certainly recharging for the old confidence batteries!

I hate to admit it but our Gold Badges got us first rate Rock Star treatment and for a lonely little unknown author like myself it was a truly surreal experience. Private parties, lots and lots of SWAG and of course free drinks is always a plus in the Harper camp! It has been an awesome experience and one I hope to repeat for many, many years to come!

Tonight begins another round of private parties and fun social events which you know I am all over that! I took last night off to recover from what seems like a world wind round of events, sessions and lots and lots of conversations but my batteries are recharged and I am ready to Ripple!

Ripple On My Friends

Steve Harper


P.S. THERE IS SOMETHING BIG COMING DOWN THE PIPE IN TERMS OF RIPPLE TRAINING AND COACHING! STAY TUNED!!!

Why Won't They Just Connect?

I posted on our 8 Minute Ripple Community BLOG yesterday some suggestions for our fellow Ripplers to come down (obviously if they are already in Austin) and check out the SXSW scene. It is an ideal opportunity to make some new connections, meet some great people and just hang with a very diverse and unique crowd. A perfect environment to just practice Rippling!

Feel free to check out the BLOG post from our 8 Minute Ripple BLOG by clicking here.

So officially day two of my official SXSW experience ended with my meeting some amazing new people and learning a lot thanks in part to my willingness to Ripple. As I sat in one of the ballrooms yesterday morning waiting for a session to start I had an ample opportunity to watch and observe all the people and the mojo of the room. I continue to be amazed by just how disconnected people tend to be. People opened their laptops and were busily instant messaging or sending email or on the cell phone or tapped into their Ipods. They were doing anything and everything to be a party of one in a sea of hundreds.

I wanted to jump up on stage and yell from the top of my lungs, "Look around you! There are amazing people right next to you and no one is talking! Hang up your phones, shut off your laptops and just start talking!" Those few people I did see make an attempt were not talking about anything remotely engaging!

Never in my life did I want to teach the masses the power of Rippling! Those few unique connections that I observed were the typical "So what do you do?" blah, blah, blah followed by the mind-numbing polite chit chat that inevitably leads to the gloss over eyes and walking coma.

Can you say painful?

I made it my point to step outside my box and do a fair amount of connecting. I met some great people whom I never would have met if I hadn't opened my mouth. I met some cool people who live right here in Austin, some people who traveled from overseas to just come to SXSW and about a five or six people from both coasts. I made it a point to really connect and not let anyone take the path of least resistance, or sucker's choice, by defaulting to talk simply about business. And you know what? By starting a conversation by just asking "So what's the coolest thing you have seen so far at SXSW?" the connections and the Ripples began to really stack up!

I cherish this gift of attending this event. Despite having the opportunity to speak at SXSW and to do a book signing or two, I am just thrilled with the opportunity to surround myself with some interesting people from all over the world and to make some new friends.

Why anyone would squander the opportunity to connect in such a wonderful environment is beyond me. No matter what, I am going to make the most of these next few days and hope to find a whole new audience for the power of the Ripple!

Ripple On My Friends!!!

Steve

SXSW Virgin

I guess am what you might call a SXSW virgin and it was never more apparent than on Saturday night. As my friend Carlon and I went to the Austin Convention Center to pick up our Gold Badges (something we get for speaking at SXSW), we began to feel like rock stars as people handed us swag bags filled with goodies of all kinds, invitations to private parties that comp'd us drinks and basically showed us the Southern hospitality that we here in Austin are known for. It made me proud to be an Austinite (well sort of)!

Being a virgin at SXSW is an awesome experience. There are so many things to choose from in terms of conference sessions, movie premiers and of course the most amazing live music you can't find anywhere else on the planet.

Saturday night was filled with several fun parties and the opportunity to hob knob with some Hollywood peeps, some local dignitaries and of course a few super models sprinkled in there for good measure. It was a pretty incredible experience and I can't wait to see what today holds!

One thing is for sure....if you have never been to SXSW you absolutely need to put it on your calendar for next year! I am a convert!

Ripple On!!!

Steve

Create The Life You Want By Rippling - Critical Question

My good Canadian friend Donna Karlin, internationally acclaimed Shadow Coach, challenges me with a question each and every time I talk with her. I think that question is a perfect way to finish up this series.

What Would Your Life Look Life If....?

When you look back through the lessons on Creating the Life You Want By Rippling, ask yourself what would you life look like if you took the time to implement and engage each of the outlined lessons for your life?

Donna's question always helps me overcome whatever fear, anxiety or trepidation that I might be experiencing. It allows me to gain a better perspective of what is possible if each and every obstacle, self-doubt and perhaps negative barrier were removed.

What would my life look like if I wasn't worried about how people perceived and valued my message?

Would I have more confidence to make more phone calls to companies who need me? Of course.

Would I focus more attention on having organizations bring me in as their speaker? Certainly!

Would I be willing to eliminate anything that stood in my way from bringing the Ripple to the masses? No doubt.

The question gives me perspective and the hint of what is truly possible. A glimmer of hope and a true understanding of what I can have if I am just willing to put in the time, the effort and dedicate my heart.

I would be remiss if I didn't quickly thank you Donna for always challenging me and for making me examine that which is possible! It is my sincere desire that this question helps many of my readers to achieve more with their own lives.

So as I conclude this series I ask you to go back and look at each of the outlined lessons and ask yourself what would your life would look like if.....

Answer the questions and take that step towards living the life you really want and deserve.

Next week I am doing a couple of book signings and speaking as part of a panel discussion at the SXSW Conference with Carlon Haas and Jen Blackert. I am certain that the conference and the variety of interesting and talented people I will meet will leave me with much to report!

If you are in Austin and able to attend....click here to learn more about our session.

To check out the Press Release click here.

Good luck and good Rippling!

Ripple On!!!

Steve Harper

Special Ripple Advisory!!!

Happy Monday!

I am taking a small break from our series on Creating The Life Your Want By Rippling to make a few important announcements.

First, we have just uploaded episode #2 of The Virtual Ripple series. This interview is with Trudi Bonomi with Life Makeovers and it's definitely easy to see how she has been so successful in your expanding business. Check it out by going here: http://www.ripplecentral.com/tv.php

We have literally been overwhelmed with the positive responses to bringing the power of the Ripple to the Internet video medium. Keep those comments coming and stay tuned for some exciting developments ahead! If you are interested in participating as a future guest please email me at steve@ripplecentral.com or to learn more about what video can do for your business please check out Mitch Lobrovich (my video visionary God-send) by checking out his site at: http://www.channelyouproductions.com/

My other announcement concerns a new Podcast interview I was fortunate enough to participate in with Jen Blackert, internet marketing extraordinaire. Take a listen by going here:
http://tinyurl.com/2zq44z

As some of you may know, Jen and I along with Carlon Haas will be speaking at SXSW in March about How to Attract Your Ideal Client. More information on our panel discussion happening on Tuesday March 13th can be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/2hdhl2

As always, your comments are always appreciated so feel free to post them here or drop me a line!

Until next time.....

Ripple On My Friends!

Steve