Ripple Challenge

I am officially back from a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend spent in El Paso celebrating the grand reopening of Rosa's Cantina (see last post). It was a fun weekend filled with many laughs, unbelievably good authentic Mexican food and of course, my favorite, many cold beers. It was a great time and my wife, kids and I really enjoyed spending time with my folks, my brother and his wife and of course the proud owners of Rosa's Cantina, my sister and brother-in-law.

Congratulations Debbie and Adolpho for both a successful weekend and the incredible job you have done making Rosa's a great restaurant and bar. Marty Robbins would be proud no doubt!

On to today's BLOG post....

So this week I want to suggest a challenge. I talk often on this BLOG about the importance of connecting with others and why it so critical to not overlook the people who cross your path in life. I get positive comments, emails and have many wonderful conversations about the topic but it still makes me wonder how many of you are actually out putting my advice and suggestions to actual use. Which of course got me thinking......

Why not challenge you to go out and connect this week. Simple. Easy. Straightforward.

So here's the deal:

I want you to make a conscious effort to make some sort of connection with two complete strangers this week. That's it! Simple enough right? The only rules are you must engage this stranger in a conversation that lasts longer than two minutes. You must get the person's full name and reveal your name to them as well. You must stay away from the sucker subjects and questions surrounding what they do for a living or where they go/went to school. You must legitimately ask some sort of insightful question (perhaps do a search at the top of this BLOG for Ripple Connection Questions) and obtain at least one meaningful piece of information about said stranger.

Think you are up to the challenge?

Well take the Ripple Challenge and see if by stepping outside your box to engage someone else doesn't make their day and yours. Feel free to email me at steve at ripplecentral dot com or post via a comment to this BLOG post the outcome and results of your challenge.

Come on people....it's time to quit being a passive watcher of life and get in the game and start playing. The very connection you make might open up a world of possibilities for you, your life and your career. Not a bad upside eh?

Good luck and happy connecting!

Ripple On!!!

Smile & Say Good Morning - Try Not To Get Assualted

Gregg Riley, a friend of mine, sent me the following quote:

	"You can never tell what type of impact you may make on another’s life by your actions or lack of action. Sometimes just with a smile on the street to a passing stranger can make a difference we could never imagine."

-Ed Foreman
Former Congressman of both
Texas & New Mexico

Gregg mentioned this quote made him recall a story I had shared with a small business group that I spoke to a few weeks ago. I was attempting to illustrate the point that you have no idea how your Ripple could impact a complete stranger's day when I used an experience that occurred while visiting New York City in late 2004.

Those of you who know me know that no one is exempt from my attention. I have made it a habit of mine to talk to people, especially strangers, whenever the chance arises. No, I am not the annoying dude that will creep you out but I think a good morning or how ya doing can, in my own little way, still hold the possibility of positively impacting someone's day.

During one of my first mornings in Manhattan I stopped at where else? You guessed it....Starbucks! Well on this morning I had purposefully gotten into the city early so that I could navigate my surrounds having never been to New York previously. With the location of my early morning meeting sufficiently scouted, I found a Starbucks that had just opened and figured that since it was shortly after 6AM, I could get some work done on this great book I was writing at the time (you might have heard of it...it's called The Ripple Effect).

As I secured my new fangled crazy sized over priced coffee concoction, I proceed to the cream and sugar station. There stood a women in her mid-forties I would guess stirring in her cream and minding her own business. I set my coffee down and popped the lid and simply said "How ya doing this morning?" with a beaming smile.

Her reaction caught me off guard. Her head whipped up and her eyes suddenly turned to black piercing daggers and I could literally hear the lock, load and get ready to fire mechanism click to launch mode.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" she barked. Hit like I had just taken a sucker punch from Mike Tyson I started to mumble something when she grumbled again, "Five years! Five years I have been coming to this Starbucks. Every fricken morning and no one, and I mean no one has ever asked me how's it was going."

Smoke was noticeably rising from her forehead now. I know I had to momentarily look like a deer in headlights but my quick smart ass-like reflexes kicked in.

"That's a real shame. Makes grabbing your morning coffee kinda suck doesn't it?" I smiled with a veiled look of confidence. I figured now was the time she was gonna go ninja on my ass.

She cracked. This harden tough New Yorker laughed.

"So what's your deal?" she asked with a heavy dose of skepticism.

We stood there for a good five minutes and chatted. We talked about the book I was writing and my introverted nature and hence why I make it a point to say hello to at least three new strangers a day to force me out of my shell. We talked about the impact that a smile and simple hello could have one someone who is so fixated on rushing through their morning to get to a job they can't stand and what it might mean to their day. What does it hurt? The simply act of doing something like saying hello hurts no one and likely helps everyone; though undoubtedly in New York they may look at you like you just stole something.

As we parted company I said try it and see what kind of reactions you get. If nothing else you will know that you have done your part to Ripple even if others don't. Worse case it will change your state and what could be wrong with that I asked her.

The following day I again found myself at Starbucks early. I was pounding away on my laptop when I saw her enter. She bee lined it for the counter and rather than just placing her order she asked the cashier, "So how are you doing this morning?" He gave a familar look of confusion but responded politely.

I noticed that she smiled at several people who didn't bother to return the gesture. She didn't seem to care. She was different. She had a different vibe about her from the day before.

She noticed me and came right over. "Hey Texas Ripple, what's shakin?"

"Not much....still working on the book."

"I just have to tell you that this Ripple stuff works. I was suspicious of trying your approach but none-the-less did it yesterday and you know what?"

"What's that?" I asked.

"I did make a difference yesterday even if it was just in my own mind. It felt good. People I work with thought I was nuts but that's okay. I predict your book will sell well. Maybe not so much in New York but around."

We both laughed. It was without a doubt the highlight from my first trip to New York. I could kick myself that I didn't somehow have the forethought to ask her for a card or to give her one of mine. Oh well, New York is a small city and I will be back. Quit the laughing!

My question to you as you read this is how hard is it for you to say hello and smile at three random strangers each day? You don't have to engage in deep meaningful conversation to accomplish something big. In fact the smallest of efforts is often that which moves the largest of mountains. Who said that? Oh I just did. Cool eh?

If nothing else, you could at least look at this like our own personal inside joke and each time you do it chalk it up to another crazy Harper Ripple and pretend we are both basking in the glory of your efforts. Well there is no pretending on my end...I will be basking enough for us both.

Thanks Gregg for sharing the quote!

Ripple On!!!


Steve Harper

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.

Create The Life You Want By Rippling - Lesson Eight

So yesterday we talked about not judging a book by its cover right? Well lesson number eight is a perfect motivator to put that lesson into practice:

Talk To Everyone...Even Strangers

One of the sure-fire ways to start creating the life you want is to recognize nothing, and I do mean nothing, happens in a vacuum. You need people. They need you. It is simple, straightforward but so true.

The quickest way to begin creating something amazing is to reach outside of your box and start making an effort to connect with those who cross your path in life. Remember the treasure chest lesson? Everyone and I do mean everyone you meet has the potential to add value to your life. You simply have to take the time and set aside your pre-judgment to get the ball rolling.

Maybe that is someone in line at Starbucks. Maybe it's the person who always shows up at the gym about the same time as you. Perhaps it's a complete stranger you meet at a cocktail party, in the elevator or sitting on the park bench.

I know I have said it before but it is so foundationally important that I am going to say it again....people are put in our path for a reason. If you don't stretch your legs to explore why, one thing is for certain....you will never know. What might you be missing?

Take the time today and begin exploring. Take a chance. Say hello to a perfect stranger and just start talking. It may feel strange at first but trust me it becomes easier with practice. You don't have to have an agenda, just be yourself. What is on your mind today? What would you most like to know about someone? For me....I am always fascinated how many people live in Austin that aren't from Austin and that is one of the ways I bridge connection to someone I don't know.

If you have no idea how to get the ball rolling or where to find the stones to start creating the conversation Ripples, look back through my BLOG at some of the Ripple Connection questions or email me and let me help you get started.

steve@ripplecentral.com

The person who you are meant to meet is going to appear today. You aren't going to let fear or those nasty pre-judgments and limiting filters hold you back from saying hello. When you do the clouds in your world of opportunity are going to clear.

Take a chance and make something happen today.....and as always.....

Ripple On!

Steve Harper