October 06, 2011

What Is Your Ripple Effect?

Apple genius #1 Steve Jobs had quite an impact on my family's life.  A ripple effect. 

More like a Tsunami, in that his equipment helped me write Today We Are Rich and his business concept has provided employment for my son for over four years.  Even though we can't all be Steve Jobs, reweaving the fabric of society, we CAN have a meaningful ripple effect. 

No matter who you are, your life makes a difference.  Someone is watching you, experiencing what you create and living through your wake.  You are not insignificant now, or into the future.  So don't act like it - take responsiblity today to be the ripple you want to see in the world. 

Think of it this way: You throw things into the world, like rocks into a pond.  Some may cut the water like a knife and disappear with little impact.  But there are still little circles that eminate out, no rock can cut the water's surface perfectly without leaving a trace. 

In my life, I've been a part of the ripple of others, and all my work I owe to them.  From my grandmother Billye, to my first big boss Bob Cione to my fave author Leo Buscaglia to an early speaking mentor Tom Peters - all of them changed me and helped me change the world. 

There are two things you can do to unleash your ripple effect:

1 - Define your higher values, influence others through your example.  If you are a Greenie or a Community Builder, then go out into the world and influence through your actions.  This is what drove the heros in my Timberland Story "The Ripple Effect" video.  Think of your spoken words as pebbles, some as big as golf balls.  Think of your actions as rocks, some as big as boulders.  Every once in a while, someone actually hurls a boulder into the pond and the ripple goes very far. 

2 - Pass along your knowledge and wisdom.  Your life experiences are important, because you've achieved verified learning.  You know the ropes, even if they are only for the front door.  You should always have a mentee, that you are sharing your insights and advice with.  You should always have a graduation date with him or her, so they can push the ripple out there further.  

For those that worry that sharing your precious knowledge will somehow drain you, I quote one of my mentors, Stanley Marcus Jr.: "You will never get dumber by making someone else smarter." Pass it on.  

 

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