Asha, Marcie, & Prince, oh my!!!

We wouldn’t have fallen into that volcano in the first place if we hadn’t been chased by that mean ol’ lion (much less gotten sat upon by that nearsighted elephant when we crawled out) after… oh, wait, that’s a different story! Ooops!

What I really was going to say is that, in a sense, each of us is engaged in the ongoing process of writing the book of our life. While the criteria we utilize in determining what constitutes a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, and so on, is as varied as we are diverse, what remains consistent is the potential for any one of us to contribute to, learn from, each other’s books.

Yet, isn’t this easier said than done? Is that not why so many people balk at the notion of networking? Who really is fond of having a business card thrust at them while an elevator speech is being machine gunned into their ear? Who really wants to do that same old routine?

I’m not, and I don’t.

8 Minute Ripple gives those of a more reserved nature the space they need to open up. 8 Minute Ripple helps those of a more “Type A” nature to slow down and engage in active listening. Folks somewhere in between the two get to exercise their flexibility.

Not to sound like I’m doing some kind of “kinder, gentler” spiel… the 8 Minute Ripple approach allows participants to make new contacts in a way that respects the humanity of people; and that’s vitally important. I have to see you as you are, not as a job title, or a commodity on two legs. There’s a lot more authenticity involved. The focus of one’s personal agenda shifts from “do you have something I want?” to “how may I, or someone I know, help this person?”

And that’s love, baby!! Or, more accurately, it’s in keeping with Greenleaf’s notion of love: “Wanting for someone to achieve his or her potential to the greatest extent possible.”

Now, that can’t be all bad!

A question: whose book are you going to take part in next?

Okay! So, getting back to the good part! We get free from the elephant when Asha cracks it up by telling it this really funny story about gourmet guinea pigs which then lead to us meeting this very indignant frog that Marcie almost stepped on, but….

The Dipple Effect

The Internet is Rippling and right now is a great time to build a site that creates digital ripples, or dipples.

HearThis.com is just such a site. Our task is to create ripples using digital audio (daupples?). Right now, we are a mashup of several Web 2.0 services: Zookoda, Feedburner, Swiki, Amazon and Divicast. It seems like we find more cool features on the web each day to mashup into our site.

If you want to keep up with drippler companies, subscribe to Emily Chang's eHub blog.

Dipple On!

Brian Massey

Ripple Adventures!

I have been involved in the 8 Minute Ripple community for quite some time now. I work with Steve Harper , the creator of the event and it never ceases to amaze me the wonderful people I meet! Every time we have an event, I end up meeting someone new to add to my circle of friends or to work with in some capacity.

I have been in Austin for 3 years now and am always looking for new people to do things with. After taking a trip to Peru with my dad earlier in the year, I promised myself I would do more hiking and exploring here in Austin. I just needed some buddies to do this with.

Well I found one new buddy at the event, Marcie, and reconnected with another buddy, Prince. I have known Prince since last June and had no idea of his interest in hiking and love for music until it came up in a follow up conversation after the event. When I followed up with Marcie after the event, I realized she had similar interest! All of this came out of a networking event!?? That amazes me! Well as a result the three of us are connecting tomorrow to go for our first hiking adventure at McKinney Falls.

I am grateful for the way the 8 Minute Ripple events are set up to allow people to be themselves, this way you can truly get to know who people are rather than just what they do!

Will keep you posted on our adventures!

Till next time...

Asha

The 8 Minute BLOG Experience

I created a BLOG especially for the people that have participated in The 8 Minute Ripple events. Like the events themselves, this BLOG is designed to be organic and free flowing. It is a representation of the amazing people that make The 8 Minute Ripple the tremendously neat experience that it truly is.

As we ask in the events. Step outside your traditional box...share some stories, make us laugh and most of all keep the ripples coming.