The Place: Cupprimo in Northwest Austin

The Hour: 3:00pm

The Cup: He beat me there so I all I can tell you is it was a large something or other, I had a medium coffee with a splash of cream and a smidge of sugar.

Background: My pal Jon Campbell with The Taligens Group and I had lunch a few weeks back and he told me about Steve and emphatically said he’s the best connector in town.  He also said that Steve connects people simply for the joy of it.  No hidden agenda.  He truly enjoys helping other people.  (Turns out he was 100% right!)

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.  We’ve all heard that.

Some take it further and say it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.

I think Steve would offer it’s not who you know, it’s who you’ve helped. And it’s not who knows you, it’s who likes you.

Steve’s passion is connecting people.  He’s an accomplished businessman whose success is in large part due to his willingness to engage with anyone at anytime.  And not just engage.  Steve genuinely wants to know what someone needs and then figures out a way to connect that person to the right person to make it a reality.  He has built an empire around this passion and calls it The Ripple Effect.  As explained on his website, “just like stones thrown into a pond, simple actions create ripples in the lives of all the people you touch and sometimes people you have never even met.”

I urge you to learn more about it by checking out his book or if you are in Austin, attending his infamous 8 Minute Ripple™.  I did just that last night and can promise it is networking like you’ve never seen before and you will leave with at least seven new BFF’s.  And who knows, you may end up getting business out of it.

How did Steve get here?  He decided he needed to find out what he was passionate about and then make that his life’s pursuit.  He did what he encourages others to do when they are unhappy, unclear or feeling stuck. Steve suggests taking a Friday afternoon off and heading out to a place away from other people and distractions.  Bring a notebook and just think. Ask yourself, “What’s going to make me happy?” Think and write. Your answer will come eventually.

Steve reminds me, “Life is short. Too short to spend it doing anything but what you are passionate about. If you follow your passion, the money will come.”

His life is testament to this belief. But it wasn’t always easy for him.

Growing up, Steve was shy.  He never felt all that comfortable talking to people and he explained it was because he didn’t think he had anything to give.  I think many of us can relate to feeling that way at certain times in our lives. At some point Steve had the opportunity to help someone and that led to a flip in his thinking. He did have something to offer. There are opportunities to help someone at every turn and this became what Steve says is the most memorable thing about himself; he will help anyone.

It’s safe to say if you spend your life helping others, you will have no shortage of friends. Steve is proud of his diverse groups of pals.  He tells me that he can connect to anyone – which is just another of his super hero-like powers. The thing he loves most about Austin is the eclectic mix of people from all over the world and all walks of life.  They share one common bond – they all want to be here.  I know this city has magic and I have tried for weeks to put my finger on it.  Although it hadn’t occurred to me before, this “we are here by choice” thing no doubt has something to do with it.

Steve is passionate about helping people.  He turned that passion into a consulting practice and eventually a book, The Ripple Effect: Maximizing the Power of Relationships for Your Life and Business.  He admitted to me the initial motivation for writing the book was to get more consulting clients.  But what it evolved into was a realization that he was able to be much more impactful when he shared his message with large groups through public speaking.

A self-professed shy introvert makes a living doing public speaking. How does that happen?  I get the feeling that it comes back to passion and a lesson Steve’s dad taught him.  You have to have commitment to what you do in life. He shared a saying, “To be early is to be on time; to be on time is to be late; and to be late is to be dead.”  Show up early and enthusiastic.  Doing so shows the other person they are important and that you are excited to be there.  Steve’s dad taught him whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well.  For many of us the hard part is figuring out what’s worth doing.

Steve has figured that out for himself. One lesson I took away from our coffee is that once you are aligned with your passion not only does the money come, but so does confidence, engagement and commitment.  When you meet someone who’s got it, they shine like a flame and you can’t help to be drawn to their light.  And not just drawn to it, but you’ll want to show it to others and will likely find yourself looking for a way to scoop up an ember and start your own fire.