Ice Chip #19

A review of our learning. 

When I started this concept of Ice Chips, we began with the fundamentals of understanding:  There is Power in the Clarity of your Articulation. 

Focus centered on removing (k)notty words from our vocabulary.  You were asked to send me pictures of signs with (k)notty words in them……and several of you did so.  Thank you.  (By the way, if you spot any more, you are welcome to send them along to my email:  bob.nicoll@remembertheice.com 

There was focus on removing words that push us away from our desired goal, and encouragement on utilizing word choice that draws us closer to our goal. 

A review of the Process of Re-Education helps us to feel more comfortable about the changes we are making.  Embracing Cognitive-Emotive Dissonance is an important step. 

Remember, repetition is the mother of skill.  This is a powerful concept to get a handle on. 

Those steps in Re-Education are repeated here once again. 

1. New Intellectual Insight:  Deciding the new behavior you want to master

2. Converting Practice:  Working on your new skills.  Over and over.

3. Cognitive-Emotive Dissonance:  Change feels strange, like a tug of war between thinking in a new way, and still feeling uncomfortable.  Remember this is a part of the process that must be embraced.  Push through it, and you will be glad you did.

4. New Emotional Insight:  You’re feeling more comfortable about your new behavioral change.  Look at you smile.  Well done!!

5. New Personality Trait Formation:  Now you are really getting the hang of this new skill.  You appreciate your new habit.  Writing and speaking with empowering words is a great new skill. 

You shared your excitement with me about the pictures and journey I shared as I spread the Remember the Ice message in 11 countries over 48 days.  It is still vibrantly in my conscious. 

Having many opportunities to focus on empowering word choice in different cultures was an amazing experience. 

What about the culture you are cultivating?  Are you using your new skill?  Are you willing to feel uncomfortable at first, as you stumble a bit while making the change in your words? 

Are you willing to stop using “don’t’, “can’t” or “won’t”? 

For the next week, just pick one of them, and stop using it. 

Substitute what you would like to do, what you believe you can or could do, or what you will do.  You will smile as you focus on making this shift. 

More importantly, you will begin to feel different and have a strong sense of confidence in sharing your message. 

There really is Power in the Clarity of your Articulation.  Just make the change. 

Be safe this 4th of July Holiday.  Appreciate your independence and be thankful for what you have.  Where ever you are, there is reason to be grateful. 

I appreciate each of you so much for your support and desire to learn about Remember the Ice. 

Thank you, and be good to you, 

See you next week, 

Bob

Ice Chip #18

Building Lasting Relationships at Home

What an amazing journey through 11 countries in 48 days... It is good to be home.

Home is Eagle River, Alaska, a community of 30,000 plus citizens adjacent to Anchorage, the largest city in the "Last Frontier".  The Majesty of the 49th state is spectacular.  I have had the privilege of speaking to several of you about it, and encouraged you to consider putting Alaska on your "Bucket List" of places to visit.  So to give you a bit of a peak, I would like to share some images with you; and I hope my fellow Alaskans enjoy them as well.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I did taking them.

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I have a request of my many friends in the Remember the Ice family of readers.  Several of you have shared your appreciation and enthusiasm for this empowering word choice concept.  You have spoken of your shifts in word choice and how there have been significant changes in your personal life and enhancements in your communication skills for your business.

You have seen the power in the clarity of your articulation.  The message is clear.  It works!!

My request is simply this:

I would appreciate an introduction to the decision makers you know at companies with sales organizations and customer service personnel desiring cutting edge training to enhance their team.  Please contact me directly via email:  bob.nicoll@remembertheice.com with the names of your contacts and I will follow up with an introduction to Remember the Ice.

Thank you so much for your assistance.

With respect to continuing to build lasting relationships at home, I look forward to seeing you in Alaska in the near future.

Thank you to all of you who have enjoyed this journey with me.

Have a phenomenal week!

Best regards,

Bob

Ice Chip #17

Building Lasting Relationships

I am typing this newsletter in Terminal 3 at the Alaska Airlines waiting area in Chicago's O'Hare Airport.  It is 3:30PM Central Time.... 12:30PM in Anchorage... and 10:30PM in Amsterdam, where I left this morning..... The time changes are telling me to rest, however, the memories of incredible experiences are flooding my mind and I am too excited to sleep.
 
In BNI and Ecademy, the philosophies of "Givers Gain" and "A Friend in Every City" are the hallmarks of their respective organizations.  For me, my 20 years of association with BNI and just over one year with Ecademy have led to many lasting relationships of empowerment, compassion, support and care.
 
Over the last 48 days, I have explored 11 countries.  I have done this by plane, motor coach, bullet train, ferry, car, subway (the underground tube) as well as walking.  I have traveled over 50,000 kilometers, (Sacrebleu!! I mean - over 30,000 miles:  thought I was still in Europe!!); and into the hearts and homes of my welcoming hosts and sponsors.  With a warm hug and much love, I graciously and humbly thank the following people who cared for me as I travelled.
 
Cornelis & Ingrid de Maijer - Hoogland, The Netherlands; Erwin de Laat - Mechlen, Belgium; Tina Jonasen - Copenhagen, Denmark; Liz Chukwu - London, England; Paul Clegg - Frome, Somerset, England; Marieme Jamme - Guilford, England; Freddy & Linda Daems - Mechlen, Belgium; Andreja Lahj - Ljubljana, Slovenija; Christophe & Beatrice Poizat - Mirepoix, France; Helder & Sofia Falcao - Trofa, Portugal; and Victor Marques - Douro Valley, Portugal.

A very big Hug to each and every one of you.
 
The lessons learned on this extraordinary journey are already serving me well as I return to my loving wife Nancy and my wonderful home in Eagle River (Anchorage).  I may set a world record for a welcome home hug and kiss when I see her.....
 
This is the last installment of the visual Ice Chips for this trip.  Yes there will be more traveling and taking the message of Remember the Ice around the globe.... Stay tuned.
 
In these albums are some memories from my last country, Portugal.  What an extraordinary place, with exquisite beauty, history and culture.  I highly recommend you put this country on your "bucket list".  On Sunday June 7th, I arrived in Porto, Portugal by bus from Toulouse, France. From the smiles on the faces of the locals to the patriotic pride of the flags hanging from their balconies, the Portuguese are a passionate people. 

My dear friends Helder and Sofia Falcao hosted me in Porto and their home town of Trofa.  Helder and Sofia are National Directors for BNI Portugal, as well as BlackStars on Ecademy.  Our networking relationship fostered several meetings with BNI chapters and fellow Ecademy members.  Helder was a great translator for the "Remember the Ice" message.

We traveled to Lisboa, and did some BNI meetings and Toastmasters as well.  More opportunities to share "Remember the Ice".  Thank you Helder.  We also had the opportunity for a very nice meal at Dom Pepe just south of Lisboa.  The steak was excellent, and the Crepe Suzette was out of this world...... The process is in the album as well.  MMMMMMMMMMM..... delicious.  The owner, Jose joined our table for some great conversation and a very special bottle of 29 year old port wine.

The next morning, I awoke and noticed an exclusive automobile showroom just across the street from my hotel.  So I decided to investigate.  It was a Lamborghini.  Take a look at the price tag in the photos.

Then we visited Helder's parents at a wonderful spa in the city of Geres, in the northern part of Portugal.  Water is the focus, as it is the essence of life for each of us and the beautiful flowers and plants all around the spa.

Some of the best wines in the world come from the beautiful Douro Valley.  Victor Marques is a master of the process of making wine and carries on a family tradition.  He is a man with a huge heart and was a wonderful host.  Thank you Victor.

One of the many hillsides full of precious vines...

I lift my glass to each of my friends I met along the way.   You welcomed me into your home and your heart, and for that I am eternally grateful.  I look forward to seeing you in Alaska in the near future.

Thank you to all of you who have enjoyed this journey with me. 

Have a phenomenal week!

Best regards,

Bob

Ice Chip #16

Learning a new skill is like consistent pollination.....

Remember the Ice is about helping you attract the life you want through empowering word choice. It is about asking you to shift the way you articulate your message by changing your word choice. It is a consistent process that you engage in and continue over and over and over..... Like the bee working on pollination. Keep pollinating your conversation with empowering word choice. The results will bloom with success, and attract more of what you want. 

In the nearby village of Camon, there is a Rose festival. The scent from the spectacular array of roses permeates the air.  It was a quiet drive to and walk around this quaint village.  Enjoy the album. 

 

Later in the week, we hiked in the historic Roquefixade area. What a view at the top!! It felt like we were hiking to the moon!!!  The Poizat family: Beatrice, Nicolas, Julie and Christophe, were so hospitable, I felt like the member of the family. We went to the Col de Montsegur and climbed up the 200 plus meters of steep mountaintop and enjoyed the panoramic view.

Back in Mirepoix, I experienced one of the "Typical Marketplace Days" . When the market comes to the village......so do the people!! After a busy day hiking in the wondrous countryside, or working your way through "la petite crowd" at the market, it is only too obvious that one would enjoy two of France's most recognized exports!!......

Later in the week, we went to the world famous Chateau de Montsegur. There is a powerful history to this amazing structure, and I invite you to Google: Montsegur It is a breathtaking view.  Follow the trip up the steps, to the top; enjoy the view and then look over your shoulder to view what you have just accomplished.

Keep working on eradicating the "(k)notty words" and surprise yourself with your new view of empowering accomplishments in articulation... Okay, I know that this next picture is being repeated.....It is just the "norm" for me as I continue to experience new adventures. Thank you for joining me. Pinch me. Am I really living this dream journey? Oh yes I am.....and the Dagwood sandwich just continues to grow, more and more......

As you are finishing this visual Ice Chip, I am in Porto, Portugal with my good friend, Helder Falcao. He is the National Director of BNI Portugal and a fellow Ecademy BlackStar. I really appreciate his networking skills and look forward to sharing Remember the Ice with his BNI Director team.

Au revoir, à bientôt France. Merci Beaucoup!!

Next issue will hail from the beautiful Douro Valley and the beloved vineyard of Victor Marques. Have a phenomenal week!

Best regards,

Bob

Ice Chip #15

Create your new perspective.....

Remember the Ice is about helping you attract the life you want through empowering word choice. It is about "helping you shift the way your articulate your message by changing your word choice.  At first it is challenging to ask you to eradicate the "(K)notty Words" that create the chaos in your life.  You have been used to doing this for a long time.  Removing the "(K)nots" is like asking you to speak a foreign language.

I  imagine it could be very similar to deciphering the following sign without knowing French.

Speaking a language you are unfamiliar with seems awkward at first.  In this case, the Re-Education process focuses on speaking, however in a new language.  The idea of reshaping the way you speak by removing the "(k)notty" words from your vocabulary is one that seems a bit intricate at first.  The Cognitive-Emotive Dissonance is something to embrace and look forward to; because it is in that intricate process of going through change, that we can experience the shift.

Look at the intricacy of this next photo.  The details show an insight to a hidden beauty and secret if you will.  There is a sense of order at the core.  I ask you to consider the sense of order in your core messages you verbalize and write.

Something to think about, and develop a strategy for personal implementation.

The journey is now in the third week of May, and heading through the winding road of the Austrian Alps after crossing Germany from Mechlen, Belgium.  We are on our way to Slovenija, and there are several pictures to share.  There are castles abundantly spread over the Austrian countryside.  They are magnificent pieces of wondrous engineering.  There are also numerous church steeples that catch your eye.  It was like "East meets West" when we considered the diversity of our traveling crew.  Ljubljana is a beautiful capital city.  The cafés are plentiful and utilized regularly.

After a fabulous gourmet lunch "event" in the village of Zomene, Slovenija, we went to Trieste, Italy.  The sunset was amazing.  Then within 48 hours, I arrived in Narbonne, France.  My dear friend Christophe met me and we went to the walled castle in Carcassonne for a pizza and a beer.  After travelling by car, bus and train for 36 hours, I was grateful for that beer!  We then headed to Christophe's home village of Mirepoix.  The dominant structure is the St. Maurice Cathedral.The city centre was built up on stilts after the great flood of 1279.  The upper levels are the residences with the shops down below.  I have grown to really like this village after being here a week.

A beautiful night in Mirepoix, France

Pinch me.  Am I really living this dream journey?  Oh yes I am.....and the Dagwood sandwich just continues to grow.

One interesting side note. There appears to be no fuel price crunch in Mirepoix, as you can see below.

This village is looking better and better each day.....

There are two weeks left in this incredible journey and I enjoy sharing more with you..... Have a great week.

Best regards,

Bob