Ice Chip #140
Ice Chip #140
The other day I was reminded of the sad story of little Tommy.
Tommy was riding his tricycle and his Daddy said, “Tommy, don’t go riding your tricycle past the corner!”
And little Tommy said, “OK, Daddy.”
Daddy looked cross, but Tommy figured he could fix that. He gave Daddy a big, sweet smile.
A bit later, Daddy was yelling at Tommy again. “Tommy, I said don’t go past the corner!”
This time Tommy looked at Daddy and said “OK, Daddy.” But with no smile. Something wasn’t quite right, but his two year old brain couldn’t put it into words.
A few minutes later, Tommy looked up in time to see his angry Daddy coming at him. Daddy lifted little Tommy from his tricycle and said “I told you three times not to go past the corner!”
The spanking hurt.
Little Tommy looked at his Daddy and said, with tears streaming down his face. “But Daddy, what’s the ‘corner?’”
Yes, the spanking hurt. But the misunderstanding hurt even more.
And that was Daddy’s fault.
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Bottom line, little Tommy responded to his father’s request based on the words he heard.
Three times his father told him to ride past the corner…
“Tommy, don’t go riding your tricycle past the corner!”
“Tommy, I said don’t go past the corner!”
“I told you three times not to go past the corner!”
Bless his heart; Tommy was only doing what he was told. Words mean things, and more importantly; the juxtaposition of those words, the choice of words, congruency of the physiology and the clarity of the articulation make all the difference.
It would have been so much easier to point out the corner to Tommy, and tell him one time: “Tommy, I want you to stay between here and the corner. Any questions?” Tommy replies, “No Daddy. I understand. I will stay between here and the corner.”
Off he goes, happily riding his tricycle for hours, right where Daddy wanted him to stay.
There is Power in the Clarity of your Articulation! ™
It is the basic fundamental principle of Remember the Ice.
Here are a couple of examples of how word choice and juxtaposition can lead to some interesting behavior.
Must be pretty dry and hot out there! However the sign allows for flatulence.
Really, do you want me to drink from here?!?
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I receive these pictures from Remember the Ice fans around the world. Thank you, Sheri S. for these examples of “word buffoonery”.
She also sent these two. They have pretty straight forward messages:
Both give the reader some great choices.
Slow Down!
No Drinking and Driving!
Your choice
Hope you all have a blessed holiday season. Take time to use Respectful Elegance in your day to day transactions. There will be several opportunities for you to Circle the Situation and come up with Empowering Alternatives.
Empowering Regards,
Bob
I read about “Tommy and his tricycle” story in a blog from Dov Gordon: Please check out Dov’s page for more information about his website:
Ice Chip #139
How are you using the concepts of Remember the Ice?
As the creator of a paradigm shifting concept, I am curious as to how those of you who receive the newsletter are actually using it.
- Do you re-frame your emails?
- Catch yourself in mid-sentence and re-phrase your message?
- Have you taken a look at documents in the office and considered re-writing them?
Maybe the personnel manual or policy manual could use a makeover.
Well, the main message of this Ice Chip is a plug for the art of Articulation Proofing.
The first 10 responders who choose to have their documents, website content, policy manuals / human resources manuals (up to 50) pages, or other items proofed for articulation will save 40% of the regular price!
Articulation Proofing will be available for the first 10 responders for only $299.00. That is a $200.00 savings off the $499.00 regular price!!
Here is the link to the page on Articulation Proofing from the Remember the Ice website: http://www.remembertheice.com/articulation-proofing/
Watch for “(K)notty Words” taking a bite out of your message:
Be one the first 10 responders to take advantage of this special opportunity to re-frame your message and have empowering words work for you!!
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Let me be among the first to wish you a blessed holiday season.
As we move into a new year, take time to reflect on your accomplishments. Know that you are gifted with many skills. Choose one or two that have been challenging in the past and commit to a new level of excellence.
Personally, I hope you choose to add empowering word choice as one of them. Remember the Ice is a tool that can help you accomplish this.
It is my honor to have you receiving my newsletter.
Thank you, and Empowering Regards,
Bob
P.S. If you are interested in being one of the first 10 responses for the special offer, simply reply: YES, I am interested in Articulation Proofing. If you are in the first 10, I will get in touch with you by email or phone (if you provide it in your response) and make arrangements for your Articulation Proofing.
Ice Chip #138
What's in a list?
Have you ever made a list of things to remember to get?
Only to forget what was on it?
Or forget the items altogether?
You know you want to get a couple of items at the store.
They are staples for any family to have on hand.
Two simple items:
- Bread
- Milk
Something most growing families would keep around the house.
For my male readers, you are familiar with the request to pick up the above items on your way home from the office, the shop, or where ever your work place may be.
My female readers are familiar with giving the request:
Here are your options.
Words mean things. Words: a unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds or their written representation that functions as a principal carrier of meaning.
When the best words are juxtaposed with a proper syntax, the results are simply amazing. Utilize a better system and arrangement. Remember -- it is like a recipe.
Use the list on the right and you will have your bread and milk. Your family will appreciate it, your spouse will appreciate it; ---- and you will avoid having to go back to the store!
Empowering Regards,
Bob
P.S. As I was composing this week's Ice Chip, I was notified of an incoming email -- here is the content from that email:
We are now hooked up on linked in. Some time ago I made a mental note to not forget to spend some time on linked in. It didn't happen. Today I made a mental note, and wrote it down. Remember to spend some time on Linked In. (His name is Jerry Nelson from Chiang Mai, Thailand and we are now connected on LinkedIn.)
It was a note.....
Ice Chip #137
When I share the story of Remember the Ice, a common response is, "Oh, I get it, you are just thinking positive. Nice story."
The concept is so much deeper than just thinking positive. It is about paradigm shifts.
Paradigm shifting is about changing your perception resulting in a significant shift in behavior. Word choice is the key.
Take a look at these examples of word choice and the resulting message and/or behavior when the "(K)notty Words" are removed:
Apparently, All hoodies are created equal. No reason to be specific when you shop. Just pick anyone, and they are the same -- after all, they are created equal.
Well, it appears that when the market momentum stops, so do our dreams! @#$%&@
How about this next one? Did you forget to set your clocks back?
(In addition to innocently encouraging his customers to forget to set their clocks Sunday, he also wants you to forget to call him if you have a mortgage question -- guess he already has all of the business he can use.)
Messages like this next one are of great concern. Our children's safety is at risk.
Play with guns. Based on the look on the cat's face, it is OK and it looks pretty cool as well.
The same situation exists in the next example. Think about it!
REMOVE THIS TAG!
If we remove it, then there is no warning.
Finally, an example of an empowering message on a sign. Many of us can relate to this situation. What a great message. A big thumbs up to this community.
Tell me what you would like me to do.
Words mean things. When we pay attention to how we articulate our message, we can and will get better results.
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Be sure to check out the "(K)notty Word" Calculator 2.0
Empowering Regards,
Bob
Ice Chip #136
Remember the Ice is a very simple concept. It all began with a sign:
____________________________________________________________
My good friend Joe Mauldin is the Director of Corporate Sales for
He recently responded to one of the Ice Chip newsletters; "I love when you send pics with the messages. It really drives the point home plus the pics are always of signs. lol."
Think about it.
You have seen a myriad of messages. You have been bombarded with requests to behave in a particular way.
Unfortunately, when "(K)notty Words" are in the mix, getting mixed-up is what happens. Take a look at these signs and messages. (I can see you smiling Joe! Enjoy my friend.)
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So as a result of the directions, requests and overall messages above, you are asked to:
- Stop on the diagonal lines (near the RR tracks)
- Get Lost
- Smoke
- Leave valuables in your vehicle
- Drink and Drive
- Remove the Samples (and they say Thank you as well)Feed or Molest the Alligators?!?! Really?
- Advertise like this
The solution focuses on the simplest and most impactful concept in Remember the Ice:
Tell me what you would like me to do.
Words mean things. When we pay attention to how we articulate our message, we can and will get better results.
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Remember, if you would like to have your website content Re-Framed, remember to check out Articulation Proofing.
Many of you have already taken advantage of the free copy of "(K)notty Words" in Action eBook and/or the Empowering Stories eBook. Both are still available -- just request them in your email to me.
Empowering Regards,
Bob
P.S. Did any of you follow through on baking the Toll House Cookies?? The first three readers who bake them and email me a picture of you in your kitchen with the baked cookies and ingredients in the background -- and even a bit of flour spread around -- will receive a signed copy of my book: Remember the Ice and Other Paradigm Shifts.