Ice Breaker – Christmas Day

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  How are you spending today – Christmas Day?

My Answer:  I am in Western Pennsylvania for a few days celebrating Christmas with my wife’s family.  Today, I will enjoy time to relax.  I may go for a walk or a run.  I will call my extended family in Texas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.  I will enjoy watching as family open gifts and share time together.  I will enjoy delicious food.  And I will take time to reflect on the gifts I have been given.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Superhero

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  If you were able to be a superhero, who would you be?  What would you call yourself?  What would your super powers be?  And to what use would you put them?

My Answer:  Superman has always been my favorite, but he is already taken.

At this time in my life, I’m going with Everywhere Man.  Everywhere Man has the ability to be many places at the same time.  I would use these super powers to be at work, be at home, be at my kids’ activities, be at the gym, and be many other places at the same time.  This super power would give me the ability to be present in many different places at the same time.

On second thought, I may not want this ability.  Instead, I’m thinking I should go with Present Man.  Present Man has the ability to be present in the moment right where he is with who he is with.  I struggle with this super power, because the other side of me wants to me like Everywhere Man.  Present Man is exactly the superhero I need to become.  (For more thoughts on this, check out my post – The Discipline of Being Present.)

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Social Media and Human Interaction

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  Do you think that Facebook, Twitter, and other social media genuinely enhance friendship and human interaction?  Why or why not?

My Answer:  I say yes and no to this question.

First the yes.  Facebook, Twitter, the blogging community, and other social media has given me the opportunity to connect and establish friendships with many people across the country and around the world.  As a result of my on-line presence, I’m friends with people like:  Larry “The Deuce” Carter from Tennessee, Dan Erickson from Washington, Ellory Wells from Texas, Matthew Lovell from Georgia, Amy Robles from Washington, Steve Young from Pennsylvania, Michael Shaw from Pennsylvania, and Chad Jones from Arizona.  (And these are just a few of the people I’ve connected with on-line.)  I’ve met a few of these people in person (Dan, Steve, Michael, and Chad), but these friendships have generally been developed on-line.

Facebook in particular gives me the opportunity to stay in touch with many people who might normally fall off my radar.  I appreciate the chance to stay in touch with friends from high school, college, and other places from my past.  Social media has even given me the opportunity to re-establish communication with some long lost friends and acquaintances.

From these connections, I can definitely tell you that social media can enhance friendship and human interaction.

But there is another side to this question – the no side.

I believe we were made for relationship.  And I also believe that the best relationships are cultivated face-to-face.  Social media cannot fully translate all the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that can be expressed when humans interact directly face-to-face.  This is why I go to church every week.  This is why I work in an office next to my co-workers.  This is why my family tries to eat together at dinner time.  This is why I meet with thirteen other guys every Friday at 6AM.

I love the opportunities and connections the social media and blogging world have created for me, but I also know I need the kind of community and accountability that can only happen when I’m looking someone eye-to-eye and face-to-face.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Ideal Vacation / Holiday

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  What would be your ideal holiday or vacation?  Why?

My Answer:  I wish there was a way to be multiple locations at the same time, but I don’t think that is possible – yet.  Therefore, I would invite my family and friends to join me in Santo Domingo Xenacoj in Guatemala.  We would all visit the week before Christmas, so we could be part of Christmas for Thousands – an opportunity to give Christmas gifts to thousands of children in and around the village of Xenacoj.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Black Friday Christmas List

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Today is Black Friday.  The stores will be busy with shoppers trying to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones.  I’m not a big shopper, so I’m looking forward to simply working off my Thanksgiving dinner and spending time with my family.  This week’s Ice Breaker question is inspired by the holiday shopping season which kicks off today.

Question:  What is one thing on you “Christmas List”?  (What would you like to see under the Christmas tree for you on Christmas morning?)

My Answer:  When I was seven or eight years old, I remember making a Christmas List  for Santa Claus.  I didn’t really believe in Santa Claus, but I wanted to believe he was real, and I wanted to get the things on my list.  I don’t remember what I wrote down on the list, but I’m guessing it included toys from the Sears or Toys ‘R Us catalog.

As I’ve gotten older, I’m generally happy with family time, relaxation time, and peace.  I don’t  need a lot of presents.

If I were to create a Christmas List this year, I could probably come up with a few things (some of these are on my Amazon wishlist).  I like to try new culinary adventures (when I have a chance).  I’d like to build a smoker.  To this end, I purchased a barrel earlier this summer.  Now, I just need the kit (Big Poppa Smokers DIY Drum Charcoal Smoker Kit) to make it happen.  We’ll see if Santa comes through this year; regardless, I’m looking forward to the holiday season with my family.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Thanks

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

This week’s question is inspired by a Thanksgiving tradition in our house.  Each year, we put a tablecloth on the Thanksgiving table.  Each person in attendance traces their hand-print onto the tablecloth.  Then they write down five things for which they are thankful – one for each finger.

Over the years, our tablecloth has filled up with hand-prints of many sizes and shapes.  There are hand-prints for loved ones who have passed away.  Each hand-print represents a year of thanksgiving.  We’re on our second tablecloth as we’ve been doing this for many years.  I’m looking forward to reading your responses to today’s Thanksgiving Ice Breaker!

Question:  Name five things for which you are thankful this year.

My Answer:

1. My family – I’m thankful for my wife.  I’m thankful for my kids.  I’m thankful for my extended family.
2. My job – I’m thankful for my co-workers.  I’m thankful for the opportunity to lead.  I’m thankful for the recent opportunity to present an idea at the annual management meeting.  I’m thankful for new opportunities ahead.  I’m thankful for the support I’ve been given to be involved in Toastmasters.
3. DIBs – Every Friday morning at 6 AM, I meet with 13 other men in someone’s basement.  DIBs stands for Dudes In the Basement.  We recently celebrated our one year anniversary.  It’s our goal to meet together for 20 years.  This group of men has become a place to encourage and to be encouraged.  And it has become a place to solidify my foundation.
4. Catalyst Mastermind – I joined a mastermind group in September, and this has become a significant part of my life.  Every two weeks, I meet via Zoom with a few people from Texas, Georgia, and Washington.  Together, the four of us work together to push us each forward in our own pursuits.  This group has personally helped me with some of my writing and speaking endeavors, and it has helped me as I’ve worked with Leanne on her life coaching business.  I treasure our bi-weekly video calls.
5. Stretched – My blog and The Stretched Community continue to be major sources of encouragement and growth for me.  I’m so thankful for you!

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Business Trip

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  When was the last time you took a business trip?  Where did you go?

My Answer:  Last week, I took a business trip to Phoenix, Arizona.  I traveled there to present an idea at the annual management meeting for my company.  I had never been to Phoenix, so it was an adventure.  Most of the time I was at the hotel, but I took advantage of a few hour break to go on a hike up.  On my hike, I climbed to the top of Piestewa Peak (formerly known as Squaw Peak).  The view from the top was amazing!

Another cool thing about my trip…I had the chance to eat breakfast with fellow blogger, Chad Jones.  We’ve been friends for years thanks to the blog world, but this was the first time we actually met face to face.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Mandatory Reading

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Question:  If you could choose one book as a mandatory read for all high school students, which book would you choose?

My Answer:  At first thought, I would say the Bible, but I’m not sure that would be effective.  Many of the books I HAD to read in high school tortured me.  And I don’t want the Bible to be seen in this way.  For this reason, I would select a book with short chapter and stories that kept readers attention.  If I could choose one book as a mandatory read for all high school students, I would choose Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff.  I think Goff does a great job keeping the attention of readers.  His writing is easy to understand, and he motivates readers to do something worthwhile with their lives.

To read my review of Love Does, click here.

Also, I had the opportunity to hear Bob Goff speak earlier this year.  Click here to read my notes.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Mischief Night

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Tonight is Mischief Night.  This is the night before Halloween when teenagers participate in acts of mischief in the neighborhoods.  I never participated in Mischief Night as a kid, but I remember waking up Halloween morning to discover soap on car windows, eggs on houses, and toilet paper in trees.  Pulling pranks on unsuspecting people can be fun (at least for the pranksters).  Today’s Ice Breaker question is inspired by Mischief Night – the night of pranks.

Question:  Have you ever pulled a prank on someone?  Tell us about it in the comments.  (If you haven’t pulled any pranks, have you ever been the target of a prank?)

My Answer:  My biggest and best pranks took place on youth group retreats when I was in junior high and high school.  My last year in 8th grade, I particularly remember pulling several pranks while our church youth group was on a winter retreat at Camp Johnsonburg in northwestern New Jersey.  The best prank involved a fish, a toothbrush, and a cat.

One of my friends caught a dead sunfish out of the lake on the retreat campus.  While the high school girls were out of their cabin, a few of us took advantage of the opportunity to pull a prank.  We found one of the girls toothbrushes in the cabin, and we slid the toothbrush inside the fishes mouth.  We quietly crept out of the cabin and waited for the girls to return to their cabin.  While I don’t remember the outcome, legend has it that there was a cat waiting on the front porch of the cabin when the girls returned.

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!

Ice Breaker – Excited For Life

(I’m always looking for Ice Breaker question ideas.  If you have an idea, send me an email at jon@jonstolpe.com.  If I use your question, I’ll give you credit and share your links.)

Too often, we lose our zeal for life as we allow the pulls and pressures of life to weigh us down.  This week’s Stretched Ice Breaker is meant to re-inject some energy back into your life.

Question:  What gets you excited about life?

My Answer:  The best way for me to answer this question is to create a list.  Here are some of the things that get me excited about life:

• Spending time with my wife
• Watching my kids use their talents and discover their passions
• Helping others succeed
• Writing a killer blog post
• Serving in Guatemala
• Speaking to people
• Running
• Reading an inspiring book
• Watching playoff baseball (especially when the Cubs or the Phillies are on the field)
• Checking things off my to-do-list
• Connecting with my mastermind group
• Being in community with people who positively stretch me
• Watching a good movie
• Going on vacation
• Going to work
• Going to church
• Going to the dentist
• Learning something new

Answer this week’s ice breaker question by leaving a comment. I look forward to reading your response! (As always, feel free to share links.) And keep Stretching!