NICE Testimonial: An Honest Gentleman, Part II

While on the topic of honesty, I thought I'd post Jen Ulasiewicz's story about an honest gentleman that she encountered last fall.

October 7, 2008 - We went to a birthday party that weekend for our friends' 3 year old twin girls. The party was held at the gym where they take gymnastics and they got to jump around and do all kinds of things. While we were standing there talking and watching the kids play, a man came in asking if anyone owned a blue SUV. I said that we do and asked why? The guy said he just backed into us. I thought great, the whole front end is smashed in but no, luckily there were just some big scratches in our plastic bumper. I didn't think they could fix that, I though we would have to get it replaced. But I was so grateful for this guy's honesty to come and find us to let us know so his insurance could take care of it for us. You don't find that much these days ya know? He gave me his business card and his insurance did take care of everything for us. We got our car back after being in the shop for 5 days and it looks just like new. I have thanked him repeatedly for being so honest and letting us know what happened, I really did appreciate that otherwise it would have cost us about $800 for repairs for something that wasn't even that major.

I think it's fair to assume that most people would have left the situation. I know that's happened quite a few time to me, my family, and my friends. Walking out to your car to see a big ole dent in the side is not a pleasant feeling. This man's honesty is admirable, and more people should learn from him!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Testimonial: An Honest Gentleman

Thank you to everyone for your comments on my last post regarding what the future holds for Operation NICE. It means so much to hear what you think! This blog/project only exists because of all of you! Honestly, I was worried when I began it that I would run out of things to post after a few weeks, but you continue to send me your testimonials and interesting links. I have a huge collection of stuff stored up! Who knows what the future holds, but at least a future exists.

I wanted to share a testimonial of my own from my trip to Austin.

On the final evening of the conference, HOW always puts on quite a party. In 2004, it was a "White Party." In 2005, it was a masquerade. In 2006, it was Vintage Vegas. And the theme for the party this year was "Keep Austin Weird." Quite open to interpretation. So I donned my weirdest outfit (see right), and went to boogie down!

Obviously I must have been partying a little bit too hard because I didn't notice that the $60 I had sitting in my pocket had somehow dropped to the floor, mid-dance move, most likely. I felt a tap on my shoulder and there stood Noelle Gonzalez, holding my wad of money. I was incredibly embarrassed and thankful! I tried to scream over the loud music about how much his honesty meant to me, while giving a quick elevator speech about Operation NICE, but I'm pretty sure I was just rambling.

Even though I told him there was no way I'd forget his name, he gave me his card. Turns out he works as a designer for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. So I wanted to publicly thank (and recognize) Noelle Gonzalez for being a truly NICE guy!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

Thinking Out Loud about Operation NICE

Hey guys! So as you know, I just came back from the HOW Design Conference in Austin, TX. It was educational, inspirational, and recreational. While there, I noticed a recurring theme among multiple sessions I attended. Design for social change. Despite the fact that I attended the conference to further my skills as an in-house designer, I couldn't help but relate every session to Operation NICE.

I left energized, but also disappointed. I feel like I should be doing more. Like I was meant to do something meaningful with my life. I often joke with my husband that I should just drop everything and join the Peace Corps, but that isn't an option for me right now. And then I go to this conference and realize that I can use the skills that I have towards bettering humanity/society.

But how?

The closing Keynote of the conference was titled Design Ignites Change and featured Mark Randall of Worldstudio. This presentation touched upon how designers are using design to spark social change. Places like Project H, which "is a charitable organization that supports, creates, delivers, and scales life-improving humanitarian product design solutions." And Project M, which "is an intensive summer program designed to inspire young graphic designers, writers, photographers and other creative people that their work can have a positive and significant impact on the world." And Design Ignites Change, which challenges students to use design thinking to explore and create solutions for pressing social problems."

And all I could think was, "I want to be involved with something like that."

Does that mean expanding Operation NICE? Maybe. Growth can be scary though. I am completely passionate about this website and this project. When someone asks me about what Operation NICE is, I can't help but go on and on about what I've learned in the last year. But right now, it's a "hobby." What I mean by that is that it produces no revenue, so I have to squeeze it into my spare time, putting my mortgage-paying day job as a first priority. And that's how I've wanted it this last year. I have even turned down advertising because I don't want anyone to see Operation NICE as a vehicle for me to make money. Obviously that's not what it's about. Plus anything involving dollars makes me nervous because I'm not the most business-savvy individual. I wouldn't know how to handle accountants and paperwork and all that serious stuff that comes along with turning a hobby into a business.

Then again, I'd love to turn this into a project that could raise money for non-profit programs out there. And of course an ultimate goal would be to focus all of my time and energy on this program (meaning buh-bye day job). But I think until I either win the lottery, or Oprah decides to sponsor me, that's a distant goal.

It's like I have all this energy inside of me. All this potential to do great things. And I'm ready to explode into a full-fledged do-gooder, but I don't know how to take that first/next step. Don't worry. Until I figure it out, I'll keep chugging along with my regular posts. And I'm hoping to have a big ole Day of NICENESS (which I'm hoping you'll all participate in) on July 15th, the one year anniversary of Operation NICE. Details to come! In the meantime, if you have any advice for a "little blogger that could," please share!

NICE News: Spreading Hope with Art

Hi everyone! I just returned from the HOW Design Conference in Austin, TX yesterday and I have a bajillion things to catch up on, so no assignment as of right now. But I did want to share this.

Last July, I posted a story about one of my heros, Bren Bataclan. He is an inspiration in every sense of the word. Last week, the CBS Evening News did a segment about the wonderful thing that Bren is doing. Please watch!

Watch CBS Videos Online

NICE Testimonial: International Assistance, Part II

While we're on the subject of NICE strangers abroad, Maya sent me a lovely story about a recent trip to Korea that she and her boyfriend took. My mom is Korean and happens to hail from the town Maya speaks of in the story, so it felt extra special for me to read it.

We were recently in Korea and found the people to be overly nice, though one particular one stands out. It's something I don't know that we'd find much of in the US, though possible due to the repercussions offering a ride to a stranger even if your intentions are good!

My boyfriend and I had had a very long and active day in Busan - we had gotten lost for several hours while trying to find our way around on foot and which we followed by a couple mile hike straight up and down a mountain (this was our original destination and we weren't going to let getting lost deter us!). Not only were we incredibly tired and a bit sore a, it had begun to rain rather hard and lightening. After our hike, we were waiting on the sidewalk outside of a small store unsuccessfully trying to hail a cab, when a Korean business man next to us who appeared to be enjoying his after work cigarette asked where we were trying to get to. When we explained where our hotel was, he put out his cigarette and motioned us over to his (very nice!) car. He drove us to the closest train station, explained how to catch the train we needed, where to transfer and which stop to get off to closest to our hotel. He wouldn't accept any money or gift as a thank you - was just doing this to help out two lost, exhausted Americans. We were incredibly thankful to be mostly dry and off our feet in our hotel room within the half hour. I don't think our legs would have made the walk to the train station and at the rate we were going, it could have taken us another hour of waiting in the rain to catch a cab. We owe this Korean business man a big thank you!

Huh. I seem to have a train theme going on this week, don't you think? Funny how that happened!!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Testimonial: International Assistance

Yeah, I know I said yesterday that I probably wouldn't be able to post while I was away, but I figured I'd at least schedule a testimonial to hold you over. This one comes from Kristine. She tells a tale about how a stranger abroad helped her and a friend, just in the nick of time!

In May of 2000 a friend and I traveled to France, staying in Paris. I wanted to tour Claude Monet's home and gardens in Giverny as he is one of my favorite artists. Instead of a group tour, we decided to take the train to Vernon and then a bus to Giverny by ourselves. It would be cheaper and probably more fun.

We had a great day at Monet's home and it was time to go. In order to get back into Paris by 7:00 p.m. we knew we had to be back to the train station by 5:30. After much discussion and translation the bus we needed to be on had just left and the next one wasn't for another 2 hours. It was approximately 4:00p.m. This would put us back into Paris around 10:00, meaning we would miss our dinner reservations. We decided to walk into Vernon as it really wasn't that far and basically if we walked along the Seine we would reach Vernon. Unfortunately, between my limited French (even after 12 years of schooling) and the people of Giverny and Vernon's limited English as well as the beginnings of a rain storm we were not getting very far.

On the journey we walked past a woman putting her laundry in the back of her car (I'm sure a Citroën) and considered asking her, but assumed she wouldn't be able to help either. We kept walking, rain is starting to come down a bit harder (and of course we have no umbrellas) and about this time the lady with the laundry drove past us. All of the sudden we see brake lights and then reverse lights. I go up to the car and she motioned for us to get in. As best I could, I told her that we needed to be "à la station de train à 5:30,
tres vite". She drove, like a mad woman, into town and at a round about the traffic came to a halt. I should probably add that it is now, around 5:20ish. She proceeds to back up and go up a one way street, the wrong way, with a large "camion" (truck) headed our way. She veered, she accelerated and we landed at the train station with about 1 minute to spare. I asked "pouvons-nous vous payer, s'il vous plaît?" (can we pay you, please?) to which she shook her head and replied "non, non pas, c'était mon plaisir" (no, no, it was my pleasure).

And with this, we boarded the train, headed back into Paris with the knowledge that I have my own personal Ange (Angel) in Vernon, France.

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Testimonial: A Special Train Ride

Well everyone, I leave for the HOW Design Conference tomorrow morning. I'm not sure if I'll be able to post while I'm there, but I'm hoping to gather some future goodies. I'm super excited because while I'm in Austin, I have the opportunity to get together with a few of the folks from RecognizeGood and The Samaritan Center! I can't wait to chat with them about what may be coming up in their future.

Today's story is from Rachel and it's so adorable! The picture alone (of Rachel's brother) is sweet enough to give you a toothache.

This week, I took my brother Preston to the Detroit Zoo. He is five years old and obsessed with trains. He was most excited about the fact they have a train at the zoo. When we got there, I bought us both tickets to ride the train, but after I had asked for the regular tickets, I saw you could buy tickets for a special ride in the engine with the conductor. I knew he’d love this, so I asked for those instead, but it was too late—the clerk had already put through the basic tickets. I said it was okay, because I didn’t want to make a fuss, but I would have loved to do that for him. Then the woman in line behind me stepped up and offered to buy the tickets for the special ride for me. She said we could just trade tickets and I could give her the difference. That’s exactly what we did! Preston got to ride with the conductor and got a special hat and everything. I really appreciated this stranger stepping up and doing something so minor that seriously made the day for my little brother!!

Think about how many people wouldn't have bothered to make the small effort to give Rachel and Preston the special train ride they wanted. I'm so glad this woman was mindful of the situation and took initiative to do something NICE!

Do you have a NICE:Testimonial that you'd like to share? If so, click here to send me an email!

NICE Assignment: Donate Your Phones

As some of you who follow me in Twitter might have read, I am the proud owner of a brand spankin' new iPhone 3G S. A huge gadget nerd and Apple supporter, I was thrilled to hear about the release of a new iPhone, just as my old one started crapping out on me.

I had asked in Twitter what I should do with my old phone, when @OoffAhh sent me the link to Hope Phones.



Today's Assignment: Donate Your Phones

I probably have four or five old cell phones sitting in a box in my kitchen. We've been meaning to recycle them but haven't gotten around to it yet. I'll definitely be sending them off to Hope Phones. They even cover all postage!

From their website:
How will my phone make an impact?
Every cell phone given to community health workers connects distant patients to a medical clinic. A $10 cell phone will give 50 families access to emergency medical care, health information, transport services, and clinic resources.

Something that most people might consider to be trash could be more helpful than you can imagine. Scour your home for your old phones and help a medical clinic in a developing country.

NICE News: Pixar Grants a Wish

I received two emails this morning, one from Amy and one from Donna, with a link to the same story, so I knew it must be a good one. I couldn't even get half way through before the tears started streaming down my face. It's hard to get through, I admit, but I suggest you all check out this article from the OC Register about how Pixar was able to grant the wish of a young girl dying of cancer.

NICE Stuff: Seals of Recognition

I've been preparing for the HOW Design Conference in Austin, TX next week. Even though I know I should be networking as a designer and not necessarily a "do-gooder," I'm way more interested in spreading the word about Operation NICE. So in addition to business cards, I thought it would be fun to make a little giveaway item to hand out to people I meet.

Then a few weeks ago, I received an email from Clare, a business ettiquette & social skills expert, who mentioned an idea about making "NICE Person of the Week" stickers. Something you could stick on a person's shirt when they do a nice deed. I loved it!

So I whipped up a design, ordered some stickers, made a little card to package it, and lo and behold, Seals of Recognition. I ended up changing the phrase on the sticker because I wanted to make sure "NICE" was right in the center, but here they are:


So? What do you think? Will people use them? At the very least, it's an introduction to Operation NICE, which is really the goal, right?

I'm still playing around with the text on the back, but here's what it says, if you're curious:

HOW TO USE: When you witness an individual performing an act of kindness*, reward them with this official Seal of Recognition, placed on their person for all to see. No kind act is too small.

*Acts of kindness include but are not limited to holding a door, giving a hug, saying a friendly “hello,” being polite, buying someone a cup of coffee, picking up litter, sharing a coupon, volunteering, helping someone cross the street, giving up a seat on a bus/train/subway, helping someone reach something on a tall shelf...you get the idea.

Operation NICE is a movement which encourages individuals to be proactively nice. If everyone was a little bit kinder to the people they encountered each day, perhaps the world would be a more pleasant place.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!