you know what life can be strange sometimes when you take a simple idea
sometimes when you take a simple idea
sometimes when you take a simple idea and you do it on a large scale it can
and you do it on a large scale it can
and you do it on a large scale it can take on a life of its own and you never
take on a life of its own and you never
take on a life of its own and you never know where it can go have you ever taken
know where it can go have you ever taken
know where it can go have you ever taken part in a workplace secret Center
part in a workplace secret Center
part in a workplace secret Center how about organizing a secret Center
how about organizing a secret Center
how about organizing a secret Center game and then later on you get
game and then later on you get
game and then later on you get interviewed by ABC News New York on the
interviewed by ABC News New York on the
interviewed by ABC News New York on the phone mentioned on the Huffington Post
phone mentioned on the Huffington Post
phone mentioned on the Huffington Post The Guardian and many other worldwide
The Guardian and many other worldwide
The Guardian and many other worldwide sites like Nigeria Daily News
sites like Nigeria Daily News
sites like Nigeria Daily News well that’s happened to me the basic
well that’s happened to me the basic
well that’s happened to me the basic concept of a secret Center game you’re
concept of a secret Center game you’re
concept of a secret Center game you’re given someone’s name randomly and you
given someone’s name randomly and you
given someone’s name randomly and you buy that person a gift usually for a set
buy that person a gift usually for a set
buy that person a gift usually for a set dollar amount and most people never
dollar amount and most people never
dollar amount and most people never reveal who they were Secret Santa for
reveal who they were Secret Santa for
reveal who they were Secret Santa for this can lead to some very funny gifts
this can lead to some very funny gifts
this can lead to some very funny gifts in great workplace stories and the
in great workplace stories and the
in great workplace stories and the amazing thing is so when you take this
amazing thing is so when you take this
amazing thing is so when you take this small fun idea and you decide to spread
small fun idea and you decide to spread
small fun idea and you decide to spread it as far as you can you can never be
it as far as you can you can never be
it as far as you can you can never be truly prepared for the impact that this
truly prepared for the impact that this
truly prepared for the impact that this can have on other people back in 2010 I
can have on other people back in 2010 I
can have on other people back in 2010 I was having a conversation on Twitter and
was having a conversation on Twitter and
was having a conversation on Twitter and the topic of Secret Santas had come up
the topic of Secret Santas had come up
the topic of Secret Santas had come up we both agreed there were a very cool
we both agreed there were a very cool
we both agreed there were a very cool activity to take part in and I began to
activity to take part in and I began to
activity to take part in and I began to wonder what would it be like if you did
wonder what would it be like if you did
wonder what would it be like if you did it on a larger scale and how would it
it on a larger scale and how would it
it on a larger scale and how would it work
work
work if you did it on Twitter so I thought
if you did it on Twitter so I thought
if you did it on Twitter so I thought about it and the next day I started
about it and the next day I started
about it and the next day I started asking people would you like to take
asking people would you like to take
asking people would you like to take part in the Secret Santa game lots of
part in the Secret Santa game lots of
part in the Secret Santa game lots of people said yes and New Zealand Secret
people said yes and New Zealand Secret
people said yes and New Zealand Secret Santa was born let me ask you how often
Santa was born let me ask you how often
Santa was born let me ask you how often has the fear of the unknown stopped you
has the fear of the unknown stopped you
has the fear of the unknown stopped you from starting a project the fear of
from starting a project the fear of
from starting a project the fear of failing putting it into your idea before
failing putting it into your idea before
failing putting it into your idea before it’s even started
it’s even started
it’s even started now I wasn’t a hundred percent sure how
now I wasn’t a hundred percent sure how
now I wasn’t a hundred percent sure how any of this was really going to work but
any of this was really going to work but
any of this was really going to work but I knew that I wanted to do it and I knew
I knew that I wanted to do it and I knew
I knew that I wanted to do it and I knew that lots of people were going to have
that lots of people were going to have
that lots of people were going to have fun taking part luckily for me through
fun taking part luckily for me through
fun taking part luckily for me through the power of Twitter
the power of Twitter
the power of Twitter I got messaged by someone who was an
I got messaged by someone who was an
I got messaged by someone who was an expert with spreadsheets they sent me a
expert with spreadsheets they sent me a
expert with spreadsheets they sent me a spreadsheet that helped randomly match
spreadsheet that helped randomly match
spreadsheet that helped randomly match people up and help generate all the
people up and help generate all the
people up and help generate all the messages I had to send out to the secret
messages I had to send out to the secret
messages I had to send out to the secret centers people were given the Twitter
centers people were given the Twitter
centers people were given the Twitter name and address of their gift D and it
name and address of their gift D and it
name and address of their gift D and it was up to them to research that person
was up to them to research that person
was up to them to research that person by reading their tweets and sending them
by reading their tweets and sending them
by reading their tweets and sending them an appropriate gift well that was the
an appropriate gift well that was the
an appropriate gift well that was the plan in theory and they were also
plan in theory and they were also
plan in theory and they were also encouraged to share a photo of the gift
encouraged to share a photo of the gift
encouraged to share a photo of the gift that they received to share the fun and
that they received to share the fun and
that they received to share the fun and excitement with everybody else three
excitement with everybody else three
excitement with everybody else three hundred and eighty six people signed up
hundred and eighty six people signed up
hundred and eighty six people signed up in that first year people were sending
in that first year people were sending
in that first year people were sending gifts all around the country and the
gifts all around the country and the
gifts all around the country and the feedback that I was getting was really
feedback that I was getting was really
feedback that I was getting was really positive but sometimes there were bad
positive but sometimes there were bad
positive but sometimes there were bad centers now bad centers for whatever
centers now bad centers for whatever
centers now bad centers for whatever reason didn’t send a gift and I was
reason didn’t send a gift and I was
reason didn’t send a gift and I was still hearing about those bad centers in
still hearing about those bad centers in
still hearing about those bad centers in January February and March of the
January February and March of the
January February and March of the following year leading up to the second
following year leading up to the second
following year leading up to the second year of New Zealand Secret Center I was
year of New Zealand Secret Center I was
year of New Zealand Secret Center I was approached by a nationwide radio station
approached by a nationwide radio station
approached by a nationwide radio station asking if they could run it I thought it
asking if they could run it I thought it
asking if they could run it I thought it was only fair to ask the community what
was only fair to ask the community what
was only fair to ask the community what they thought so I went on Twitter and I
they thought so I went on Twitter and I
they thought so I went on Twitter and I let everybody know what the proposition
let everybody know what the proposition
let everybody know what the proposition was the resounding answer from everybody
was the resounding answer from everybody
was the resounding answer from everybody was no the community had spoken so I
was no the community had spoken so I
was no the community had spoken so I carried on the New Zealand Secret Center
carried on the New Zealand Secret Center
carried on the New Zealand Secret Center and let me introduce you to the team
and let me introduce you to the team
and let me introduce you to the team there’s me while lots of people thought
there’s me while lots of people thought
there’s me while lots of people thought there was a big team behind this in
there was a big team behind this in
there was a big team behind this in reality it was just me and in that
reality it was just me and in that
reality it was just me and in that second year I decided to build a website
second year I decided to build a website
second year I decided to build a website to help manage all the people that were
to help manage all the people that were
to help manage all the people that were signing up
signing up
signing up there was a lot better than handling
there was a lot better than handling
there was a lot better than handling hundreds of Twitter dm’s all at once and
hundreds of Twitter dm’s all at once and
hundreds of Twitter dm’s all at once and 696 people signed up in that second year
696 people signed up in that second year
696 people signed up in that second year people were sending gifts all around the
people were sending gifts all around the
people were sending gifts all around the country and I was getting all the
country and I was getting all the
country and I was getting all the messages coming towards me of people
messages coming towards me of people
messages coming towards me of people excitedly talking about it I kept
excitedly talking about it I kept
excitedly talking about it I kept matching people up and I learned from
matching people up and I learned from
matching people up and I learned from some people this was the only gift they
some people this was the only gift they
some people this was the only gift they were going to receive at Christmas I
said the limit for gifts at ten dollars
said the limit for gifts at ten dollars and some people went above and beyond
and some people went above and beyond
and some people went above and beyond this both an effort and value from
this both an effort and value from
this both an effort and value from custom-made mix CDs tickets to the Rugby
custom-made mix CDs tickets to the Rugby
custom-made mix CDs tickets to the Rugby League handmade custom calendars
League handmade custom calendars
League handmade custom calendars accommodation and fancy hotels to puck
accommodation and fancy hotels to puck
accommodation and fancy hotels to puck earrings a stuffed toy shark gifts for
earrings a stuffed toy shark gifts for
earrings a stuffed toy shark gifts for pets and many mugs this is just a small
pets and many mugs this is just a small
pets and many mugs this is just a small selection of the great gifts being sent
selection of the great gifts being sent
selection of the great gifts being sent all around the country and one of the
all around the country and one of the
all around the country and one of the most heartfelt gifts had to have been a
most heartfelt gifts had to have been a
most heartfelt gifts had to have been a pair of soldered angel wings on a plaque
pair of soldered angel wings on a plaque
pair of soldered angel wings on a plaque the secret Center had read every post
the secret Center had read every post
the secret Center had read every post and there gifties blog and had learned
and there gifties blog and had learned
and there gifties blog and had learned that his father had passed away before
that his father had passed away before
that his father had passed away before being able to make this plaque for his
being able to make this plaque for his
being able to make this plaque for his granddaughter this is a really good
granddaughter this is a really good
granddaughter this is a really good example of strong emotional connection
example of strong emotional connection
example of strong emotional connection happening through social media and the
happening through social media and the
happening through social media and the reaction to a gift like that was my New
reaction to a gift like that was my New
reaction to a gift like that was my New Zealand Secret Santa gift is so perfect
Zealand Secret Santa gift is so perfect
Zealand Secret Santa gift is so perfect I’m crying for those who might not know
I’m crying for those who might not know
I’m crying for those who might not know why read this and he linked to the blog
why read this and he linked to the blog
why read this and he linked to the blog post where he talked about his dad’s
post where he talked about his dad’s
post where he talked about his dad’s sudden death heartfelt gifts like this
sudden death heartfelt gifts like this
sudden death heartfelt gifts like this were not uncommon and seeing people’s
were not uncommon and seeing people’s
were not uncommon and seeing people’s reactions to this is priceless it’s one
reactions to this is priceless it’s one
reactions to this is priceless it’s one of the driving forces behind New Zealand
of the driving forces behind New Zealand
of the driving forces behind New Zealand secret Center 860 people took part in
secret Center 860 people took part in
secret Center 860 people took part in the third year my phone was still going
the third year my phone was still going
the third year my phone was still going crazy with all the messages hitting my
crazy with all the messages hitting my
crazy with all the messages hitting my way and when it was time to match
way and when it was time to match
way and when it was time to match everybody up
everybody up
everybody up I was having to take time
I was having to take time
I was having to take time off work just to deal with sending out
off work just to deal with sending out
off work just to deal with sending out all the messages and dealing with all
all the messages and dealing with all
all the messages and dealing with all the questions coming back towards me and
the questions coming back towards me and
the questions coming back towards me and after that third year I began to wonder
after that third year I began to wonder
after that third year I began to wonder did I still want to be doing this
did I still want to be doing this
did I still want to be doing this it was almost getting too big for me to
it was almost getting too big for me to
it was almost getting too big for me to handle by myself and I was wanting to
handle by myself and I was wanting to
handle by myself and I was wanting to spend more time on my other passion
spend more time on my other passion
spend more time on my other passion growing giant pumpkins so I went on
growing giant pumpkins so I went on
growing giant pumpkins so I went on Twitter and I asked is there anybody out
Twitter and I asked is there anybody out
Twitter and I asked is there anybody out there that would like to run this now
there that would like to run this now
there that would like to run this now I wasn’t sure who would be a good fit
I wasn’t sure who would be a good fit
I wasn’t sure who would be a good fit for this but I knew that I didn’t want
for this but I knew that I didn’t want
for this but I knew that I didn’t want just anybody coming in trying to
just anybody coming in trying to
just anybody coming in trying to monetize it and ruin it I wanted someone
monetize it and ruin it I wanted someone
monetize it and ruin it I wanted someone that had the same belief as myself and
that had the same belief as myself and
that had the same belief as myself and wanted to keep running it to bring
wanted to keep running it to bring
wanted to keep running it to bring happiness to other people I got a
happiness to other people I got a
happiness to other people I got a Twitter DM from New Zealand post saying
Twitter DM from New Zealand post saying
Twitter DM from New Zealand post saying that they may be interested but first
that they may be interested but first
that they may be interested but first they had to go talk to their management
they had to go talk to their management
they had to go talk to their management team and see if they were allowed to do
team and see if they were allowed to do
team and see if they were allowed to do it while they were doing that I was
it while they were doing that I was
it while they were doing that I was talking to people that I trusted and
talking to people that I trusted and
talking to people that I trusted and asking them what they thought about that
asking them what they thought about that
asking them what they thought about that idea all the feedback I got was really
idea all the feedback I got was really
idea all the feedback I got was really positive and New Zealand Post came back
positive and New Zealand Post came back
positive and New Zealand Post came back and said they were keen airs they were
and said they were keen airs they were
and said they were keen airs they were already doing the letters to Santa every
already doing the letters to Santa every
already doing the letters to Santa every year for the kids and they said this
year for the kids and they said this
year for the kids and they said this would be a great fit so after that we
would be a great fit so after that we
would be a great fit so after that we got together and had a conference call
got together and had a conference call
got together and had a conference call and I talked about how I was running
and I talked about how I was running
and I talked about how I was running everything behind the scenes and ever
everything behind the scenes and ever
everything behind the scenes and ever since then
since then
since then New Zealand Post has been running New
New Zealand Post has been running New
New Zealand Post has been running New Zealand secret centre and New Zealand
Zealand secret centre and New Zealand
Zealand secret centre and New Zealand Post has been a great fit they’ve been
Post has been a great fit they’ve been
Post has been a great fit they’ve been able to bring a lot of innovations to
able to bring a lot of innovations to
able to bring a lot of innovations to the game that I started all those years
the game that I started all those years
the game that I started all those years ago firstly all the gifts are sent to
ago firstly all the gifts are sent to
ago firstly all the gifts are sent to one central location no one has to share
one central location no one has to share
one central location no one has to share their address with anybody else and
their address with anybody else and
their address with anybody else and secondly all the gifts are scanned when
secondly all the gifts are scanned when
secondly all the gifts are scanned when they’re received at the warehouse
they’re received at the warehouse
they’re received at the warehouse if you’ve been a bad Center you’re not
if you’ve been a bad Center you’re not
if you’ve been a bad Center you’re not going to be getting sent a gift and what
going to be getting sent a gift and what
going to be getting sent a gift and what they’ve done is they’ve got partnerships
they’ve done is they’ve got partnerships
they’ve done is they’ve got partnerships with businesses to make sure that all
with businesses to make sure that all
with businesses to make sure that all the people that did end up with the bad
the people that did end up with the bad
the people that did end up with the bad Center still get sent something at
Center still get sent something at
Center still get sent something at Christmas over the years they’ve
Christmas over the years they’ve
Christmas over the years they’ve partnered with some great charities like
partnered with some great charities like
partnered with some great charities like the Wellington City Mission the
the Wellington City Mission the
the Wellington City Mission the Christchurch earthquake appeal the Red
Christchurch earthquake appeal the Red
Christchurch earthquake appeal the Red Cross and more recently canteen so all
Cross and more recently canteen so all
Cross and more recently canteen so all the gifts that would normally go to a
the gifts that would normally go to a
the gifts that would normally go to a bad centre now go to these great
bad centre now go to these great
bad centre now go to these great charities the fun and excitement carry
charities the fun and excitement carry
charities the fun and excitement carry on every year and last year just shy of
on every year and last year just shy of
on every year and last year just shy of 2,000 people took part New Zealand’s
2,000 people took part New Zealand’s
2,000 people took part New Zealand’s Secret Santa got lots of global media
Secret Santa got lots of global media
Secret Santa got lots of global media interest with lots of bad things
interest with lots of bad things
interest with lots of bad things happening all around the world the media
happening all around the world the media
happening all around the world the media really liked the story of New Zealand
really liked the story of New Zealand
really liked the story of New Zealand secret center and it made New Zealand
secret center and it made New Zealand
secret center and it made New Zealand the place to be at Christmas time what
the place to be at Christmas time what
the place to be at Christmas time what project do you have that you haven’t
project do you have that you haven’t
project do you have that you haven’t started what’s holding you back and why
started what’s holding you back and why
started what’s holding you back and why don’t you give it a nudge and see where
don’t you give it a nudge and see where
don’t you give it a nudge and see where you can take it because at the end of
you can take it because at the end of
you can take it because at the end of the day what’s the worst thing that
the day what’s the worst thing that
the day what’s the worst thing that could happen
”
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