Anyone who knows me knows that music plays an important part in my life. In fact, nary a day goes by that I'm not plugged into my iPod or streaming music from services like Spotify, Iheart Radio or Pandora.

I love music. All kinds of music. You name it, I probably like it. If it's something I've never heard of, it's a safe bet that you could get me to fall in love with it just by introducing me to it.

My musical tastes are quite eclectic. I'll listen to Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (my favorite group by the way) to the Sierra Leon Refugees. I like Jazz, classical as well as heavy metal and blues. I like all music and what I might be listening to the next time you bump into me is anyone's guess.

Music is my connection point. I  can not tell you how many people use it as a means of building a relationship with me.  It's our conversation sanctuary and there is rarely a time that we can't find something to talk about whether it's the latest and greatest from our favorite artist to some far-off discovery someone made about a killer band one of us lucked into finding.

Music is an unbelievable connection point if you want to get to know someone better. What someone listens to tells you a lot about that person. It opens up tons of conversation opportunities and allows your relationship to grow and expand in a way that most other topics can't. People are passionate about what they listen to and what moves them.  By discovering what kinds of tunes an important connection of yours might listen to, you get a small but powerful glimpse into the soul of the person.  At least that is what I believe.

So next time you find yourself wanting to learn something about an important connection why not let the music be your guide!  Ask them one of these Ripple Connection Questions:

• What's your favorite band or singer?

• What kind of music do listen to?

• What band gets you out of a funk?

Give it a try.  You'll surprise yourself at what you learn about that person and how many connection points you'll discover.

Until next time, I'll be jamming to the new Dave Matthews and Jason Mraz.  What about you?

Ripple On!!!