For the past 5 years, I’ve presented at the UBC Student Leadership Conference. As many of you know, I think having such an opportunity is pretty freakin rad. This year, I’ll be miles away and I made that mean I couldn’t be a part of it. <insert tiny violin playing ‘woe is me’ music here.>
In the few weeks leading up to the deadline, I made distance the reason for me not participating, for not making a difference, for not playing full out. “If I was closer… if I had more time… if I knew someone else doing it…” Excuse, excuse, excuse!
Fast forward to now. When the excuses were dropped and Krystal Gabriel and I are now on the bill for leading two sessions on Getting Out of Your Own Way. We’re both crossing oceans to get to Vancouver that day – she’ll be coming from Victoria to lead the session in person, while I’m flying in using the magic of technology.
Talking about getting of our own way means that we actually have to be able to share what that means in an authentic way. When presenters spit out motivational jargon and rhyme off tactics or theories that they themselves have yet to apply in any way, the audience can see through it. Their well-intentioned theories lose their impact when not grounded in practicality. They try to impress rather than be real. And our commitment is to be real. We’re gonna be sharing the self-imposed roadblocks that stop us all from reaching our full potential and truly being a contribution to the world.
Want an example? I thought you may.
About three years ago, a group of fellow UBC alumni, colleagues, and friends of mine got together and filmed a mock of a segment from (500) Days of Summer. What was it for? None of us really knew, including myself. After a hilarious day of dancing around campus, I didn’t share the finished product online – or even with the people IN THE VIDEO. I kept it to myself. I was afraid of what people would say. I was worried that I wouldn’t be taken seriously as a young professional starting my career. I didn’t want something I really saw value in, something that brought me happiness, to be mocked. Long story short, I got in my own way. And for three years it remained unseen – tucked away in a folder on my laptop.
Until now, when I can proudly post the video without any of the worry, anxiety, or fear. What caused the shift? How do those feelings no longer have a grip on me? Why was it SO easy to write this post this time around? …. THAT’S what Krystal and I are presenting on. We’re preaching what we’re practicing.
BOOM!
Register for the UBC SLC & enjoy some laugh attacks and some mad truth bombs with us.
Pick of the Post: Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams (obviously)
1 comment
2 pings
Mijay says:
December 5, 2011 at 8:19 pm (UTC -7)
So fantastic! Thanks for making my day
How Do I Develop Myself? » Matt Corker says:
January 14, 2012 at 9:32 am (UTC -7)
[...] an appropriate post considering that I am presenting at the UBC SLC tonight from Denmark on “Getting Out Of Your Own Way” with Krystal Gabriel. Can’t wait to rock my first digital workshop with her! [...]
Lessons from Presenting via Skype for the UBC SLC » Matt Corker says:
January 16, 2012 at 7:09 pm (UTC -7)
[...] Matt Corker On Saturday night, I took to the online airwaves to present two workshops on “Getting Out Of Your Own Way” for the UBC Student Leadership Conference with the best co-presenter I could have asked for, [...]