Matt Corker » Students

2012 = Scandi Sweatfest

Matt Corker — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:43:22 +0000

I love getting sweaty.

There is something about the sweat dripping of my face, the mind raging with endorphins, and the lactic acid burning in my body that reminds me “I don’t feel this way by sitting on the couch!”

Sweat is earned.

After a sweatfest in Vancouver over the holidays, I became aware that my level of sweating had gone down substantially since moving to Copenhagen. Since I bike for at least 40 minutes every day, I’m on the move more than I was in Vancouver. However, the intensity (read: sweat factor) had severely decreased. So this past week I cranked it up by adding some new sweaty pursuits to my yoga practice – ensuring I was sweating once a day.

I took my new helmet (and new bike lights) out for their first 8 am ride of the year with the unofficial CBS MBA cycling team (also known as two rad classmates of mine). Leave it to them to find the only hills in Copenhagen! They like to sprint up hills, race each other along the seaside, and kick out 65 kms in -4 degree weather like its no big deal.

I don’t know which was more painful: the lactic acid building up in my quads or my toes going completely numb -slash- freezing. It reminded me of that time when Steph and I decided to do a crazy ride just to eat a cookie. It was great and I’m actually looking forward to the next one.

AND, after 25 years of having my siblings rule the pool, I joined a swim team. (Now all the Corker kids can smell like chlorine!) The first practices have been great. I’m slow – which motivates me to become fast. I also love being coached. Intentional feedback rocks my world – and my stroke!

2012. The year of swim-bike-shavasana. It’s my own little Scandinavian sweatfest.

Pick of the Post: Dionne Bromfield – Yeah Right

Lessons from Presenting via Skype for the UBC SLC

Matt Corker — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:09:22 +0000

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, Krystal Gabriel. She was live and alive in Vancouver, while I was connecting in from Copenhagen via Skype. I loved it. It was different. It was challenging. It pushed me as a presenter. We won an award for it (#humbled). And, best of all, I learned a ton. Such as:

No matter how prepared I am, things can always go wrong.

30 minutes before the session, we are online, the sound works wonderfully, the video we are going to show is fully loaded, and we’re ready to begin. 5 minutes before the session, technology decides to stop working and I’m lost in cyberspace. Mini-”oh sh*t” moment, a few deep breathes, and we’re back online ready to make up the lost 5 minutes. “We got this,” I remind myself.

Seeing the audience is key.

Krystal faced the camera towards the live audience in Vancouver so I could actually see who we were presenting to. It made me feel less far away. Especially when I saw a familiar face or two in the crowd. (Thanks again familiar faces for being there by the way!)

There is no substitute for preparation.

Krystal and I spent enough time with the material itself and ran through the actual flow and dialogue of the presentation to ensure that, even if I couldn’t hear everything she was saying, I could know exactly where she was, what point she was driving home, and how to make a smooth transition into what I was supposed to say. The focus we put on this was much more intensive than either of us would do normally and the results were great.

It’s valuable to leave room to recover. And, whatever happens, it’s always recoverable.

While playing our video in session number 2, technology decided to play a game on us again and terminate my connection to Krystal. I looked at my blank screen and thought – “Well, the video is 2 minutes long. We have 2 minutes to get back online. Easy.” Switching presenters for different segments, playing videos, asking questions from the audience – all great things we added in just in case my connection went down and we needed to keep the flow of the presentation going. (Some may argue to include those in any presentation you give. I wouldn’t argue with them.) PS. Check out the video we used about what it looks like… and feels like… to get in our own way.

Do what makes a live presentation great.

Repeat the big points. Make them laugh to give their brain a break. Be vulnerable. Play fun music before and after the session. Have a dance party to said music. (Feedback said they liked that part ) Give them something they can use now. Leave space for silence (not hard to do when there is a slight delay in the conversation anyway due to it being online).

Follow and engage in the online conversation.

By following the hashtags of the conference, we were able to find out what people were tweeting about and incorporate that into our conversations (both on and offline). It made it feel more like I was actually a part of the conference and less like I was simply sitting in a room talking to a computer. It was also helpful to know where our audience was coming from so we could meet them with the right energy level.

Presenting with someone that loves it, rocks.

Krystal was a serious rock star. Not only does she love presenting (and can manage the bumps and hiccups along the way with complete ease), she loved the material as much as I did. We could have gone on for hours about the stuff we presented on. I know that if ever I come across a topic that I think “how will I EVER present this,” I know I am not the right person to be presenting on that topic. Listening to someone present what they are passionate about is friggin inspiring. Thanks Krystal for being the rock of the presentation and for inspiring me with your passion for living a really rad life!

(Digital high fives! Proof that we had a blast together!)

Thanks to all that made taking the plunge to online presenting great. Hope the rest of your day on Saturday was #awesome.

Pick of the Post: Karmin – Crash Your Party

How Do I Develop Myself?

Matt Corker — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:32:12 +0000

Develop: de-vel-op, verb.

to bring into being or activity; generate; evolve
to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; bring to a more advanced or effective state
to make active or promote the growth of
to increase value or change the use of

The verb develop has the Latin prefix “de” meaning “away” or “off,” which, in English, generally indicates removal or reversal.
Other words with this prefix include: destroy, deactivate, deplane, detach, and defuse.

So maybe the process of developing someone (like ourselves) to this “more effective or advanced state” doesn’t require the addition of new skills and abilities. Maybe the process of developing ourselves calls us to remove things, to take things away, to get out of our way, in order to use the skills and abilities we already have and just haven’t been able to use effectively yet.

Development isn’t a game of Pokemon. We don’t need to catch em all – be them courses, skills, or habits. (That’s a fun game though!)

Development is a game rooted in archeology, where we dig deep to find the monumental treasures that were already inside us!

(Seemed 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! #outofmyway)

Pick of the Post: Hellogoodbye – When We First Met

The Highlights of 2011

Matt Corker — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:23:59 +0000

Every year I love writing this post. It allows me to take the time to reflect on where I came from, who played a large part in my life over the last year, and remember the rad adventures that made me smile from ear to ear. It’s like a yearbook of awesome. I especially love it this year as it is making this layover en route back to Copenhagen fly by (pun intended?).

As seen through the highlights of 2008, 2009, and 2010 – lots has changed. With a humble heart and really huge dose of gratitude, I share with you the best moments of 2011:

January

Geeked out with Conor et all as we watched online when Sauder took home School of the Year at JDC West “one more time”
Presented another award-winning workshop at the UBC Student Leadership Conference

February

Got accepted into my MBA program at the Copenhagen Business School
Spread a little love for yogis on Valentine’s Day with NoMoSolo
Spent the weekend on Bowen with Zoe & Haas updating our vision + goals and laughing until we cried (I love that this is now a tradition!)

March:

Celebrated borderless friendship when my fav gents from Ontario flew out west to join us for a hippie party and a road trip to the Great Big Sea concert

Witnessed Peter’s epic surprise proposal to Joe. Holy love fest!
Met a man that reminded me what it feels like to fall head over heels in love.
Went up to Whistler to experience Camp Drishti 1 and to uncover my inauthentic leadership

April:

Cheered like a maniac at my first roller derby with Woo and DFern. Go Public Frenemies!
Headed back to Whistler for Camp Dristi 2 and experience the igolu principles by Susanne Conrad
Snowshoe’d and ear candled the weekend away with sis in beautiful Manning Park

May:

Cheered and clapped REALLY loud for Conor at his first performance with the Vancouver Men’s Chorus
Rocked the stage at UBC Alumni Weekend with a session on Why Goals Are Not Enough
Kicked an hour off my time at the BMO Vancouver Marathon thanks to a rad group of people

June:

Re-vamped my blog with the help of the brilliant artist Michael
Celebrated my Mom’s birthday out west. Real goodness + real conversations + real wilderness = real love.

July:

Played my first round of golf on Bowen with Joe, Peter, and Preston
Cheered on my best friend from a distance as he conquered the Spartan Death Race

August: (this month was E-PIC!)

Headed down to Portland for the weekend with the best group of friends a guy could ask for

Front. Row. At. Jason. Mraz. (need I say more?)

Raced around in mud at the Whistler Warrior Dash

Crushed my 100 before 100 – bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, making chocolate by hand…
Celebrated my birthday with a rad party and a hilarious camping trip
Said goodbye – to Vancouver, to my relationship, to my job – to say hello to the Life Europa

September:

Moved to Copenhagen to start my MBA at the Copenhagen Business School
Discovered Hamsa Yoga Studio - and the great people that are a part of that community
Supported imagine1day’s 1 School 1 Day event with a run around Copie

October:

Rocked out on a mat with Carlson when he came to visit

Was a tourist in my own town during Culture Night
Headed to London to rock out with the lululemon crew at the London Yoga Show and reconnect with friends from Van

November:

Lifted Martin with two fingers at “Leadership Bootcamp” with my class thanks to some Butanese magic
Made a Van-fam dinner with Calvin, Bonn, and Lanie

December:

Partied the night away at a memorable Julefrukost with my classmates – fake mustaches, snapps, and all

Had the best 2 weeks vacationing in Vancouver! Laughing with Steph at 6 am, getting sweaty with some of Vancouver’s finest people and instructors, dance partying (at every opportunity), eating great pie and sushi, meeting new friends who I believe will be shining in my life for a while, jamming on leadership theories, dating for 6 days, playing board games til the wee hours of morning (to FINALLY beat FLam at Settlers) – it was all so perfect. Thanks for the monumental end to 2011.

Holy wow. What a year. Correction: what a LIFE!
And now it’s 2012! Here we go again…
What are you celebrating from this past year?

Pick of the Post: Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe

Getting Out Of Your Own Way (@ the UBC SLC)

Matt Corker — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:00:02 +0000

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.

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)

The Next Step: Goals Are Not Enough [recap]

Matt Corker — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:30:15 +0000

This past weekend, at UBC Alumni Weekend, I presented at a Next Step event on why simply setting goals doesn’t lead to achieving goals.

I introduced 5 of the “secret ingredients” to goal setting while walking attendees through a tangible process they could then use to set goals. For those of you who weren’t able to attend, the 5 elements of goal setting that could help make all the difference are:

1) The goal is written down. When I write down my goal, it becomes real. I can attach a date to it. I can clarify what I actually want. I free up my mental energy I used to remember my goal and put it towards actually achieving the goal. I can also come back to a written down goal to review, edit, and re-align it.

2) The goal is linked to a vision. If I only focus on my goal, I run the risk of feeling lost or unfufilled once I achieve it. However, when I create a vision of where I see myself in ten years, my goals are linked to a greater purpose and life. When one goal is achieved, another one can easily take it’s place. A vision also gives me the opportunity to free myself from the restrictions I have on my current life and just create my ideal life. Once I have a vision of where I’m going, how I’ll get there (my goals) fall into place.

3) The goal feels mandatory or required. By starting with a vision, and then working backwards to set 10, 5, and 1 year goals, I create a pathway towards living my ideal life. If a goal doesn’t have a strong connection to longer term goals and my vision, I may not be as motivated to accomplish it. When a goal feels required, I do everything in my power to go after that goal.

4) I ignore the little voice inside my head. The little voice inside my head, my ego, keeps me safe, secure and stagnant. It wants me to fly under the radar, stay within my comfort zone, and play small. It plays on my fears to stop me from setting a goal, sharing it with those around me, and, ultimately, loving my life. This voice is not mine and when I recognize that it isn’t mine, I take away its power and can reconnect with my authentic self.

5) I choose to act, and write my goals, from a place of compassion and connection. When I slip into a place of judgment (of myself and others), fear, anxiety, guilt, or of resentment I disconnect from my best self. I tell myself things like “I won’t be good enough until I make more money” and “I should have done that while I was younger, because now it’s too late.” In this place I make excuses for why I’m not my best self instead of taking action to create the results I want. When I step above that place into a space of compassion (towards myself and others), tolerance, connection, happiness, and of power I am able to authentically act and set goals.

Besides introducing these 5 secret ingredients, I also opened up my vision + goal setting sessions to the attendees (and now you lovely online readers). You can read more details about these sessions here. With only 30 in-person spots left before I head off to Denmark, I’d love to help you dive deeper into what vision + goals could look like for you.

Whatever you choose to do, choose it. There is no better time than now to start living the life you’ve always wanted.

Pick of the Post: Alex Goot – Rolling in the Deep / Someone Like You / Turning Tables (cover)

Let The Training Begin!

Matt Corker — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:03:28 +0000

Each day, I wake up in training. But this weekend marked the start of a little bit different training than I’m used to.

Saturday = Day One of marathon training!

Rob at Endorphin Junkies is officially my goal champion for my sub-4 hour marathon finish. I call him my goal champion because he is as committed to me achieving this goal as I am – which says a lot. I show up Saturday morning for my first EJ Run, with a bunch of rad folks, and the first question he asks me is “So – how long did you run before coming here?” He has already mastered rule one of being a goal champion: never settle for anything less than their best. And, after looking at the training program he outlined for me, my quads will definitely be givin’er over the next 15 weeks!

Sunday = Death Race training began! Watch this video to get an idea of what I’m talking about:

This 24 hour race puts Ironman to shame in my opinion. The course? Barbed wires, deep waters, and muddy mountains. All while doing tasks along the way that, they warn, may kill you. (It’s not called the Death Race for fun.) Luckily, my best friend Andrew Haas is the crazy one doing this race – not me! But when he asked me for “training challenges” to help him prepare, I jumped at the chance. I can be his goal champion no problem! You can follow his (absolutely insane) training at his blog and also help him by submitting your own challenge ideas.

While some training started this weekend, others came to an end. After the last few months of intense training, the students on the UBC Sauder School of Business team for the JDC West Business Competition are coming back to Vancouver with 9 awards – including the infamous title of School of the Year. Being a coach (another fancy title for goal champion) for four rock stars on the UBC Social team again was a highlight of my last four months. Watching this team grow and come together was a truly unexplainable experience to be a part of. I’m definitely gonna miss training with these gems!

So what are you training for? Better yet, who is your goal champion?

Pick of the Post: Black Eyed Peas – The Time (Dirty Bit) (official music video and theme song for Sauder, the champions of JDC West 2011!)

Presenting to the next Prime Minister

Matt Corker — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:03:28 +0000

I come alive when I am sharing energy with an audience. Be that in my spin class, on a stage with a mic, or doing a small training session. I just eat. it. up!

On the weekend, I had to privilege of presenting at the UBC Student Leadership Conference. Other great people on the bill included Imagine1Day‘s Adam Millard, Smart Cookie Andrea Baxter, Run For One Planet‘s Matt Hill & Steph Tait, opening keynote Drew Duddley, the gents from The Buried Life, and some pretty outstanding students and alumni from UBC.

A cool perk of the day was I walked away with some shiny hardware – a nice “Best of the SLC” award for my presentation on creative communication. (We drew simple pictures for 40 minutes. And I guess they really liked my triangles?)

A cooler perk of the day was I got to present to the next Prime Minister of Canada. The next ground breaking entrepreneur was also in one of my sessions. The person who’s about to create the next sustainable alternative to oil? There too! He was sitting beside the girl who is about to beat an athletic world record.

I refer to presenting at the SLC as a privilege because I get to play a small role in the story of those students’ lives. The who’s who and leaders of campus are out there in full force and I am humbled when I get to speak to them. Why? Because they are the ones who are just coated in potential. They are are bound to set this world on fire by being who they are being and doing what they’re doing.

Winning another award is great. But playing a part in the success of these great lives is what really keeps me coming back for more.

Pick of the Post: Jamiroquai – White Knuckle Ride (official music video)

The Highlights of 2010

Matt Corker — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:38:27 +0000

The end of a decade deserves some time for reflection. Each year, I have written about the most memorable moments of that year. It’s amazing to see how much my life and my self has changed since writing the highlights of 2008 and the highlights of 2009. With a ton of gratitude, I share with you the best parts of this past year:

January

Got accepted to be a performer and volunteer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
Warren Springer and I presented at the SFU Leadership Conference

February

A month of rehearsals and performances for the Olympics! I welcomed Team Canada into the Opening Ceremonies on stage and gave out glowsticks to athletes to get the dance party going in the Closing Ceremonies
Watching Canada become more proud to be Canadian – especially after we won that gold medal game

March

Jigging with great friends on St. Patrick’s Day – a great night as always!
Celebrating 4 years of Mr. Vanier

April

Traveling to Hong Kong to visit Rob
Driving to California with 3 of my best friends on a whim
Singing with Will Blunderfield in the recording studio

May

Reminding my Mom that “she’s got this” as she finished her first marathon

June

Starting to teach spin classes at the UBC Birdcoop
Emceeing the Vancouver Special Olympics with Dan Naiman
Watching brigs bring down the house in Vancouver
Celebrating the marriage of Matt & Casey Murray with everyone at Table 4

July

Moving into a new apartment and having one heck of a pad broiling to break it in
Dancing to Nelly & Kelly with Melinda on her wedding day
Starting my role at lululemon athletica and beginning to love the life I lead
Running around the streets of Vancouver for the Underwear Affair – 3rd times the charm

August

Creating my 100 before 100 list
Setting my goals with Haas & Zoe in Whistler
Singing goodbye to the best roommate as he headed off to Calgary
Camping, camping, and more camping!

September

Making a shift after attending the Landmark Forum
Emceeing SHIFTED for Chloe and the team

October

Dropping the story to create myself as a possibility after attending the Landmark Advanced Course
Doing Nia with Susanne Conrad at the lululemon athletica leadership conference
Doing downward dog with my sis, at sunset, on her birthday

November

Leading the volunteer team at TEDxVancouver
Surfing in Tofino with Doug, Steph & Zoe

December

Hiring a rockstar staff member to join our team before jumping on a plane to visit Yale University
Spending a week in Ontario laughing with family members (new and old) and great friends

Thanks for a great year. Time to create a year of greatness!

Pick of the Post: Ash Koley – Don’t Let Your Feet Touch Ground (official music video)

Powerful People That Get It

Matt Corker — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:56:54 +0000

These guys get it.

They are too young to drive and too young to vote, but that doesn’t stop them from getting it. We Day 2010 was just a celebration of the fact that they get it.

Erica Baker and Warren Springer also get it. In a big way.
They are contributing, standing up for things bigger than themselves, and helping others see how they can change the world.
All while doing something they love…

Warren & Erica: I am so amazed by who you are and what you’re up to! High-freakin-five! Congrats on rockin’ Rogers Arena with your infectious positivity!

Pick of the Post: Jonsi – Animal Arithmetic (official music video)