Matt Corker

My Dad (a pretty accomplished sales guy before he retired) would always attend the introductory sales training sessions hosted by his company. He would get puzzled looks and strange remarks throughout the sessions as new hires (and the workshop facilitators) never really understood why one of the top performers in the company would want to “waste his time in an introductory seminar.”

He would always reply with something like:

“A lot of this is review, but it’s important to be reminded of the fundamentals. But the real reason I am here is that if the new guys are learning anything different than what I was taught when I started, I need to learn that too. Because, if I don’t, I will be quickly left behind as they begin to create new best practices.”

This past weekend, I understood what my Dad was trying to tell me in these stories.

Since my second year of University, I have attended and presented at the UBC Student Leadership Conference. Last year, I had the privilege of coming back as an alumnus to present a workshop with Warren Springer – which was voted to be my 4th “Best of the SLC” workshop, and Warren’s first (but hopefully not last). Following my days as a student leader, I have become a lifetime member of the International Leadership Association and regularly read the latest research they publish on “leadership.” And, I must admit, nothing gets me more excited than walking through the Leadership section in Chapters and finding my next great read.

So, like many asked me yesterday, why would I “just attend” the Student Leadership Conference this year. I had no presentations to deliver, no responsibilities as a staff advisor – I was just participating and conversing with other great minds all day as a delegate. But MAN did I ever pick up some new “gold nuggets” (as my Dad would say).

They came from the student presenters that reminded me of the power of community.
They came from the alumnus who stood up and proudly said “Yes, I have my own successful business, a UBC degree and I’m only 18.”
They came from the conversations had at lunch, en route to workshops, and later that night at the bar.
They came from that toast to the invisible leaders given by this year’s Nestor Korchinsky award winner.
They came from the slam poet who opened the conference with a reminder about the importance of finding your own voice.

All these nuggets challenged me to apply a new lens to all the research and readings I had been doing. This generation of leaders is doing things (and thinking) a lot differently than I did when I was a student. And I’ll admit, if I don’t keep myself up to speed, “I will be quickly left behind as they create new best practices.”

There is a power in the moments where new knowledge is created – when things become clearer, when motivation is provided, or when new steps for action are unveiled. This year’s SLC had that power and I am so glad I was able to experience it. A huge congrats to the entire planning team.

You hosted something remarkable.

Pick of the post: Miike Snow – Black & Blue

… is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

- Marianne Williamson, Return to Love.

This lovely quote was read to me by a kickin’ yoga instructor, and good friend, Will Blunderfield, during one of his classes. After much convincing by my sister (who not so secretly loves him), I finally took his hot yoga class, and he totally rocked my muscles and my mind. His infusion of song into stretching was like nothing I had ever experienced – in the best way possible.

Anyone who can make my body burn while filling my head with music by Jason Mraz and truly inspiring quotes is more than talented in my books. If anyone is looking for a mind-elevating experience, be sure to check Will out at either Yogapod or YYoga | Northshore Elements. You won’t be disappointed.

Hope you have a namaste!

Pick of the post: Needtobreathe – Shine On

My staycation this year took the form of a “to do” list 2 pages long. This included everything from errands I needed to run, chores around the house that needed to be finished, phone calls that needed to be made, and everything in between. In classic to do list fashion, I also marked down a date beside each item to remind me when it needed to be completed by.

I took one look at this massive to do list and was immediately overwhelmed. Not a good way to start a staycation if I do say so myself. I needed to revisit how I was creating to do lists.

Enter the “to be” list! Instead of focusing on things I wanted to do, I focused my energy on the person I wanted to be. When people asked me “what did you do over the holidays,” I could then reply with “lots – and I felt so happy, healthy, organized, (etc) while doing it!”

Each day I would write down adjectives (note: plural) that completed the sentence: “Today I will be…” I would then look at my massive to do list and figure out which things I should accomplish in order to help me in being those adjectives. It’s a pretty simple concept that totally skyrocketed my productivity. Now, 16 days later, I have crossed off ALL of my 53 things to dos (plus some that never even made it to paper).

This may just be the way my “to do” lists of 2010 are completed…

Pick of the post: Jamie Cullum – Don’t Stop the Music (music video of this classy cover of Rhianna’s song)

It’s been a little bit longer than a year since I started this blog and what a ride it has been! From the random compliments on the street to the digital love I felt as people shared the posts through their networks, I am humbled to be able to brighten up your day or challenge the way you approach a problem.

A year of blogging also means 162 posts (holy wow!). With new subscribers every day, I feel like some of you may have missed out on some great stuff. I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some posts in which your fellow reader thought were worth reading and/or passing on.

Below are the posts from 2009 that received the most pageviews, pingbacks, or retweets … aka: people liked them:

1. Work and Life – the New Balancing Act: How I manage a life where work and play closely overlap
2. Be Unstoppable: What you can learn from one man’s “movement” (video included)
3. What Can Love Do Now: When Jason Mraz sings to you in a “secret show” in Paris, you can’t help but feel the love (videos included)
4. Accomplishing Greatness: How we measure being great
5. 8 Steps to Be Free From Student Debt … in 19 months: The title says it all
6. Looking for love in all the wrong places: Why “looking for love” doesn’t work
7. Changing Gears – My New Job: The lessons I learned to take on my current challenge
8. Why I’m Not An Entrepreneur (yet): Watch this video for your answer
9. Satisfaction vs. Salary: How/If job salaries influence job satisfaction
10. Rise of the brand-ividual: How people don’t just agree with your brand, but are your brand

I hope I didn’t miss any of your favourites. Feel free to add a post name in the comments section if you think I did.

Thanks again for being a great reader and contributor to this site and here’s to another great year together!

Pick of the post: K’Naan – Wavin’ Flag

This post is an annual tradition it seems. The highlights of 2008 were great, but the highlights of 2009 sure do shine! <insert groans of how corny that was here>

Why was this a great year? Let me share with you some of the incredible memories I have of the year gone by:

January

• Presenting an award-winning presentation with Warren Springer at UBC’s Student Leadership Conference
• Coaching the UBC’s JDC West Social Team  – who came home with a first place finish

February

• Helping the boys of Mr. Vanier 2009 learn some new dance moves (and my predecessor some tricks on making Mr. Vanier an unforgettable experience)

March

• Volunteering backstage at GM Place for The Power Within event – and getting to meet and spend time with Jamie Clark and Mimi Donaldson

April

• Having my great friend, Conor Topley, finally return to Vancouver after a year of adventuring around the world
• Making fun of Britney Spears when she came to Van-city and postponed her performance lip syncing due to the “smoke in the building“

May

• Determining my Style Statement: Bold Affinity (hat tip to my sis and Danielle LaPorte for this one)
• Auditioning for the Opening Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010
• Being there to welcome Run For One Planet back to Vancouver after a year apart – and many marathons around North America!

June

• Presenting at the CCAE National conference with Ryan Rodrigues from UWO on Web 3.0
• Being invited to attend the LEAD initiative presentation with Carl Wieman and John Kotter. The videos from this event can be found here.
• Spending a weekend on the island with Rob in the newly opened Black Rock Resort

July

• Travelling around Europe with recent grads from the University of California Santa Barbara – they were wild
• Attending a “secret performance” by Jason Mraz in Paris with about 50 other people

• Running around in my underwear for the Vancouver Underwear Affair – a summer tradition
• Visiting my best friend, Andrew Haas, in Burlington, Vermont with the fantastic Ange Cullen

August

• Watching Meg Fyfe become Meg Watkins in a beautiful wedding and hilarious reception (Dante!)
• Being with Steph as she finished Ironman Canada (and tweeting for her all along the way)

September

• Speaking about the “real way to network” at Sauder’s Frosh – hands down the most memorable presentation for me of 2009!
• Volunteering at We Day - pretty amazing to see the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, and Jason Mraz all on one stage
• Being in the 2nd row for, yet another, Jason Mraz concert – three times in one year!

October

• Listening to some ideas worth spreading at UBC’s TEDxTerry Talks
• Roadtripping up to Kelowna with Woo for some fun in the interior
• Starting my new job as the Alumni Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at UBC

November

• Dancing around UBC with some incredible friends as part of a little video project … stay tuned to see the release in 2010!
• Being a panelist for the all-male panel at the Young Women in Business‘ Beyond Pink Conference

December

• Organizing a very successful planning retreat for the Development, Student Services, Communications and Career Services teams within Science
• Celebrating one year with my incredible partner
• Officially joining the No’Mo’SoLo team – we’ll laugh about this one day I’m sure…
• Paying off all my student debt!
• Kicking off the best vacation yet with incredible friends and family all together – insert joke about Teen Beat here

Thank you to everyone who made 2009 what it was: a year to remember. I wish you all a safe and frickin fantastic new year. The best is yet to come!

Pick of the post: Janet Jackson – Make Me (music video)

Last year I wrote a post about the power of music and included DJ Earworm’s mash-up of the Top 25 Billboard Hits of 2008. If you didn’t get a chance to listen to it, here it is again:

Well, he has done it again for 2009! Another great mix of the songs that have made many of my dance parties over this past year that much better. Enjoy the mash-up and – heck – why not have a little dance party right now! (I sure did.)

“It is in the family that we first develop a sense of our identity, our values, our aspirations and our expectations for life. It is in our families that we have the least examined and most determining experiences. Because our family life was so powerful in influencing our views of leadership and because we often maintain an unconscious barrier to recognizing its impact, it is difficult to uncover the lessons we have learned and the messages we received.” [Source]

As I went around to the different Christmas celebrations with family this year, I was reminded of this passage that was quoted in a paper  I read in Global Leadership: Portraits of the Past, Visions for the Future. (This is an annual volume I receive by being a member of the International Leadership Association – a great group to check out if you are interested in the study of leadership.) The paper I am referring to is Dr. Marjorie E. Blum’s “Self-Defined Leadership: Exploring Family History to Enhance Future Leadership”

In her paper, Dr. Blum shows that “family profoundly influences leadership beliefs, values, styles and behaviours” and that “without awareness of the impact of their family, many potentially successful leaders have been derailed through family-based and unconscious choices.” She also mentions that “family psychologists have observed that we often re-create our family roles within work and social spheres” (i.e. If you are the peacekeeper of your family, you most likely play a similar role in work environments).

To help you better understand how the complexities of both your extended and nuclear family impact you as a leader, Dr. Blum offers these dimensions to explore:

1. Cultural history – How has your cultural identity shaped your actions and value system?
2. Rules – What was determined as appropriate? When did you find rules appropriate and when were they restrictive?
3. Pivotal events – How did you celebrate accomplishments or defining moments? How did you handle change, stress or challenges?
4. Roles and labels – What is your “assigned role” in the family?
5. Hierarchy – How was power and responsibility organized in your family? How did you feel about how decisions were made?
6. Boundaries – Who did you feel comfortable talking to? How often did you talk? What did you talk about?
7. Relationship Management – How did you show intimacy? How did you handle conflict management

Just looking back on the past few days with family, it is amazing to see what principles still play a role in my life today. As I start planning for the year ahead, I am feeling just that much more self-aware about my personal limitations and where I can really rock people’s socks off! Bring it on 2010 – my family and I are ready for ya!

Pick of the post: John Mayer – Heartbreak Warfare

Early last night, a couple friends and I headed out to the Coppertank for a low-key drink. Last night, however, was not just a regular night out – it was Christmas Eve Eve!

Christmas Eve Eve @ the Coppertank is an annual gathering started by some great UBC rowing crewmen. Every year, these ladies and gents meet for pitchers, pictures, and many good laughs. It has now grown to include other members of old TBird teams from Volleyball, Rugby, Swimming, and even Baseball. Needless to say, when the old crew started pouring in on our “low-key evening” it was incredibly nostalgic and really amazing to see old teammates.

(They are now coaching, rowing for Cambridge, competing on the Canadian Women’s National Rowing team, serving in the Canadian Forces, changing the world through Architecture, and working on visual effects on movie sets … to name but a few. A pretty rad bunch if I do say so myself.)

I then woke up this morning to receive a package in the mail from my great friend in Ontario, Ryan Ferguson. Frig – this dude makes me smile. For Christmas, he found a National Geographic picture of a Mens 8+ rowing crew, pushing off from the same dock in Vancouver I rowed off of in my last year on the team. He wrote a note that said:

I hope when you look at this picture you gain a little inspiration as you think about all those cold morning practices you had to endure as you pushed yourself to become stronger.

Truth Bomb! I owe a huge amount of gratitude to the men and women that shared those bitter cold mornings with me. Seeing them last night just reminded me of all the life lessons rowing taught me over those 3 years.

While I won’t get into too much detail now, I just wanted to write this post to send out a huge thank you. That team pushed my physical and mental abilities every morning. I can’t show them enough gratitude for all they helped me accomplish and enough praise for all they are now accomplishing after our years together in those boats.

Here’s to spandex unisuits, blistered hands, and enough good times to make waking up at 5 am seem like a great idea.

Pick of the post: Kid Sister – Right Hand Hi (music video)

… it only gets brighter from here!

Since Winter Solstice (the shortest day of the year) was yesterday, that means our days from here on in will be getting longer. Meaning more daylight to spend together, with family and friends, going on adventures and enhancing our communities.

Yesterday was a great reminder that our future certainly is bright!

Shine on, dear reader. Shine on!

Pick of the post: Jason Mraz – Anything You Want (“…to put a little bounce in your step”)

If you live in Vancouver, you have taken at least one of these photos:

My friends and I were joking around a while ago as we tried to determine how the peace sign became so prevalent in photographs. As we searched for answers, one friend brought up the video you see below. While it may be long, it is hilariously awesome at giving you the full run down of the many Photographic Posing Accents (PPAs) you can use to “enhance” your pictures. Click and enjoy:

Pick of the post: Lil Jon – Give It All Ya Got (music video)