Moving out, up and onwards - to a new site!

A friend of mine, James Basnett, approached me earlier this year to discuss how to improve my website. "You owe it to your readers" he said. And I agree! You deserve the best. While I don't consider myself the best, I'm still gonna attempt to deliver some ab-fab ideas and content to ya!

After sitting down with James, we dreamed up the design for a new website where you could follow my posts, new presentations, and online activity more comprehensively. His ideas laid the groundwork for my new site. Andre Malan then came to the rescue to help make the design a reality and actually build the site. He downloaded his last 3 years of website design experience and computer science knowledge to me in a way that actually made sense and equipped me with the tools to maintain the site myself. I haven't learned it all, but am definitely thankful that Andre is a patient tutor!

Long story short - the new site is up and running! (WA-freakin-HOO if you will). I will no longer be posting on this blog, so be sure to check out/subscribe to my new site at: http://thatsacorker.com

To entice you, there are already 6 new articles up there just WAITING to excite your eyeballs:

1. Making Someone's Day 101
2. One for One; the story of TOMS shoes
3. Benevolence by Jason Mraz
4. Friendships for Life
5. Why is Jim Collins so optmistic about the future?
6. Looking like a fool for a reason

I look forward to continuing our conversations on the new site.
I believe a celebratory dance party is in order. Wanna join?

High five!
- Matt

Great things are happening!

2 weeks and no blog post!?! Not like me, I know.

Don't fret though. Great things are just around the corner! I am in the middle of updating my website to make it easier for you to connect with me and get that hit of inspiration you're looking for.

Am I doing this alone you may ask? Of course not! We can never do anything worthwhile without the help of those around us. I am very fortunate to have some incredibly talented friends working on this with me. I can't wait to show you what we've got up our sleeves for you!

Stay tuned!

“I’m sorry, but that’s not in my job description.”

My beef with job descriptions stems from that simple, yet toxic, saying. I agree that it helps one in saying no to unrelated tasks and stopping project scope creep, but too frequently it is used as a shield you hide behind when faced with change or new business.

What happens when a new project or initiative comes up at work that we both agree needs to be done? It’s not in your job description and it’s not in my job description, so does the work just not get done then?

Similarly, are you cautioning your team not to take initiative or work on larger projects because you fear that the work “isn’t in their job description?” Who needs career development opportunities or people who are passionate about their work anyway right?


A job description is definitely helpful for recruiting and hiring your staff. But don’t fall into the trap of trying to use it to motivate and manage them once they have signed the dotted line. You’re better than that!



Pick of the post: Slow Club - When I Go

What can love do now?

Before I left for my familiarization trip, Rob asked me why I like to travel. My response: I love experiencing the different "hubs of love."

A hub of love: a location in which people congregate to be refilled with feelings of goodwill, high hopes, and love. My favourite examples are:

• Airports: anxious arrivals, heart-string pulling departures, reconnecting family and lovers. You can't help but smile when you see all those signs!
  
• Breath-taking viewpoints: high atop a mountain, staring over the ocean, sunsets in a park. These remind us about how amazing this world is.
• Dinner tables: endless conversations, laughter all around, great company. Be it at home or abroad, gathering around a table at the end of the day helps me decompress and re-energize.
• Live concerts: dancing to backbeats, new renditions of classics, singing with friends
• .... this list could go on for a while.
  

In Vancouver's YVR, I saw the goodbyes of a little boy to his mom as he walked through the international departure gate.
In London, I got to dine with Conor and Lindsey over an incredible (UBC) family dinner.
In Paris, I watched the sun go down behind the Eiffel Tower, watch a young man get down on one knee during the aforementioned to propose to the love of his life, and saw Jason Mraz perform for a select few at a midnight acoustic show!

He opened the show with this little number (and the inspiration for this post). Note - I had to stop near the end because my memory card was dying:



Sidenote: Mid-show, he asked what happens on July 1st. The ladies around me and I all yelled out "It's Canada Day!" (When I warned them pre-show about my dancing, I let them know I was from Canada and there to celebrate Canada Day with my favourite artist). Here is a better clip of this song than the one I took ... you can even hear us:



When bad news, poor manners, or ignorant people come your way, just ask yourself "what can love do now?" If I was to add a little bit more positive energy, more goodwill, more love, what could it do to turn this uncomfortable situation around? It has been my mantra for this trip ever since his show, and I'm thinking it will do me well when I get back too! Everyone needs a little bit more love in their life!

Shameless plug: please don't forget to donate to my Underwear Affair race. I am only $50 away from my goal and, with your support, we can help uncover a cure for cancers below the belt!



Pick of the Post (to honour MJ): Jason Mraz with Nikki Kerkhof - Billie Jean

I won't be on here...

...because I'll be here:


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I am leaving tomorrow to evaluate a service provider who may potentially offer a travel program for new grads at UBC. I am hopping on the first leg of UCSB's grad trip to see if we could do something like this at UBC. (Tough job, but someone's gotta bite the bullet).

I'll try to keep you updated on this blog and on my twitter, but I apologize in advance for any delays. Gotta enjoy being offline at least a bit while I'm over there!

In the meantime, why not help me raise some funds for cancer research for those taboo cancers down there? Click here to donate. With your support, I'll be ready to run around Van-city in my underwear when I get back! How exciting is that! Practice underwear runs abroad perhaps?



Pick of the post: Lenka - Don't Let Me Fall

Like a good pair of boxers, I need your support!

This summer I am running around Vancouver in my underwear. Yep, I'm baring it all to run 10 km in the heart of the city in this year's Underwear Affair. And I need your help (in more than attire recommendations)!


Why am I doing this? Easy. It's for an incredible cause.
This event raises both awareness of and funds for cancers below the waist (prostate, cervical, ovarian, uterine, bladder, colorectal). These cancers account for 42% of all cancers diagnosed in BC and are responsible for 32% of cancer deaths in our province. But since these are so "taboo," they do not get the attention (and funding) they need. My Dad had a scare with a cancer below the belt before, so I want to make sure there is available support for him (and others) if a scare turns into reality. I also just love advocating for the little guy (no pun intended).

I need your help in three areas:

1. Monetary donations. Please visit my personal page to donate to me or one of my teammates.
2. Spreading the word. By you ReTweeting this, posting it on your Facebook, etc, we help raise the awareness that these cancers need.
3. Race "support." Even though it is a short run, cheering fans on July 11th are VERY welcome!

I also have a great idea of how to thank all my supporters, so you know you want to be included in that. What is it? Donate now and you'll be the first to find out!

Thanks everyone!





Pick of the post: Black Eyed Peas - One Tribe

Giving overdue gratitude

Today is Jaon Mraz's birthday and, as his blog post suggests, today is also a great day to give out some well deserved gratitude. Today I'd like to send out some huge thanks to two teachers from my yester-years. When I was in Ontario two weeks ago, I stopped in to see these two - still working hard in my old high school.

Andy McClure: Media Art / Photography Teacher Extraordinaire.
I spent more hours inhaling fumes in a darkroom or creating art pieces by combining print ads thanks to him than I’m sure any of my other teachers would have liked me to. He warned me though - “If you take my class you will never enjoy TV, magazines, or movies the same way again.” Maybe it was the fumes, but his warning was quite accurate. He made my brain look for patterns in images and people, find colours in film noirs, and think about what good “branding” really means. He pushed me to create art, not just to be creative with art. A big thanks to him for opening up my mind.

Shawn Perry: Math Teacher -slash- twin?
While art is expected to get us thinking outside the box, you would expect that math would keep one's mind inside it. Not with Perry over here. My best memory of his efforts to infuse creativity in Math was to give us writing assignments to further our understanding of mathematical equations. Who knew that y=mx+b could be the inspiration for a comedic script! He was young, energetic and looked strangely like he could have been my older brother. After checking in recently, the similarities and resemblance still exist. And now he is a social media addict! Weird, but cool all at the same time. He was always a great example of the power of being authentic and embracing your creative side (even when faced with confining parameters). A big thanks to him for demonstrating how to add personality to your profession.

Click below to read this awesome cartoon he found:

Even though this gratitude is long overdue, know that I think this two gents are exemplary teachers that I wish more students could have in their educational experience.



Pick of the post: Asa - Jailer