So you’re planning a youth conference or an assembly and you’re looking for a speaker. Do you know who you will hire? Do you know what your looking for?

Hiring a youth speaker can be a frustrating process. There are a ton of amazing and not-so-amazing youth speakers out there. How do you choose the best one for you and your audience??

Because my mom always told me to be nice, I decided to to tackle the issue of hiring a youth speaker in this cinematic masterpiece entitled, 5 Tips for Hiring a Youth Speaker.

I can only assume we will see it nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category.

Make Your Own Lunch TV: Episode 005 from Ryan Porter on Vimeo.

Destiny. Do you believe in it?

There are too many people who leave their lives up to destiny. They say things like, “it will happened if it’s destined to be.” or when they don’t get something they wanted they make themselves feel better by saying “I guess it wasn’t my destiny.”

The people who have what they want have it because they decided to. The people who live the lives they dream about are living that way because they took action. They didn’t wait for destiny to give them what they wanted.

Make Your Own Lunch is all about carving your own path, living life on your terms and creating your own destiny.

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Kestin Cornwall, Owner and Founder of eLLIPTIC Clothing and we talked about creating your own destiny.

Follow me on Twitter or join the Facebook fan page OR head here to learn more about me.

Make Your Own Lunch TV: Episode 004 from Ryan Porter on Vimeo.

There are a ton of people out there who completely live for the weekend. They spend the first half of their week talking about last weekend and the rest of the week talking about next weekend… and that’s because most people don’t love what they’re doing.

They are working in jobs that they aren’t passionate about or are studying programs at school that they have no interest in whatsoever.

One of the things that every person I have interviewed has in common is that they all love what they do. It’s hard work, a lot of hard work but they don’t mind working their butts off because it’s doing stuff that they love.

Find what you love and then find a way to do THAT.

I am not trying to make it sound easy. It’s not. It takes hard work, heart break, setbacks, failure and more hard work but the payoff is better than you can imagine.

This week I hung out with one of Canada’s fastest rising photographers Jaime Hogge. He is completely passionate about his work and shared some insight into how he became a photographer and what he thinks about doing something you love.

“That’s how you know when you are really doing something you should be doing… when you want to do it all of the time.” – Jaime Hogge

For more on Jaime, visit www.jaimehogge.com

Join the Make Your Own Lunch Facebook fan page here and follow me on Twitter here.

Make Your Own Lunch TV: Episode 003 from Ryan Porter on Vimeo.

So what do you want to be when you grow up???

I hate that question!

I had no idea how to answer that question when I was younger… Actually in elementary school I thought it was a real possibility for me to be a cartoon when I grew up. I thought at age 18 I would jut magically become a character in The Flinstones or GI Joe. Just hand in a resume, fill out an application then, BOOM. You’re a cartoon.

The possibilities seem so limited when you sit down and try to answer this question.

In high school, I was shown a chart with the possibilities for my future. If you co to Community College you can do these 10 jobs. If you get a 4 year degree from University you can do these 15 things etc.

The typical jobs on these types of charts are; doctor, lawyer, teacher, plumber, electrician, retail associate, car sales, real estate, graphic design, accountant, and travel agent. There was nothing on here that said founder of the largest DIY skateboarding company in North America or Entertainment Entrepreneur. You wouldn’t be able to find Youth Speaker or Youth Media Expert. I am positive that “guy who trades a red paperclip for a house” wouldn’t ever make the chart.

There are so many opportunities out there and so many more to be created. But here’s the catch: it’s up to you to create them!

You create them by taking chances, by talking to people, by surrounding yourself with people who can help you. You uncover these opportunities by asking questions, traveling, volunteering, reading and living just outside of your comfort zone.

In Episode 003, I speak with Norah and Ted to hear how they are creating their dream careers one skateboard at a time.

Join the Facebook fan page here & follow me on Twitter here

Make Your Own Lunch TV: Episode 002 from Ryan Porter on Vimeo.

This week I got to sit down with Abby Tobias from Sole Power Productions, a mega-entertainment company based in Toronto, Canada, to talk about how he got from high school to where is now. Which is borderline world domination.

He had some amazing stories and awesome insight but the thing that stuck with me the most from talk with Abby was when he said, “I walked into a place for something and got something totally different.”

He didn’t have all the answers from the beginning. He knew where he was and he had an idea of where he wanted to end up, so he started moving in that direction. Now he is living the life he wants to be living and having a bunch of ridiculous experiences along the way.

You know where you are. Figure out where you want to be and start heading in that direction. As I learned from Abby, you don’t always have to know every step, you just need to keep moving.

Join the Facebook Make Your Own Lunch Fan page by clicking here.

Ok ok, so I haven’t posted in a while. My bad!

I have been working on some awesome things for YOU! So don’t get too crazy.

Here’s what I want to get off of my chest:

Everybody deserves to do exactly what they want to do for work.

Imagine this: A job where you get to travel to some of the most amazing places on Earth. On your days off you can go scuba diving or snowboarding. You can volunteer in local communities or learn how to speak another language. You could go whale watching or paragliding. Basically, you get paid to be on vacation.

Sound too good to be true?

It’s not.

It’s time I introduce you to a little job known as a Club Med Gracious Employee. (Kind of a corny name, I know).

In case you don’t know, Club Med is a company that has vacation resorts all over the world. Usually in exotic locations like Brazil, the Caribbean, French Polynesia and Australia.

Club Med hires all kinds of people for the resorts. They hire DJ’s, scuba instructors, snowboard instructors, lifeguards, and archery instructors.

Honestly? Archery instructors?

Yup. Archery instructors.

They hire butchers, bakers, nurses, plumbers, excursion guides and many more.

Of course there’s a lot of work involved for these jobs and things can be tough working, living and spending all of your free time on the same resort but it can also be a lot of fun.

One of my closest friends worked for a Club Med in the Northern part of Japan. She worked as an organizer of Children Events. She got paid to organize tea parties and costume-themed days. She finger painted and played dress-up… Did I mention she was getting PAID for this stuff?

On her days off, she took snowboarding lessons and made friends from around the world.

How cool is that?

This post isn’t meant to be a giant advertisement for Club Med. It’s meant to open your eyes to the possibilities that are out there.

There is NO REASON why any of us should ever work jobs that we hate. There’s always a way to do what we love and a way to get paid doing it.

It takes hard work, a lot of focus, a lot of drive and a ton of dedication but it’s so worth it.

Of course there will be parts you don’t love. I mean, I love the work I do but sometimes the late-night flights and different time zones, rental cars and haunted hotels can suck (see pic). But getting on stage and speaking in front of thousands of students, reading their emails and getting to hear their stories makes everything worth it.

I am 100% in love with the work I do and everybody else should feel the same way about their work, their school and their life.

So if Archery is what you love, do THAT. Shoot those arrows straighter than anyone else. And teach others how to do the same and get paid doing it.

Bullseye.

For more info about working from Club Med, check this out

Now with that out of the way, here’s Part 2 of my interview with me.

How can I get started as a Youth Speaker?

Step one: Be real. Don’t try to be someone your not. Tell your own stories and share your own experiences.

Step two: Define your message. What will you speak about? Do you have experience overcoming obstacles? Are you awesome at setting and achieving goals? Are you passionate about equality? Whatever it is, figure it out and start spreading that message. Everywhere and anywhere at the beginning, get your message polished and ready for the big leagues.

Step three: Market yourself. Get a website, film a demo video, have some awesome photos of yourself taken, then send this stuff as your press kit/promotional kit to people who might be looking for a youth speaker.

Step four: Be on point. Once you get the chance to be on stage, put your game face on and do the best job possible. You can always improve so look for areas you can change or tweak before your next one.

Step five: Wash, rinse, repeat. Find out what you can do to improve for the next time, thank your previous clients, contact the new people and start the process again.

Do you ever get nervous?

Every. Single. Time.

Is it more important to be a great speaker or have a great message?

A great message is more important than being a great speaker. People want speaker’s who intrigue them and who they can relate to. I also think that an overly polished speaker can sometimes come off a little cheesy.

What if I don’t have my own story?

You do. Trust me. Everyone has a story. I promise.

Where can I gain speaking experience?

If you are still in high school there are a bunch of different school clubs you can join that have speaking competitions. You can also make sure you give 110% for you in-class presentations. You can join toastmasters or a local speaking group and practice getting up in front of strangers to get comfortable being on stage.

What’s the best part of your job?

Meeting new people! I love it. Every place I go I am constantly meeting the most incredible young people who inspire and energize me to keep doing what I do.

Do you have any final advice?

If you really want to be a speaker, contact a youth speaker in your area or on the internet and ask them the questions you have. I am friends with a ton of other youth speakers and every single one of them takes time each month to speak with or email people who are interested in their work.

I know quite a few speakers who mentor new up and coming speakers. Call up a speaker you are interested in learning from and ask them. What’s the worst that could happen?

And finally, act now. If you really want to try it out, find something you can do today that will help bring you closer to standing on a real stage.

How can people get in touch with you?

Check out www.ryanspeaks.com and go to the contact section or via this blog right here.

Anything else you want to add?

I like your shoes.

Thank you. I like yours.

Thank you.

If there’s a question you want to ask, now is the time. Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts.

Peace.

When you were a kid, how did you answer the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”

I remember thinking becoming an actual animal was a completely viable option. People would ask me, “Ryan what do you want to be when you grow up?” Fully expecting me to say “a police officer” or “an astronaut”. My answer surprised them every time.

“A rhinoceros.”

The person asking the question would then slowly look up at my parents who were obviously smiling ear-to-ear, and ask why I wasn’t wearing a helmet.

I could never have guessed as a kid, that I would be doing what I get to do for a living.

People like to call me a “Youth Motivational Speaker”. I don’t really like being put in that category because people then assume I walk around all day saying things like “you can do it!” or “just think positive thoughts!”

I am a person who has had some crazy experiences. I live the life I want to live and do the stuff I want to do and I want everyone to have the same freedom that I feel I have. That’s why I do what I do. I think everyone has the right and responsibility to do whatever they want (as long as it’s legal and doesn’t hurt anyone).

I get emailed questions A LOT. One of the most common questions is, “how can I do what you do?”

Well, lucky for you, we have an interview with one of the world’s most popular youth speakers, Ryan Porter (that’s me). I am also super stoked to have guest interviewer, Ryan Porter (psst that’s me again) asking the questions you want answered.

Enjoy & comment!

What was your first word?

You know this is embarrassing for me, do I have to answer?

Yes.

My first word was, “gunk”. In fact, it was my only word until I was 3 years old. I was special.

Did you always know you wanted to be a Youth Speaker?

I still don’t always consider myself a “youth speaker”. I think of myself as someone who is able to tell his stories in a way that people can relate to. People are able to laugh and learn from my experiences and mistakes and use them to learn how to live the way they really want to.

Have you had any defining moments in your career?

Yes sir. I’ve had a few. One moment that comes to my mind off of the top of my head is the time I spoke to a Behavioral Intervention group. These were students who were deemed “trouble-makers” or “at-risk”. A teacher actually called me in advance to let me know that the students were “hardcore” and to “be careful”.

After the presentation was done I was bombarded by students who thanked me for my stories and advice.

The room cleared out and one guy was still sitting in his seat. He was probably one of the toughest looking students of the group. He stood up and walked to the front of the room, came face-to-face with me. He looked up and I could see his chin quivering as if he was about to cry. He said, “Hey man, I just wanted to say thank you. You never know who’s going to be in your audience and how you will change their lives.”

He shook my hand, then walked out of the room.

So what makes that a defining moment?

Until that point I thought that speaking was about me. I realized that speaking has nothing to do with me and what I am going to say, it’s all about what the audience needs to hear, learn and leave with.

How can I get started as a Youth Speaker?

Great question…

—READ PART 2 HERE—

Maybe you don’t actually dream about a part-time job (some of you might actually have nightmares about it) but you need to stop asking your mommy for money. Yes, she loves you, she has to but you’re too old for that (money not love). Besides, a part-time job is almost as good for you as carrots.

Why?

A part-time job is a perfect way for you to learn how businesses work. You’ll have the chance to learn about yourself, other people and how they interact with each other and most importantly, you’ll get to make some money.

Here are 7 tips to getting an awesome part-time job.

1.  Think about it young Jedi.

There are more opportunities than just McDonald’s or Burger King. Think about what you actually want to do. What do you like? What do you hate? What direction do you want to go with your career after school is done?

There are some wicked part-time jobs out there and you’d be surprised at how many are linked to the stuff you are interested in.

Ask yourself this, “If I could have any job right now, what would it be and why?

2.  Set the scope. Take aim.

Look for places that are connected to what you’d like to do and then start researching them. That’s right, you will have to do a little work before getting the part-time job of your dreams. The research will come in handy when you start to work on your resume or prepare for an interview, trust me.

Once you’ve done your research and learned more about the companies you want to target, make a list of what you could do to help the companies or organizations that you have chosen. You can do your research using the internet, library or just talking with people who might know about the company.

3.  Patience my friend. Don’t send the resume…. yet.

Sending out resumes first is like sending out flyers or cold-calling, both are about as successful as the time you tried to change your little brothers diaper with oven mitts on. Most unexpected resumes get treated like junk mail, that’s spam – in paper form. Nike would never try to sell shoes by sending out flyers. Instead, they tailor their shoes and clothing to what customers say they want and then package and promote the product to attract buyers. YOU are the shoe, except with no check mark and more air. Your resume will be your sales promotion. Your resume will be much more valuable if the “customer” (your potential employer) reads it after meeting you, plus you will be able to customize your resume to their needs and wants.

Contact the company or organization and ask if you could speak with the person you need to see (an actual name would help here). Tell them you are interested in their company and you’d like to meet with them to learn more (don’t tell them you are looking for a job just yet).  After the meeting, either over the phone or face to face, start creating your resume. (PS remember to look sharp! The “I’m with stupid” t-shirt might not be the best choice)

If possible, when it’s ready, deliver your resume in person, to the person who has the power to say “yes” to hiring you. Don’t forget, if you are unsure of how to create a great resume, find someone who will help you.

4. Volunteering. It works.

“Pfff. That’s stupid. I want a job that I get paid for.” Whoa, take it easy. There’s no need to get in my face!

There are so many young people looking for work these days. You need to do something that sets you apart from all the rest. Volunteering is a great way to “taste-test” options and can provide you with the experience to get the actual job. Employers prefer to hire people they know and who better to hire than the person who has been volunteering with them. BONUS: Volunteer experiences look great on resumes and college or university applications

5. Game time. Prepare for the interview.
Thanks to our wonderful tips, you’ve landed an interview. Nice.

Plan it out first. Answer the question “Why should they hire me?” and list the reasons. Make a list of questions to ask, for example: ”What does it take to succeed here?”, “What are your expectations from your employees?”, “What concerns do you have about this position?”

While you are in the interview, take notes and pay attention to the answers and comments they make.

6. Send a thank-you note or letter and Follow-up

Send a thank you note or letter (a real one, not an e-card) to all those you met on the day of your interview, ie: receptionist, or if there is more than one interviewer, anyone who helped you get the interview. Send them right away – don’t delay!

After a few days, follow-up with a phone call to the interviewer to thank them one more time and to give more information about how you can help them. Remind them why hiring you is the right thing to do. Think over one of the questions they asked you that you can expand on during the call.

7. Rinse. Wash. Repeat. You might not get it on your first try. If you get a “no”, ask them politely for the reason. Then take that info and start the process for another company. Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

… Stay tuned to find out what you can do with your newly earned cash.

Last year I found myself hanging out on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii at the famous Pipeline Beach. I spent a couple of hours watching some of the best surfers in the world surf the biggest waves I had ever seen. They were BANANAS!  While I was watching the surfers, I noticed this guy who literally just sat there in the water with a camera getting pounded by waves taking pictures of the surfers. I was pretty interested in why anybody would ever want to do that and when he came onto the shore I made sure to talk to him and ask him what he was doing and more importantly, why he was doing it.

After talking to him for a while and he told me he was a surf photographer.  Maybe the best. Job. Ever.

He had a million stories (a million stories might be a slight exaggeration but he had A LOT) from traveling around the globe filming and taking pictures of the top surfers in the world. He talked about some of the crazy situations he had gotten into and he talked about struggling to get started as a surf photographer.

He told me about how most of his family thought he was crazy when he first started but he felt passionate about it so he kept pushing forward. Finally, he told me what it felt like to sell his first picture to a major magazine. He said since that first sale he knew that this is what he would do for a long, long time.

I asked him why he became a surf photographer and his answer couldn’t have been simpler, “I hate desks, I love surfing and I am not good enough to be pro.”

It’s that simple sometimes.

How come nobody ever talks about these kind of jobs? What are other cool jobs nobody talks about?

PS Take a look at this video and see what kind of work these photographers do.