Sounds like a movement

Follow the Leaders!

At Base camp (what we call ourselves here at the provincial office) it can feel like climbing Everest at times. We’re always on an uphill climb towards behavior change, but man when we get there it’s gunna be a rush! We need people who understand how to take action and mobilize people who will make a difference. Luckily, Saskatchewan in motion has Farley Flex as a buddie. Farley is probably most recognized for his work as a judge on Canadian Idol but he does a lot more than that. He was the manager of Canada’s most successful rapper Maestro Fresh-Wes. Right now he is the President and CEO of Plasma Management & Productions Inc., a music supervisor for film and television and radio host. Farley was the founding music director and former VP of Business Development at FLOW 93.5, Canada’s first Urban and first black-owned and operated radio station.

His tremendous passion for community development has also gained Farley recognition as a social activist, master mentor and humanitarian. In 2007 he received the Harry Jerome Award for Entertainment and Community Service. In 2005, he received the Bob Marley and Community Role Model award. Farley is also a leading international motivational speaker and he works to motivate youth in First Nations and other marginalized communities. This past October he was announced as a National Ambassador to UNICEF and more recently was appointed to the Special Advisory Council to the League of Human Rights. Wow hey? I feel really lucky to know and learn from him.

Come Together

This past weekend the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) hosted thier annual conference and in partnership with Saskatchewan in motion they brought Farley Flex to Sask to speak as one of the key notes.

 Farley is an ambassador for the Saskatchewan in motion movement, which is made up of so many people. He is the busiest guy I’ve ever met! That dude is constantly on the move, but to his credit he’s always totally present in what he’s doing. We once asked him what he does in his “free time”.  His answer was one of the most memorable pieces of wisdom Farley has ever shared with us: “It’s all free time if you choose to do it.” During his speech he went into a little more detail about what exactly that means.

Explore Your Motivations

Farley made the point that in our society’s lifestyle of consumption, globalization and innovation, we make more to spend more. We have more stuff and things get hectic.  He posed the question, do you ever stop and really ask yourself what makes you make choose to live the way you do? Or are you simply swept up in whirl wind of life set out before you? To me the idea of taking a hard look at life and the way I live it is daunting. There is so much out there to be conscious of. When you start to look at what we impact on a daily basis it can be overwhelming. If I were you I’d be asking, “If it sucks so much why would I do it?”  

The short answer is accountability. The long answer is just as simple, but Farley has a way of making it hit home a little harder. In a few more eloquent words he said that your life is not your own and you leave no legacy if you don’t know why you make the choices you do.

Constructive Criticism

I think Farley’s best quality is his ability to respectfully point out the truth, good or bad. Sometimes we can convince ourselves we are covering all the bases. We say, “heck ya, I’ve got this cased” Farley observes what he sees and shares it with people. His intentions are never to offend, insult or demean. He just really wants to make the world better. He may notice a gap no one else saw (or pointed out) or catch an angle that was missed. He always tries to work to a solution. Listening to Farley made something I always think seem even more important:  it’s never wrong to notice something and try to make a change for the better!

You Can Make It Happen

He’s very good at making you want to run out of the building and make something happen! I’ve found the same thing from other people in the past, but when you try to go and do something you find yourself going - great, but how? Farley was awesome cuz he tells you! It doesn’t matter if you want to go and make your province more physically active (a good cause I think) or make healthier snacks available to your school. Once you’ve decided you want to make a change you want to know how. You need to be empowered. Once you take a look at your life and decide this is why I make the choices I do, you already are. Deadly eh? It’s that easy to be empowered. , Who’d a thunk it? 

As Farley described being empowered and empowering others he used a phrase that was really powerful. He pointed out that when you’re aware of the way you live and the legacy you are building (big or small), you have a seamlessness of work and life. How awesome does that sound? No one likes working for something they don’t care about or without a goal in mind. Working towards what you believe in, sounds to me like what life should be about.

Farley just has such a cool way of saying things. He uncomplicates things that otherwise seem so twisted. With all this beauty and simplicity, he’s also realistic. He never says life is a Disney movie where tiny cartoon birds are going to make this all happen Cinderella style. Without a doubt, there will always be challenges to living the life you choose. This could mean going against the grain and changing entire behavior systems - like making the shift from a stagnant inactive lifestyle to a get up and go physically active way of life. Oh and remember just because you decide one thing about how you’re going to make decisions doesn’t mean you can’t add, subtract or change your mind whenever something changes. As long as you make an informed decision it’s all yours!

Be the Change!

Possibly the best part of feeling empowered is that you have created an excellent reason for the people around you to care. When you’re passionate about a cause you engage the people in your life in the cause too.  When you feel good about yourself and your choices, you make others feel good, and now you have a platform for discussion (Look at you go!). Once you’ve set off a discussion, you’ve brought about the opportunity for change (Could you be more awesome?)! After all that awesometivity  (yup, you can do more!), you and the people around you will respect all that you can do, and now you have the confidence you need to take action (Man you are good!)! Once you’ve made an impact (it doesn’t matter how big or small) you’re rewarded with the simplest part. You’ve been successful. Go ahead and tell people. Share the amazing work you’ve done, because now you have the opportunity to empower someone else in their goals! Before you know it you have a whole network of empowered change makers .. it sounds a lot like a movement.. hmm…

Farley closed his key note with a crazy little analogy that is so cute, but so true.

“There are 2 kids in a sandbox. One has a shovel and one has a bucket. Figure it out! “

What are you going to do to figure out what keeps you and those around you from living an active well rounded life? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Kenji:)