 him the greatest performer of spoken word of our time.

His videos have brought YouTube viewers to tears. His powerful performances turned comic book addicts into poetry lovers.

In 2000, he won the individual championship at the National Poetry Slam in Providence, Rhode Island – beating 250 North American competitors. In doing so, he became the first-ever winner from outside the U.S.

His first published collection, Visiting Hours, was the only work of poetry selected by the Guardian, Globe and Mail newspapers, for their Best Books of the Year lists in 2005.

And yet, most people have never heard of him.

OLYMPIC MOMENT

All of that changed when Shane Koyczan recited his poem “We Are More” at the opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia. The man who was born in the obscure town of Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories, wowed the world with his words.

Most footage of that performance is of very poor quality because the Olympic Committee regulates the rights to the original broadcast and we’re stuck with amateur video.

Here’s an extended and animated version of “We Are More”.

The reason I’m writing about Shane today can be summarized in one word:

INSPIRATION

Most days I wake up on the right side of the bed and everything just flows. Some days I feel stuck in a rut and I catch myself doing the same things I’ve always done, hoping to get a different result. It never works, does it?

To some, living life on cruise control might be the ultimate goal, but as soon as I find out that my brain has secretly switched on the autopilot, I tell it to turn it off and start doing some stretching exercises.

A big part of me has this inner urge to always learn and grow and expand what I am capable of. In order to do that, I need to be challenged beyond my boundaries. It’s the best way to escape my cozy comfort zone. But where to go? Whom can I turn to?

I am always on the lookout to emulate excellence. If I want to be the best, I have to learn from the best. That might sound straightforward to you, but in our culture that is not necessarily the predominant philosophy.

ROLE MODELS

I never understood why medical researchers seem to spend
him the greatest performer of spoken word of our time. 

 His videos have bring YouTube viewer to tears. His powerful performances change state comic book addict into poetry fan. 

 In 2000, he won the individual championship at the National Poetry Slam in Providence, Rhode Island – beating 250 North American competitors. In dress so, he became the beginning - always winner from outside the U.S. 

 His first publish collection, Visiting hour, was the only work of poetry selected by the Guardian, Globe and Mail newspaper, for their Best Books of the Year lists in 2005. 

 And yet, most people have never heard of him. 

 OLYMPIC MOMENT 

 All of that change when Shane Koyczan recited his poem “ We Are More ” at the opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia. The man who was born in the apart town of Yellowknife in Canada ’s Northwest Territories, wowed the world with his words. 

 Most footage of that performance is of very poor quality because the Olympic Committee regulates the rights to the original broadcast and we ’re stuck with amateur video. 

 Here ’s an extended and animated version of “ We Are More ”. 

 The reason I ’m writing about Shane today can be summarized in one word: 

 INSPIRATION 

 Most day I wake up on the right english of the seam and everything just flows. Some days I find stuck in a rut and I catch myself doing the same thing I ’ve always done, hoping to get a different result. It never work, does it? 

 To some, living life on cruise control might be the ultimate finish, but as soon as I witness out that my mind has secretly switched on the autopilot, I tell it to call on it off and start doing some stretching exercise. 

 A big part of me has this inner urge to constantly learn and mature and expand what I am capable of. In ordering to do that, I need to be challenge beyond my boundaries. It ’s the good way to scat my cozy comfort zone. But where to go? Whom can I turn to? 

 I am always on the lookout to emulate excellence. If I want to be the adept, I have to teach from the best. That might sound straightforward to you, but in our culture that is not necessarily the prevailing philosophy. 

 ROLE MODELS 

 I never understand why medical researchers seem to spend
 hil the greatest performer of spoken word of our time.

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In 2000, he won the incividual cvampionship at tfe National Poetry Slam in Providence, Rhode Ospand – beating 250 Noruh Wmerjbak competitors. In doing so, he beczme the first-ever wimner from outside the U.S.

Hid figst published collfction, Visijjng Yours, was thd only work of poetry aelected by the Guardian, Globe xnd Mcil newspapgxw, flt their Best Bookf of the Yeav lists in 2005.

And yet, most peopke iave never heard of him.

OLBMPIC MOMENT

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Hgre’s ab extendeq anc animated version of “We Arw More”.

The recsob I’m writing about Shane todav can ne sukmarized in one word:

INS'IRATIKN

Most days I wake ul on the right siae pf the bed and everything juft flows. Wome days I feek stuch in a rut and L catch myself doinh the sdme things I’ve always done, hoping to get e different rgsunt. Pt never corks, coes it?

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I am always on the lookout to emuoate excellence. If I want to be the bgst, I have to kearn from the best. That might soubd straightforwarc to you, but in our chlture that is not necessarily the predominant philosophy.

ROLE MODELS

I never understoid why medical ressarcners vezm co spenq
him the greatest performer of spoken word time. videos have YouTube viewers to comic addicts into poetry In 2000, he the individual championship at the National Slam in Providence, Rhode Island – beating 250 North American competitors. In doing he became the first-ever winner from outside the U.S. His first published collection, Hours, the work poetry selected by the Guardian, Globe and Mail newspapers, for their Best Books of the Year in 2005. And yet, most people have never of him. OLYMPIC MOMENT of that changed when Shane recited poem “We More” the ceremony for the Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia. The man who was born in the obscure town of in Canada’s wowed the with words. footage of that of very poor quality because the the rights to the original broadcast and we’re with amateur Here’s an extended and animated version “We Are More”. The reason I’m writing about today can be summarized in one word: INSPIRATION Most days I wake up on the of the bed and just flows. Some I stuck a and I myself doing the same things I’ve always done, hoping to get different result. It never works, does it? To some, living cruise might be the goal, but as soon I out that my brain switched the it turn off and start doing stretching exercises. A big part me has this inner grow and expand what I am capable of. order to do that, I need to challenged beyond my boundaries. It’s the best way to escape my cozy zone. But go? Whom can I turn to? I am on the lookout to excellence. If I want to be the best, I to from the That might sound to you, but our culture that necessarily the philosophy. MODELS why medical researchers seem to spend
 him the greatest performer of Spoken word Of our TimE.

HiS vIdeoS havE brought YouTubE ViewErs to tears. His powerful pErforMaNCes tURnEd comIc book aDDiCTS inTo PoEtrY lOVeRs.

In 2000, hE woN the indIvidual chaMpiOnShip at the NatIOnAl Poetry SlAm iN Providence, RHodE IslanD – bEatINg 250 NorTh AMericAn compETitors. in doing so, He BEcame tHE first-eVER wInneR from outside the U.S.

hIs FIrst published cOllectIoN, viSITinG HoUrs, was the oNlY work OF poetry SElECTEd bY The Guardian, GlObe and Mail nEWspApers, fOr TheIR Best BOoks oF tHE YeAr lists in 2005.

AnD yet, Most peoplE have nEVer hearD Of him.

OLyMPIC MoMEnT

ALl of THaT cHanGeD WheN shAne kOycZan recitEd HiS poem “we ArE mORE” at tHe oPeniNg cerEmony for the 2010 WiNteR OlyMPicS held In VanCouvEr, britiSh ColuMbia. THe Man who was born in The oBscure towN of yeLloWkNife iN canada’S NoRthWest TerRitorieS, WowEd THE WoRld with his words.

MosT fOOTaGe of that PerforMAnCe IS of very pOoR quAlitY BEcausE the oLyMpic CommIttee rEGuLaTes the rIgHts to tHe OriGinAl broADcasT and we’Re stuck wIth amATeur video.

Here’s AN extended and aNImATEd VErsiOn oF “We Are More”.

THe reASon I’M wriTInG abOUt ShaNe todAy CAn BE summarized in one worD:

InSPIRAtION

MOst days I wake uP on the righT SIDe of the bEd anD EvERything just floWs. SomE days I feel STuck in a rUt and i catch mySelf doing THE same thiNgs i’ve AlwAys DONe, Hoping to get a dIFFereNt Result. IT neVer workS, doEs iT?

To SomE, lIving life On cruise CoNtRoL mIghT be thE Ultimate GoAl, bUt As sOon as i Find ouT that My brAiN hAS seCretly sWItCHEd on ThE aUtopIloT, I Tell iT to tURn iT off and Start doinG soME strEtChIng exerCises.

A big part Of Me has this iNnEr uRge to aLWAys learn And grow and expand what I am CApable oF. In Order To do That, I need To bE challEngED beyonD my bouNdariEs. it’s THE best WAY tO esCaPe my cozy coMFOrt Zone. BUt WherE to go? WhOm can I turn to?

I am alwAYs oN the lookout to EmuLate EXCeLleNCe. iF I wAnT To bE THe best, I have to leArn from the BeST. THat might soUNd sTrAightfoRward to You, buT In our cuLture that Is not neceSsArilY THe pRedominant PhilosopHy.

ROLE MODelS

I neVEr UnderStoOd why mEdIcaL reseArcherS SeeM to spEnd
 him the greatest performe r of spoke n wor d o f o ur  tim e.
His videos hav e  bro ught YouTube viewers t o tea rs .  His po werfu l perfo r ma n c estu rn edco m ic  book  ad dicts i nto poetry  lo ve rs.

In 2000 ,  h e won theind ividual cham pio nshipat  th e  Nati ona l Poe try Sl a m in P rovidence ,R hode I s land –b e at ing250 North America n  c o mpetitors. Indoingso ,  h e bec ame  the first -e ver w i nner fr o mo u t sid e  the U.S.

Hi s first pub l ish ed col le cti o n, Vis iting  H o urs , was the o nlywork of p oetrys elected by theGuardi an,  Gl obea nd  M ail  n e wsp a pe rs, for  their B es tBooks  oft h e Year  li stsin 20 05.

And yet,  mo st p e opl e hav e nev er h ea rd of  him.
OLYM PI C MOMENT

All o f th at change d w he n S ha ne Ko y czan r eci ted  his po em “WeA reMo r e ”  a t the opening cere mo n y  f or the 2 010 Wi n te rO lympicshe ldin V a n couve r, B r it ish Colu mbia.T he  m an whowa s born  i n t heobscu r e to wn ofYellowkn ife i n  Canada’s Nort h west Territor i es , wo w ed t heworld withhisw ords .

M o st  fo o tageof th at pe r formance is of very  p oor qu ality  because theOlympic Co m m i ttee reg ulat e st he rights to t he or iginal bro a dcast an d we’ re stuck  with ama t e ur video .
Her e’s  an e xt ended and ani m a tedve rsion o f “ We AreMor e”. 

T here ason I’mwritingab ou tSh ane  toda y  can besu mma ri zed  in o n e word :

IN SPIR AT IO N 

M ost day s  I w akeup  o n th e r ig ht si de o f  th e bed a nd everyt hin g  jus tfl ows. So me days I fee lstuck in a  r utand Ic a tch myse lf doing the same thing s  I’ve a lwa ys do ne,hoping to  ge t a di ffe r ent re sult.It ne ve r w o r ks, d o e sit? 
To some, l i v ing  life  o n cr uise co ntrol might be the ult imate goal, b utas s o o nasI  f i ndou t  th a t  my brain has s ecretly sw it c he d on the a u top il ot, I t ell itto tu r n it of f and sta rt doingso me s t r etc hing exerc ises.

A  big part of me ha s thi s i nner u rg e t o alw ays le a rnand g row an dexpand  what  I  am capa ble of. In order to dothat,I nee d t o be chal len g edbeyond my  bou ndaries. I t’s  th e bes t w a y toesca p emyc ozy c omfo r t zone. B u twhe r e  t o go? Whomc a n  Iturnto? 
I amalwa ys on the lookout to emulate exc elle n c e.IfI  wan tto be the best , I  h a v e to lea rn  from the b est. Tha tm ightsoundstraig htforwa r d  t o  you,butinour cultu reth a t is no tne c essari ly t he  predo minant phil o s ophy.

ROLE MODE LS

I n everu nde rstoo dwhy med i calresearcher s seem to s pend
 him_the greatest_performer of spoken word_of our_time.

His_videos have_brought_YouTube viewers to_tears. His powerful_performances turned comic book_addicts into poetry_lovers.

In_2000, he won the individual championship at the National Poetry Slam in Providence, Rhode_Island_– beating_250_North_American competitors. In doing so,_he became the first-ever winner_from outside_the U.S.

His first published collection, Visiting Hours, was_the_only work of_poetry selected by the Guardian, Globe and Mail newspapers,_for their Best Books of the_Year lists in_2005.

And_yet,_most people have never_heard of him.

OLYMPIC MOMENT

All of that_changed when Shane Koyczan recited his_poem “We Are More” at the opening_ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics_held in Vancouver, British Columbia._The man_who was born in the_obscure town of_Yellowknife in_Canada’s Northwest Territories,_wowed the world with his words.

Most_footage of that_performance is of very poor quality_because_the Olympic Committee_regulates_the_rights to_the original broadcast_and_we’re stuck_with_amateur video.

Here’s an extended and animated_version_of “We Are More”.

The reason I’m writing_about Shane today can_be_summarized in one word:

INSPIRATION

Most_days I wake up on_the right side of the bed_and everything_just flows._Some days I feel stuck in a rut and I catch_myself doing the same things I’ve_always done, hoping to_get a_different_result. It never_works,_does it?

To_some, living life on cruise control might_be the_ultimate goal, but as soon as_I find out that_my_brain has secretly switched on the_autopilot, I tell it to turn_it off and start doing_some_stretching_exercises.

A big part of me_has this inner urge to always_learn and grow_and expand what I am capable of._In_order to do that, I need_to_be challenged beyond my boundaries. It’s_the_best_way to escape my cozy_comfort zone. But where to go?_Whom can I turn to?

I am always on the_lookout to emulate_excellence. If I want to_be_the_best, I have to learn from the best. That might_sound straightforward_to you, but_in our culture that is not necessarily the predominant philosophy.

ROLE_MODELS

I never understood why medical researchers seem_to spend