RYLA...let me tell you about this amazing place that is full of enthusiasm, hope, excitement, fun, dreams, learnings, energy and so so much more...sound like a made up place where tree-hugging hippies might live?

Well maybe...but it exists!!!

RYLA stands for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), and is a week long personal development and leadership program sponsored by Rotary, aimed at developing the interpersonal and professional skills of young adults.

Yesterday I had the extreme pleasure, of again, going back to RYLA 9630 to teach a session on goal setting. I have been involved with this program since 2005, and it was on this week long residential, as a participant, that I met a good friend of mine and the technical master of this very website, Ryan Blunden.

This year in my goal setting session I walked the group through the GROW model. I will post about this model soon. It is a fantastic model that is simple and easy to use and helps give clarity around what you want to achieve and what options are available to you. It helps convert dreams and passion into action.

This youth program is one of a kind. Big dreams are made and participants are given the tools and confidence to come back into their every day lives and be the best that they can be.

If you are 18-25, or know someone who is, check out the RYLA 9630 website. This amazing residential program runs annually and every year, it changes lives for the better.

Thank you RYLA 2011 for an awesome 5th July 2011 and for helping me turn my very own new passion to action! Good luck with all of your first SMART steps and getting well on your path to succeeding that very important goal of yours. Remember to start small!