This week's adventure is taken in the company of Shaun “SF” Banks, the creator of Camp Warrior King which helps thousands of youths in the metro Atlanta area gain exposure to activities they would not normally have. He has been working in youth and personal development for nearly 15 years and is the founder of the You Can Have It All youth conference and magazine, he is the author of three books, ‘Persevere, Overcome, Win’, ‘Raising Extraordinary Kids’ and ‘Be Unstoppable Living Life’. 

Shaun and Taylor talk about what it means to start your own business, how to find what you’re passionate about and turn that into a life that you choose for yourself and how to help kids with things like influence, exposure and confidence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• I never had a passion to work with youth at all, I wanted to work in business. But I noticed there was such a big need for youth to be developed. You always think there’s all these programmes to help kids but there wasn’t in the 2000s, so I thought maybe there’s a way to do both, to be able to make a good living and help people in the process.
• My Aunt and Cousin were murdered in a domestic violence situation, and I always wanted to do something in their honour. 10 years after they were murdered, I set up the I AM Defense Institute in their honour. That led me to all the other businesses, initiatives and books, so I’ve been busy!
• A lot of times kids won’t want to try something new because they’re afraid. What usually happens is they try it, realise it’s great and they’re going to have a good time. Sometimes you get that from the parents, because they haven’t tried the activity (horse riding, spelunking, shooting) so we ask the parents to come with us and participate which builds up a community and promotes quality time to spend with their kids.
• Society says that you should have a six pack and muscles, but if you’re not that guy in your head and you go to the beach you wear layers because you’re uncomfortable in your own skin. But you look down the beach to a guy that’s as big as a whale with his shirt off, laid back and having a ball! He’s enjoying life because he could care less about what society thinks he should look like. That guy is being unstoppable living life. Take your shirt off and you’ll notice no one really cares and isn’t going to judge you because they’re worried about themselves.
• I’ve used anger to give me the fuel to write one more paragraph, cut one more page or analyse something else. There are ways to channel it, to give you a push. But I don’t know if that's always the best way. To build something while being excited is much better, especially to sustain in the long-term.

BEST MOMENTS 

‘A couple of years after starting my first business I had my first child and that was a life-changing experience for me.’

‘The ultimate motivation is happiness. It means different things to different people, but it’s universal.’

‘When a child understands the working of a firearm they’re less likely to be curious about it and hurt themselves or someone else.’

‘Success is relative. So you should determine what it means to you, you pick the elements you want to go after and live those things. That’s being unstoppable living life.’

‘Don’t dwell on things people did wrong to you, they probably don’t remember, they’ve moved on, you haven’t.’

VALUABLE RESOURCES

The Adventures Of Self

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.adventures.of.self/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The.Adventures.of.Self 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Shaun “SF” Banks grew up with a single mother who cleaned houses and buildings for some of the most wealthy and elite people in Seattle, WA. He was instilled with a strong work ethic to pursue big dreams and help others. One night, my his was rocked by a nightmare when his uncle murdered his aunt and cousin in a domestic violence dispute. SF’s close-knit family was devastated and he vowed to do something in their honor when he became an adult.

In 2007, SF opened the I AM Defense institute against his profound disinterest in working with youth. I AM Defense shows women and children how to protect themselves from attackers. Since that time, he has committed his life to the personal development of youth.

SF is the creator of Camp Warrior King, which helps thousands of youth in the metro Atlanta area gain exposure to amazingly-fun activities.  He is also the founder of "You Can Have IT ALL!" Youth conferences. This conference did its first international event in Uganda, East Africa before the COVID pandemic hit. He has recently launched "You Can Have It ALL!" Youth motivational Development Magazine. The only motivational magazine for kids of its kind in the world.

SF is the developer creator of Team HoTT SAWCE. THS are cartoon characters that teach children how to believe in themselves using fundamental personal development principles using the Team HoTT SAWCE Success Stacks, which are words and phrases kids should learn to increase their self-efficacy.

SF has written 3 books: ‘Persevere Overcome Win’, ‘Raising Extraordinary Kids’, and ‘Be Unstoppable Living Life’.

A portion of all proceeds from his businesses maintains the "You Can Have IT All!" orphanage in Bombo, Uganda, where it currently supports over 30 children with shelter, food, and school supplies.

https://www.campwarriorking.com/

https://www.ychiamag.com/ 

ABOUT THE HOST

Taylor Roark is the founder of Galliant Trainings, which guides and facilitates individuals and organisations in Creative Purpose.

He has worked variously as a school bus driver, a blacksmith, a Wall Street lawyer and a developer of offshore wind farms. He has lived on 3 continents, travelled to more than 50 countries and currently resides in London, England.

Taylor is a keen cyclist, an amateur photographer, an alchemical writer, a weekend DJ and a Taoist at heart. He chooses to live life as a mythical adventure.

“The adventure you seek in life is yourself!”

CONTACT METHOD

Website: https://www.galliant.life/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-roark-a852169/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetaylorroark/ 

Clubhouse: https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@galliant.life 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.adventures.of.self/

This show was brought to you by Progressive Media