http://www.ylcc.com/index.php/site/index/ en stu@ylcc.com Copyright 2009 2009-07-06T09:52:07+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/turn-the-key/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/turn-the-key/#When:09:52:07Z One of my favourite phrases that I heard from my dear friend Robin Sharma was the idea of “the power of start”. Simple concept but yet so true. In order for any change to happen in our lives we must simply start the process. We can hum and haw all we want. We can research and debate the pros and cons of any change, but the excitement doesn’t happen until we actually start the process. Don’t be afraid to start small. We call them 1% action steps, small, sometimes tiny little movements towards the goal. It may not seem like much but it’s the act of the start that gives us the momentum to push, to grow and to complete whatever it is that we are trying to accomplish. So start today, make the change, start your engine! PS - YLCC 2009 started today, it’s so exciting to watch the 100 new campers arrive with such energy and enthusiasm. They are about to start their journey of leadership! Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning and Growing 2009-07-06T09:52:07+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/hallmark-happiness/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/hallmark-happiness/#When:18:06:43Z Here I sit on my deck on a beautiful sunny Sunday, I reflect on my good fortune. I have three children. All amazing and unique in their own ways. I am a single father and don’t get to see my kids nearly as much as I would like or probably should. Today is also Father’s day. The holiday was started in 1910 and became an official holiday in 1972 after president Nixon signed a congressional resolution. It’s mostly celebrated in North America. The day really became big when the Hallmark greeting card company realized there was plenty of money to be made. More money is made on Mother’s day then Father’s day but there were no shortage of people lined up yesterday buying a card at the last minute. Please don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the idea of a day dedicated to recognizing the role of a father in a child’s life. Their role has been downplayed for most of history, their rights have been pushed aside in most custody cases. I am all for a one day “special” high five, a nice hand made card and a cup of tea made for me. I think though that we NEED to celebrate our loved ones; family, friends and colleagues every single day. It’s not in a card on a specific day that has great impact, it’s the phone call when you least expect it or the hand written note that arrives in October for no reason. Those are the moments that I would cherish much, much more. So today celebrate your dad, grandfather or friend who works hard to raise his children. The real challenge and gift is to do it again some other day, not on a calendar but in your heart. Please follow me on Twitter. I will be sending out a FREE Twitter Cast called “Breaking from the heard” on Friday for all those that are following me in Twitter. https://twitter.com/ylccstu Family Life, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2009-06-21T18:06:43+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/clarity/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/clarity/#When:18:16:37Z I miss journalling. I Journal. I should journal more. There’s so much to journal about! What do you journal about? Journal… is that a diary? So many of us live our lives like we drive cars. Sometimes it’s smooth and then sometimes we find ourselves spinning in a snow bank or deep mud. We are in a car (living a life), we are going somewhere (we have a job, family, car, vacation in the distant future), we are pressing down the gas (moving forward slowly), spinning and spitting up dirt and snow (making mistakes whilst moving in some direction). Eventually without persistence and dedication we give up, call a tow truck to pull us out (turn to quitting, drinking, sleeping, depression or plain anger). If we are lucky a car will stop and people will help push you out (teachers, friends, colleagues, coaches, ministers or parents). Why is it that some people never seem to get stuck in the “mud”? Why do some people drive 10 times more then we do and yet never seem to use their CAA/AAA card? Simple, they have more clarity. They have a clear and precise destination in mind. They have taken methodical steps to achieve their goals one at a time. Each time they get a little stuck they pull out their journal and reflect on the path they started from, the achievements that got them to where they are now. They look at the goal (end destination) and see if a course correction is needed. They ask the tough questions. They realize that to succeed in any part of life the more time you take to plan (journal, ask questions, adjust the course, become problem solvers rather then life blamers), the better the journey will be. What are the steps you take each day/week/month/year to take responsibility for your life? If the answer is none, not many or this sounds like stuff for chicks, you may want to reconsider the next thing you do or step you take. It can start now. Get more clarity. Get a journal, write the date and this statement… “At the end of my life I want to have accomplished these ten things…” Write the list, if more then ten, great! If less then ten keep asking yourself for more. This could be the first step in a beautiful adventure. Start now! Leadership 2009-06-17T18:16:37+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/silence-is-golden/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/silence-is-golden/#When:15:28:08Z I am away at a wonderful retreat just North of Toronto. Leaders from 15 nations have gathered to spend an intensive weekend with Robin Sharma. I strongly encourage you to visit his website to see all the amazing tools and resources that are available to you. We spent some time in silence yesterday. For some it was very hard to sit in absolute quiet, others embraced it. I haven’t written in so long. The longest I have gone in almost 4 years. Why? I think it’s because I had nothing really to say. I was so busy. Busy figuring out how not to be busy. Don’t we all do that sometimes? Spending time at this retreat, although I am a facilitator it is a rejuvination of my spirit. My 5 week absence has been 5 weeks of silence in a way. Time to think, reflect and focus. Take sometime today and sit in pure silence. Think about all the aspects of your life, everything. Write out what you are “busy” doing. Sometimes we find in the end that we don’t have to be. You can be quiet, it’s ok. Leadership 2009-06-07T15:28:08+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/positive-pandemic/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/positive-pandemic/#When:15:08:00Z So much news over the last week about the Swine Flu. I am in fact a person that was in Mexico for the beginning of this “crisis”. I have been in quarantine for the last 5 days. I am fine. I feel as if the world is almost excited about the negative news. It got me thinking about a different type of pandemic… a positive one. What if we tracked positive acts that happened around the world. You would turn on the news and see a world map showing positive acts happening in real time. Instead of WHO (World Health Organization) there would be WPO (World Positive Organization). It would be so exciting not depressing. I am all for it, I think if we focused the amount of media time on positive actions rather then negative hype the world would be a better place… Ok I have to go now there’s an update on CNN about the positive flu… Leadership 2009-04-30T15:08:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/seventy-three/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/seventy-three/#When:16:01:20Z Here’s the amazing thing. My father is 73 years old. He and my mom who is 70, have been living in the jungle for 5 weeks in Costa Rica. Their days are full of adventure. Hiking through the mountains, riding rafts down the river, waking at 5 am to swim under a waterfall. I just got a bunch of pictures from them. The one I have included is of my father repelling down a cliff into a warm pool at the base of a waterfall. He’s 73 years old. Stop putting off the life you were destined to live people. Do something amazing today. His actions have inspired me for sure. Family Life, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2009-04-06T16:01:20+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/rejuvenate/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/rejuvenate/#When:14:04:25Z I am sitting at my dining room table. Steaming cup of coffee in my hand. My windows are open. The song of a thousand birds echo from the trees. I close my eyes and feel their excitement to be awake. They are soaking up the brilliant morning sun. I look out to the grassy hill in my front yard. The long grass has been pressed down by the snow. It looks like a heard of wild animals had perhaps stampeded through. Amongst the open yard there are two radically different worlds. A small patch of snow is holding on. Defying the warmth of the sun. Refusing to melt away into the soon forgotten season. Inches away, a small patch of neon green bursts through the trampled grass. Reaching for the sun. Its tiny leaves stretched outwards like a father waiting for his child to fall into his arms. I see myself as both the snow patch and the green new growth. Holding onto my past, trying not to let go of the coldness of what I know needs to be cut free. I live though for new growth… reaching for brighter, warmer days. To grow and learn and be stronger, more alive. What are you doing today to grow? Let what you know needs to… go. Spring. Rejuvenate. Leadership, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2009-04-02T14:04:25+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/whats-your-best/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/whats-your-best/#When:13:31:32Z 4 years ago I attended a conference that changed my life. I was working hard at my business, the business of leadership development. I was doing the same thing I had done for years and years. Making small changes, doing little things. Then I was invited to spend a weekend with Robin Sharma in Toronto at his Absolute Best Self Weekend. It quite honestly changed my outlook on life and how I perceived my limits. Within two days I had created a new plan for my life, my business and my future. I continue to use the tools I learned at ABS every day. I also can’t tell you how many great people that I met that are now friends. One of the most powerful nuggets of wisdom I picked up was a quote by Arthur Schopenhauer “Nearly Everyone takes the limits of their own vision as the limits of the world. A few do not. Join them.” That single quote and the skills that I learned at ABS transformed my life. Is there a quote or an event that has changed yours? It’s good to remind ourselves that we need to challenge ourselves daily to be better, to do more. Please take a moment and share a quote here on the STUpendous that has had a great impact on your life. If you are interested in spending three days that can transform your life I strongly encourage you to experience ABS! Leadership 2009-03-28T13:31:32+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/short-sweet/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/short-sweet/#When:19:26:55Z I am sitting at my favourite Starbucks enjoying a latte. I know all the staff, I am a regular. The manager is sitting at the table beside me. She has just promoted a young barista to a shift supervisor. I am happy to see her so excited. I open my Macbook and look at my dozen new emails. “I don’t know it you heard?” says the manager as she leans over to me. “No, what’s the news?” I reply. “Sandy the other Starbucks Manager, her husband passed away on Sunday.” “How?!” “Sudden, don’t know all the details. Went into hospital on Wednesday and was gone on Sunday.” “How old?” I asked. “39” “I’m 39.” We were all silent for a few minutes. Life is short, we need to make it sweet. Be great, be awesome. Stop complaining about silly things that are truly silly. Hug your children, love your spouse, smile at a stranger, lead without title. Now. You know this stuff. I talk about it all the time. This is not new. “The sad part about it is we all go back to our lives and not think about it in a few days.” the manager adds as I empty my inbox. True. Need to stop that, need to stop. Goal Setting, Leadership, Family Life, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2009-03-25T19:26:55+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/celebrate/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/celebrate/#When:11:53:11Z Just a quick BLOG today. It’s St. Patrick’s Day and I hope everyone enjoys this the most green of days. I challenge you though to do it wisely… you don’t need to get drunk to celebrate. Please be safe, approximately 207 people die or are seriously injured each day in Canada from drinking and driving. Please know that the only people that truly benefit from you drinking to excess is the companies that make the drinks we buy. More money is spent every year promoting the use of alcohol than on any other product on the market.  The alcohol industry generates more than $65 billion annually and spends more than $1 billion on advertising. Please remember A.C.E. today and every day… Awareness - Choices - End Results. Leadership, Family Life, Learning and Growing 2009-03-17T11:53:11+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/focus/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/focus/#When:18:57:19Z My dearest friend returned fro a three week life changing program at the Hipprocates Institute in Florida. She is a breast cancer survivor and went there to detox and I mean DETOX! I won’t get into the details of it, but it was serious! When we got together for a tea yesterday I asked what she would tell someone about what she learned if she could only tell them one thing. She said… “Focus, commit and follow through.” If you do that with anything in your life you can change dramatically. Think about those three simple but powerful steps today. I am. Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning and Growing 2009-03-09T18:57:19+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/perspective/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/perspective/#When:16:34:00Z I would walk up the path to the shop almost every morning to say hello. In at 5 am there wasn’t much of a chance that you wouldn’t find Gord already there, cleaning up his workshop, painting a door, fixing one of the tractors. You knew he was there, he had the morning news playing or perhaps the all oldies station. Humming to himself, tapping his feet. “Morning my son!” came the chipper and fatherly voice from the back of the shop. “Morning Gord! How’s the day lookin’?” I would reply. “Incredible, did you hear the birds this morning? Incredible!” That was Gord, pretty much every day. Until he got sick. After a mis-diagnosis by the local hospital… Hernia they said. He moved to Calgary to be closer to his son. When the pain continued he went to the Alberta hospital. Not a hernia at all, nope. Cancer. He has battled it for the last three years and we have thought about him often, hoping and praying for him to get better. I hadn’t seen him since he left. Had a couple of telephone calls, a few holiday cards back and forth. Then on Sunday morning came a knock on my door. There he was Gord and his wife. Big hugs all around, so good to see him. We all gathered around the dining room table to catch up. It was great… until… Henni leaned over to me and said, “Gord’s here to say goodbye. The doctors have said he has 6 months.” SLAM! Wow, what do you say. I just tried to smile and soak up the moment. His smile, making everyone laugh at the table. Henni, wiping away the tears that were forming in her eyes.” After about a 45 minute visit, I went to show Gord the Dining hall, we renovated it since he left. He said he was so proud of us, of me. He gave me a big hug. Just before he left he said, thank you for letting him be part of YLCC. It meant a lot to him. Then he drove away, tears in both of our eyes. It’s strange to think… I may never see you again. I felt empty. Life has a strange way of trying its best to show you its fragility. My dearest friend Laura who is 29 is recovering from her Chemo for Breast Cancer, another example of how life couldn’t care less if you feel you’re to young or to good to be hit by its incredible power. It may not be fair, but it’s life. I was diagnosed in September with progressive MS and that is scary as well, who knows how my life will turn out from this point on. I don’t plan on getting sicker, but I can only do so much. What I do know is that I am getting less and less patient with the petty little problems that people (me included) waste their time and energy on. Complaining about their situation, their cards that they were dealt, the place they live, the way a friend treats them. Here’s the point. YOU can CHANGE anything YOU want. The new rip in my jeans doesn’t deserve anger, it deserves to be fixed, or patched or perhaps to make some styling seventies jean shorts out of them. People who complain about their weight while eating a sticky bun should stop and look in a mirror. Put it all in perspective. I remember being crushed in high school by a girl who broke my heart, devastated in fact. I was trying to remember her name the other day…. perspective. How much time did I waste being upset? Yes, I know that at the time it was important but that’s because I was unable to put it in perspective! My daughter was sick last night, she was coughing and hacking. At 2 am she began to cry because she just wanted to fall asleep. I started to get a little frustrated, thinking ‘come on just take a drink of the water I gave you suck it up’... then I thought of it from her perspective. So I got up, talked to her, wiped the tears away, fluffed up her pillow and went to the 24 hours drug store. I purchased some couch medicine and returned to give her a tablespoon of the cherry flavoured concoction… within 30 minutes she was asleep. Thankful, I did my job, I’m her dad. Nothing else matters. I sat in my bed at 4 am, thinking of Gord and saying good bye. I thought of my life and my kids. I think I need to keep working on putting things in perspective. I need to focus on what’s truly important. Today could be the day that it all changes. For you as well… Leadership, Family Life, Learning and Growing 2009-03-02T16:34:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/doctors-orders/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/doctors-orders/#When:15:27:00Z I am a baseball fan, not obsessed, but a fan. My team is the Toronto Blue Jays. Roy Halladay is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Won the highest honour a pitcher can get, the Cy Young. Won 20 or more games twice. Was part of 5 all star teams. Good at what he does. A.J. Burnett, another pitcher, left the Blue Jays this year to sign a BIG deal with the New York Yankees - 86 million dollars. He was asked about his time in Toronto, he said he learned a lot from the Ace Halladay. He learned from one of the best. Halladay was asked what he thought of the compliments that Burnett showered him with… here’s his response; “It’s nice to hear those compliments, and I’m glad to be a part of that…but I think I learned things from him as well,” said Halladay. “And that’s the great part about baseball, if you keep your ears open and pay attention, you’re always going to learn something from somebody.” Roy hit the nail right on the head… except that statement isn’t only true in baseball it’s true in life. Keep your ears open. Listen. Learn. Lead.   Leadership 2009-02-19T15:27:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/lessons-from-a-tea-cup/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/lessons-from-a-tea-cup/#When:20:15:00Z Sitting in a Starbucks, just finished interviewing a great young man for a possible job with our organization. I asked him what his passion was… great question. I was looking around the coffee house and saw a tea cup for sale, it has a tag attached to it that read… sip. talk. write. read. eat. listen. be. I love that. Aren’t those powerful words and actions. I like how each word is followed by a period. Which means that each one is singularly important. We need to SIP. We need to TALK. We need to WRITE. My favourite is BE, because we need to sometimes stop pushing for tomorrow and BE in the moment. Live in the moment now, do what you love now, cherish the moment now. It was a beautiful night this past Sunday and the sky at my home was incredible, millions of stars. My daughter suggested that we put on our winter gear and grab the sleds and enjoy the night. So much laughter… beautiful. My favourite moment, my BE, was when we lied down in the snow and looked up… magnificent. That was a time to not think about the next day, week or month, but to BE in that moment. Write down each of those words and then write a little after each word. Sip - Who do you have coffee with? Talk - Who do you have conversations with, are you spending enough time in good conversations? Write - Do you journal, write letters (real letters, cards, notes)? Read - What are you reading? Gossip rags or great books? Eat - What do you eat? Good food, bad food, healthy food? Listen - Are you listening to yourself, your body, to what matters (two ears, one mouth for a reason). Be - Are you in this moment. Enjoy it! Write your list, in your journal and perhaps share it here on STUpendous BLOG. Maybe you will inspire someone else with your list. Leadership, Family Life, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2009-02-17T20:15:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/there-is-a-difference/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/there-is-a-difference/#When:16:05:00Z I am sitting in the Apple Store at The Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. I am so excited about the vibe… I want to buy three more Macs. Here’s why Mac is SO successful, they take customer service to a completely new level. There are more then a dozen Apple reps walking the floor, but not so much to sell, but to help. I do mean help. Yesterday we came in to just make some inquiries about Mobile Me and ended up having a 30 minute chat with Scott “our” guy. He spent so much time with us. Answered every question, calmly. Then Angela mentioned that she was having some issues with her iPhone. Next thing you know Scott had made us an appointment to get her phone looked at. No charge, no hassle. All the staff wear t-shirts that say different cool sayings like, “I could talk about this stuff for hours.” or “Not all heroes wear capes.”, there are other fun cool sayings. I am sitting across from a man who is about… 60. A young man from Apple, wearing a shirt that says, “No pain, all gain.” is spending tons of time with him, no frustration, no time constraints. It’s not like when you go into a Future Shop or Best Buy and everything is password protected and they hover over you like you’re a thief. It’s friendly, it’s… cool. That’s the what a leader is… different then the mass, friendly, helpful and a hero. Oh, I just had to add this. Angela just met with Matt our “Apple Genius”, explained her challenge and then Matt said… “Ok, let’s get you a new phone.”. Done, no other questions. Awesome. Leadership 2009-02-12T16:05:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/cani/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/cani/#When:13:14:00Z I am a lover of learning. I love to learn it’s that simple. A true leader is in constant evolution. If someone says they “know it all” then they have stopped growing, growing is all about who we are as humans. I was listening to an audio program yesterday while I was running (great time to learn) and was hit with an awesome idea. The idea of CANi. I put the I in small case because that’s what you do (iPhone, iPod). Here’s the HUGE Idea… CANi stands for Constant And Never ending Improvement. That’s what life is all about, constant improvement. If you stay the same and do the same stuff and live the same routine eventually you will get left behind, depressed, stagnant… you get the idea. The greatest leaders, organizations, companies are committed to CANi. In everything they do, every single day! So here’s the question, are you committed to CANi? The answer should be a resounding YES! Ask yourself these three questions before you fall asleep at night, write it in your journal or simply tell someone. 1. What did I learn today? 2. What made me think today? 3. What do I want to learn tomorrow? I would challenge you that if you don’t have an answer for number 1… you need to think about CANi! Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning and Growing 2009-02-09T13:14:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/it-all-matters/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/it-all-matters/#When:17:20:01Z Just read an article today about Michael Phelps the multi gold medal winning US swimmer. It seems that he was photographed at a party with a hash pipe, smoking… drugs. Ok, I know it’s not a big deal, an elite athlete, millionaire now, what’s a little puff between friends. I can tell you how BIG of a deal it is. He has now lost over 2 million dollars in corporate endorsements, with many more looking at contracts with a fine tooth comb… for a way out of their relationship. I googled Michael Phelps today and found over 51,000 images relating to the story, 285,000 web links and a new Facebook group. What we do every day, in an instant can ruin a lifetime of hard work. I am always worried that I will make a mistake and be wrongly labeled or maybe properly labeled. What we do in today’s world is and can be placed on the internet so quickly that, like a tattoo, it can be hard and costly to remove. Take time today to think about what you say, do, how you act, who you associate with, where you find yourself and what situation you put yourself in. If you know that something you are going to do could cause you possible ramifications then maybe you should just say no… Think twice act once, it may cost you more then 2,000,000 dollars. Here’s a great question to ask yourself… “Is what I am about to do going to make me, my family, my current or future kids proud?” If not, maybe reconsider! Side Note: I never add on to my blogs but I did want to add on a thought due to some of the comments. I want to be clear that I am not judging Mr. Phelps, we all make mistakes. What I am saying in 2009 we no longer can live as life care-free as we once did. One mistake can possibly be broadcast to the world almost immediately. It is important again to think twice and act once. “It may take 30 years to build a reputation. It can take only 30 seconds to destroy it.” - Jim Collins Leadership, Learning and Growing 2009-02-02T17:20:01+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/there-right-there/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/there-right-there/#When:10:16:00Z I love getting up early, very early. Love it. Truly! I was up today at 4:30 and I was reading some great quotes. Check out this one. “For lack of attention a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day.” —Evelyn Underhill I am not sure who Evelyn is but she hit the nail on the head. I had three of our summer staff come visit yesterday and they went for a walk around the property. When they came back they commented on how beautiful everything was. True, so true. Take a moment to today and look around you and see the loveliness all around. It’s right there, there and there… Leadership, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2009-01-27T10:16:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/today/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/today/#When:14:27:00Z Today is an important day, the most important day, in fact thinking about it right now, I believe this is the most important day of my life. Sure, there have been days that stand out as spectacular, even life changing, but today has to be number 1. I am sure at this point you are wondering what I an talking about? Stu what’s happened? What is the big news? Did you win a lottery? Did someone donate 1 million dollars to camp? Did Jennifer Aniston ask you out on a date? Were you named Time Magazines Person of the year? NOPE! Still the most important day though!! Still confused? Ok, I will let you in on why today is SO huge, for all of us! It’s because we are alive. We have a choice to live fully! I know, I know… cheesy! But stop and think about it though. Isn’t it great to have an opportunity to do something with your day? To follow up on an idea! To spread love and kindness, to laugh and play! I am in Kingston this morning and I was enjoying a morning coffee at the hotel looking out over the frozen lake, sun shining, bouncing off the white snow and ice. I was reading the paper and opened it up randomly to the obituaries… I started to read… Died at 91, 87, 93, 78… I started to think wow those are full lives. “Survived by their three children 8 grand children and 2 great grandchildren…” Then I came to Mike’s obit, “Lost his battle to bone cancer at 16, mike is survived by his parents, two brothers and his dog Corky. Mike lived each moment to the fullest, making us laugh even on his last day.” Sixteen, wow. I bet you Mike would have liked today, it would have been the best day of his life because he got just one more. So, today is the most important day of my life… thank you for being part of MY journey and thank you for reading the STUpendous BLOG! Now go and have the greatest day of your life! Leadership 2009-01-24T14:27:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/long-time/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/long-time/#When:01:39:01Z It has been a long time since the last blog… I have been busy. Trying to get my year started and create days full of accomplishment and joy. Life has a way of pushing you, giving you a challenge here and there to see if you’re on the ball or if you are missing the point. I have to admit to you that it has been a hard start to my 2009. I started a really big project and I am struggling to get it done. I have set myself a fairly lofty goal that if I complete it for 365 days has the potential to change my life. It’s not a diet or an exercise plan, it’s a way of living. It’s a conscious choice to be a leader in my own life, if you can’t lead you how do you lead others? So I apologize for not being here. I am committed to being better at that. It takes a little swallowing of my personal pride to say that I am not doing all that I can each day. It’s also something that you need to recognize before you can change it. So… I am recognizing it. What are you NOT doing that you thought you might be doing in 2009. What New Year’s resolution have you had problems sticking to? Here’s the good news, it can be January 1st any day! You can start again tomorrow. It’s your life and there’s no rule saying when you can or can not make a change! So get to it! Leadership 2009-01-16T01:39:01+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-still-pond/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-still-pond/#When:11:44:00Z When I was a child I used to live by a giant pond. It may have in reality, been a tiny pond but as a small boy it seemed giant. I used to wade in knee deep and catch frogs and bring them home to keep as pets only to be told to release them later by my parents. There was a big old apple tree that we used to climb and rip off the crab apples and see who could throw them the furthest, if you hit the pond you were king. Then there were those days when you would sit by the waters edge and be in harmony with the crickets, the bull frogs and the birds. On those days I would peer down and see the reflection of a boy with unkempt hair and dirt on his face. Sometimes I would wonder if I would ever grow up, if I would stay that boy forever. Reality is I grew up. We all do. Some faster then others. Now as man in my 39th year of life, approaching 40 I stop and reflect. Some people I know spend their days still avoiding the reality of getting older, they fear the idea of being more mature, or responsibility. They still drink like they did when they were 21 years old, they sleep away their days with excuses. I even have a friend who lives with his parents… 39 and still at home. He says he has it “perfected”. Maybe he does… who knows? I have other friends still who are executives in big companies. Making lots of money and holding great positions of power. Although I wonder if that choice has cost them some of the innocence of life, some adventure. Then there are a few people I know who travel the globe choosing to live the ways of a transient, a gypsy. Country to country living off of this adventure called life. As I sit in my home at 5:55 am on New Year’s Eve day and write this blog I reflect back to that pond and then travel through my life. Looking at the adventure that it has been. The places I have gone, people I have met, the mistakes I have made and the celebrations I have been part of. I wonder what will come next? I wonder where I will be in 12 months. Who will I be in one year. I will be different, but how? The amazing thing is, as opposed to when I was a child catching frogs by the pond I am in charge. Sure life can throw you obstacles and challenges but it’s how I, as an adult deal with them. I wonder now if I was able to look down at that reflection in the pond what and who would I see? Who would look back at me? At the end of each day, after spending hours at the pond I would hear my mom or dad’s voice yelling for me to come home. I would run to my house and be full of stories, many I wouldn’t tell, many would remain my own secret wondrous adventure. Then after dinner I would find my bed and fall asleep dreaming of what was next, what would happen tomorrow? Never knowing what the next chapter would hold. It’s the same thing today. I have more control of my reactions but no more control of the day, or year that shall unfold, but I shall make the most of it. Happy New Year to all the STUpendous BLOG readers. Thanks for your comments and thoughts. I love writing it and I love that people read it. These are just my thoughts, not always right and quite often up for debate, but they are mine. Each year at this time I write my top ten wishes for the year so hear goes my top ten for 2009: 1. A cure for Cancer. 2. My dear friend Laura to get better. 3. A cure for MS. 4. Strength for my sister in law Arlie. 5. Patience and understanding. We all could use more of that. 6. For all of my family to all have a healthy and happy year. 7. For my nephew CJ as he embarks on his new journey to the West. Be safe and be wise. 8. For Brenda and Rich’s baby. May it be healthy and full of joy! 9. YLCC, OSLC and the YLCC LTC to have another great year! 10. I wish for PTY to be a success and that I have the strength to live the life I know I can. What are your wishes for 2009? Share them here on the STUpendous BLOG! Talk to you next year! Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2008-12-31T11:44:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/colours-or-colors/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/colours-or-colors/#When:03:31:00Z I am reading a book to my daughter, she received it from her Grandma for Christmas. She asked me to read it to her, not because she can’t read but because I believe she feels it will ensure that we can spend more time together. I am more then happy to do it. Although I find myself sometimes putting her off… I guess it’s because I think there is something else I should be doing. In reality though what could be more important then spending time with my children? I learned the value of not being a “commercial dad” a long time ago. Putting your children to bed during the commercial break is not a very good way to end your child’s day and fill them with great thoughts before they fall asleep. Which brings me back to the book, the story is about a little girl who can see a colour in everything. She sees the number two as pink and the number four as pale blue. She also sees people in a unique colour, her mean older sister she’s sees as a murky swamp water brown, her best friend as the warm orange glow of ambers in a campfire. Very descriptive and beautiful. When we finished the first chapter she turned to me and said, “What colour do you see me as dad?”, hard question. “Rose pink, because you are loving and caring and roses are given by loving and caring people and they are pretty just like you!” I felt pretty good about my answer, “What colour am I Emily?” I returned the question. “Thick Green Grass!” She said confidently. “Why Green?”, “Simple, it’s because grass is strong and holds the world together and that’s what you do for us.” Wow, how do you beat that? I smiled and hugged her a little longer then usual. I am truly blessed to have the three children I have. So here’s a question for you… What colour do you see yourself as and why? Are you happy with the colour you see and what could you do to be a little brighter and more bold? Leadership, Family Life, Learning and Growing 2008-12-29T03:31:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/whats-important/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/whats-important/#When:10:14:00Z Dream - Dare - Do. These are the pillars of YLCC, the summer camp that I run in Ontario, Canada. The idea is to truly dare to do the things that you dream about. To many of us waste time doing what’s not important. I find myself sometimes using a game on my iPhone for 30-40 minutes before I realize that I have just wasted my valuable time. Focusing on what’s important in our lives os SO important. It also includes realizing what you value as important. Who you value? Do you spend enough time with your family, your friends, your children? So this holiday season, take some time, in fact take some time right now and write a list of what’s important, what you do with your time and what you value in your daily life. This is the day that you could start focusing on what’s truly important. What you focus on becomes what’s important. Leadership 2008-12-19T10:14:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/now-you-see-it/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/now-you-see-it/#When:11:31:00Z I went to the mall the other day and was doing a bit of festive shopping. I stopped in at one of my favourite shops. Teaopia! I was chatting with the manager and she made a comment to me that ressonated with me for a while. She told me the story of when she was a little girl and would go walking in the woods with her father. One day he asked her, “Can you believe all the mushrooms that grow in the forest?”. She responded, “I don’t see any mushrooms?”. At which point he pointed them out to her as they walked. Suddenly from that point forward she could see hundred of them throughout the tree lined path. Here is the point, sometimes we don’t see the great things all around us, or the greatness within us. But have someone point it out and it becomes more obvious! So today, look around you with a little more clarity, you may be surprised by what you see! Leadership 2008-12-17T11:31:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/tis-the-season/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/tis-the-season/#When:14:39:00Z December is here and with it comes for most the celebration season. There are many religious holidays that are celebrated at this time of the year. It’s also the time of the year where we celebrate with family and friends. Eat food and share gifts. The gifts can come in the form of something purchased from a store or they can appear in the form of a visit from a friend or a card in the mail. It truly can be the most wonderful time of the year. I also believe that December is the most important time to plan your 2009. Why wait until January 1st to start thinking about the new year. What if you take the time now to evaluate your 2008. Take some time to list your successes, failures, triumphs and tragedies. You need to see how your “season” went to make changes and develop a game plan for the new year ahead. Create four lists; health, family, spiritual/personal growth and wealth. Under these headings write down the key goals that you want to achieve in each category. Plan out your year, where will you be by the end of January, June, September and then December 1st. Be a specific as you can. If you want to be in the best physical shape then be specific, how do you want to look, feel, what do you want to eat, how long do you want to sleep. With Family and friends figure out the connections you want to make, the bonds you want to strengthen and the time you need to spend with those you love. Hug some more, love some more and listen some more. Do the same with the spiritual/personal and wealth. You get the idea. Make 2009 the best year you can by building momentum towards it now. It could and will be the best year of your life (so far) if you choose. Leadership 2008-12-01T14:39:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/impossible/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/impossible/#When:18:01:00Z It’s hard to guess if the new President-Elect will be as great as many people believe that he will be. It’s hard to predict if he can or will bring great change to the United States and the world. There is no way to say if he will be “successful”. There is one thing that we can say for sure. The fact that he was elected is one of the most significant political/democratic changes that has happened in the last 100 years. It’s perhaps bigger for me and my generation because we weren’t there during MLK, no really able to understand the importance of Mandela or Ghandi. We had seen great leaders like Terry Fox and Bono (I know he’s up for debate with some). Though to watch a man rise from obscurity to the highest office in the US and one of the most powerful positions in the world is truly an inspiration. To see the celebrations that took place on the streets of not only America but around the planet made me weep. I believe the world is tired of war, greed, hunger and sadness. The idea of one man being able to change the planet is daunting but still exciting. Nothing is impossible. If you would have turned to Martin Luther King in the sixties and said… “In about 40 years a black man will be President.” he may have said it was possible but the vast majority would have said “Impossible!” If there is one thing that I have learned it’s that nothing is impossible. You decide, you create your future. What do you want to do? What future do you see for yourself. American’s have a habit of saying, “Only in America!”. Although I do believe that America is a place that was founded with the ideal of possibilities, if you look around the world, in all sorts of countries, you will find incredible stories of people that have done the impossible. The country is irrelative, it’s the person and their will to survive, to succeed, to do more. I believe in you! Do you believe in you? Stop saying that you can’t… I believe that you can. One of my favourite parts of the campaign was a video/song that will.i.am created based on the “Yes we can!” speech. Below is the follow up to that song. If you can’t see it it’s on youtube Start today, be possible, yes you can! Leadership, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2008-11-20T18:01:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/small-packages/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/small-packages/#When:15:57:00Z Great things can come in SMALL packages. Think about a diamond ring in a little box… changes a life forever. Sometimes those small things can be people. A few years ago a young boy by the name of Bilaal Rajan attended YLCC for a week of camp. We knew he had great ideas and was full of drive and hope. Little did we know what he would go on to do. Last week he released his first book at age 12… yes that’s correct 12. He has travelled the world educating people about HIV/Aids. He has developed an Empowerment Workshop. He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. He is a reminder of what we can be, what we all should be. So as you party this weekend, spend tons of money on things that won’t really matter in a few years or even months, stop and think… “Am I living the life I could be living?” Be great, be amazing, be all you can be with this gift called life. Thank you for inspiring me Bilaal! Visit his website for more information or to buy his book. http://www.bilaalrajan.com “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Leadership 2008-11-17T15:57:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/reminder/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/reminder/#When:20:43:00Z It was the worst weekend of my life. I had been ripped apart. My soul stepped on and trampled. I was week and down. I had just received the worst news of my life. There was nothing that seemed to matter anymore. The questions, the sadness. People say they understand but they don’t. People say to you, “It’ll be ok!” It won’t. Life was swirling, turning black. Anger was rising, rage as red as the centre of the sun. How would I get even, how would I make it right? Who would pay for my sadness. How could I get anyone to understand? I stood alone, staring into the ball room at the hotel where the conference was being held, full of hundreds of positive, energetic souls… cheering, hugging, clapping. They didn’t know, didn’t have a clue what real life was all about. I was alone. Truly alone. Jaded. “Hey partner!” A calm voice doused my smoldering fire. A strong warm hand touched my shoulder. His energy shot through my soul. The voice came from a speaker by the name of Phil Boyte, I had booked him to speak at our conference that year. “Huh?”, was all I could muster. “It’s bad a time isn’t it?” He asked. “The worst” was my reply. “You need to be at home right now. You should cancel your speaking schedule for the next month or so and work on getting through this.” “I can’t afford to, I need to pay for…” “Don’t pay me. There are people in your life who are acquaintance’s and then there are those that are friends. I am a friend. Take the money you would have payed me and pay yourself.” I said yes and he gave me a hug and walked into the the crowd. Gone. I didn’t even have a chance to truly say thanks. I saw Phil again today, actually for the last three days. He called me after our first day together and said how good it was to see me again. How happy he was to work with me. I was taken back. He’s gone now and I forgot to say thanks again. I forgot to write a better note or give him a gift of thanks. Here’s the thing though… I don’t think he would ever want me to. That’s not what he does it for. That’s not who he is. I made a comment to a few friends the other day that Phil is in my top ten. He is part of my top ten really GOOD people. I don’t mean “best friends”, I simply mean good people. I am better because Phil Boyte is in my life. Thanks Phil, thanks for everything and thanks for those few moments so many years ago. You were the centre of the storm, the calm in the middle. I can only hope that one day I can repay him but not by giving him the money he is “owed”, but by giving someone else the same feeling and compassion he gave me. I am always trying to be better, to learn, to evolve as leader. I am not the best by any means. What I do know for sure though is that I have lots to learn, so do you. That’s ok. Who is in your top ten list? Who are the good people you have met, it could be someone you have know for years or just met once. If you want to really challenge your thinking write a few lines as to why they are on your list. You may surprised, you may also find a quality that you want to add to your life. Enjoy today. Live today. Grow today. Be STUpendous today! Leadership 2008-10-30T20:43:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/sacrifice/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/sacrifice/#When:18:19:00Z I am in BC watching the late night news. I try and avoid watching the late night news, never good to fall asleep with all that negative stuff floating around my head. The last story of the night though, was a powerful story about a young girl, who after visiting India was so taken back by the conditions of some of the children that she saw she asked her father to remove her from a prestigious private school and enroll her in the local public high school. Here’s the thing, she then asked if her parents would donate her tuition to a charitable group that help children in India. Wow, who at 16 would consider that, be that selfless? Makes me wonder what I can do today to give to the world around me? How can I help others more then I am right now. She is truly finding a cause that is bigger then herself and giving to it. Today, find something you can do and give to it. Be bigger and better then you thought you ever could be. Leadership 2008-10-23T18:19:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/foundations/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/foundations/#When:17:43:00Z I am in Alberta at a provincial youth leadership conference. Such great energy, young students running around laughing and cheering. Student leaders talking about what’s important to them and how they want to change the world. Building a strong foundation in their future. I love it! It inspires me so much to spend time with them. The conference theme is “Future Leaders, Doing Super Things!” Got me thinking that these students are making the right choices, surrounding themselves with great people, creating memories and learning skills they will use forever. Ask yourself this question, are you surrounding yourself with the BEST people you can. Are you finding ways to improve yourself? Are you sitting by and being cattle (following the crowd) or are you running ahead of the herd? Stop for a moment and look around you… happy with what you see? No, change it. You can do that anytime. Each day is new. Start today, change your direction, make new friends, invest your time in new activities. Get excited this is YOUR life. The better you do today the stronger the foundation you will build for tomorrow! Leadership 2008-10-17T17:43:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/thanks-o-meter/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/thanks-o-meter/#When:12:08:00Z Here’s an idea. Take a a full of day and make sure you thank everyone who dies anything for you during your day. Holds a door, buys you a coffee, lends you a book, whatever it is. Keep a list of the act of kindness. You may be surprised how much you say say thank you! Keep track of how many people say thank you during your day as well. See if it equals. This world we live in could use more kindness. You are directly responsible for how your day unfolds and you have the ability to affect those around you. Leadership 2008-10-14T12:08:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/5-minutes/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/5-minutes/#When:15:27:00Z The other day I was in Quebec City and I was speaking at the International Camping Congress. Now I have spoken for years to many different groups. Some audiences in excess of 3000 people. I have shared the stage with a Kennedy, Movie Starts, Best Selling Authors, Olympic Athletes, Television personalities and even a couple of Governors, Premiers and even two Prime Ministers. I love my job and I am honoured to be asked to speak each and every time. This speech that I did at the conference was perhaps one of my most fulfilling. I was proud of myself after I had finished! Here’s the thing, I was given only 5 minutes to speak! Now as a speaker that seems sort of funny. I am used to having at least 60 minutes to get a powerful message across to my audience. So I was challenged with such a short time. It was also a group of my peers. People that I respect SO much. So for the first time in a long time I was nervous. I wasn’t sure what I would say until I got up on stage in front of the microphone. It hit me just moments before I spoke. I told my audience of close to 700 that I didn’t have enough time to tell them anything useful because I only had 5 minutes. If I had more time I said I would tell them about the lessons I have learned from my days as a camper, CIT, counsellor and camp director and owner. I then told 5 very short stories and the powerful lessons I learned from each of them. Each time saying I wish I had more time to tell them that story. When it was done I was honoured to receive a warm round of applause. I had actually spoken for about 10 minutes. Later that evening a man who is one of the most respected in all of camping Mr. Jack Pearse took the time to find me and let me know that I had done a superb job and that he had learned from my short speech. I was at a loss for words. All I could muster up was a “thank you”. I have done more “important” speeches to larger groups and not felt nearly as satisfied after that 5 minutes on stage. Here’s what I learned, you don’t need hours of time to make a point. Sometimes we only need a be a few minutes to say thank you or to support a friend or even impart some wisdom, no matter how insignificant it may be upon a group of leaders. Today I am happy. Thank you to all those who helped make the International Camping Congress such a success, and thank you for only giving me 5 minutes! Here’s today’s question… Please take a the some time to write the question in your journals, answer it and share your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG! “If you could impart some wisdom to friend, colleague or family member and you only had 5 minutes what would you say?” Leadership 2008-10-08T15:27:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/your-children/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/your-children/#When:14:35:00Z I have three amazing children. Got thinking this morning while I was journalling. It hit me like a bucket of COLD water. When my kids are reflecting on my life after I pass what will they think of me, my life, goals, accomplishments, how I chose to treat people? So I wrote a list of the qualities that I would love them to say when asked… “What was your dad like?” Even if you don’t have children you can benefit from the exercise. Picture you have lived a full life and your future children are sitting around having a coffee with a reporter. The question is “Tell me about your dad/mom, how did they live? What did they teach you?” Take the time to write this list in your journal and share your list here on the STUpendous BLOG! Here is something else to think about when you finish the list. What if it all ended tomorrow? What would they say now? Don’t wait to create the life that you want to live! Don’t wait to treat people with kindness, love and respect! Don’t wait to care about a cause bigger then yourself. Don’t wait to get up and see the sunrise, play in a puddle or work harder at something you love! Don’t wait!! Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2008-09-26T14:35:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/show-time/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/show-time/#When:17:38:00Z Can’t help but wonder how some people show up on a daily basis. Show up for work, school, social events and life in general. I work with young people every day and sometimes I wonder what they are thinking when they put very little investment into making their days more fulfilling. They don’t “try” to be better. They have to understand that they aren’t going to be 15, 16 or 17 forever. They must realize at some point they will have to start to make something happen. I was working with some students the other day and found myself in awe of some of the negative attitudes of some of the grade nines. One young man had his pants so far down his legs he looked he forgot to get dressed. I watched him as he struggled to walk, looking awkward at best. I mentioned that he might find it easier if he pulled them up a little. He replied, “F u Old man!” Hmmm, I thought what was his plan for the future? What were his goals and dreams. I think you all know this! How you show up for life every day is the direct cause of your future. I hope that you understand that most people in life that are successful in business, sports, family and life that are people who show up fully! What you wear, how you talk, who you associate with is a direct connection to how your life unfolds. So stop and look at yourself today. Are you making yourself the best you can TODAY? Don’t just show up, show up fully! You never know who’s watching and what opportunity is about to present itself. Leadership 2008-09-20T17:38:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/waiting/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/waiting/#When:10:11:00Z We live in a instant gratification society. We expect everything fast and then faster! If our computers don’t load in tenths of a second we say it’s slow, we can’t wait for a picture to be developed, or good food to be made. The idea of unplugging from the cyber-super-fast world is scary. I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, I was expecting all sorts of “results” and I received none. I was told that I have to wait now until next week. That’s frustrating. My first reaction was to be angry and start to question and blame. Then I realized that we as a human race could benefit a little from learning the art of waiting. There is a skill in be able to wait. In my case I want to know now, but in other cases we want to get results because we are excited. Here is the challenge today, take some time to sit in silence and do nothing. See how long you can wait there without moving. Be still. Try and do it for 30 minutes. Then write what you felt, thought about and experienced in your journal. Also, please share you thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG! I can WAIT to read your response! Leadership 2008-09-13T10:11:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/fresh-obessed/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/fresh-obessed/#When:15:50:00Z Isn’t the first day of school grand!! Isn’t it the best day of the year for all students and teachers at every level? I think so! I spoke today to a group of freshman students at a local college. Had a great time, fun group. Before the presentation I was chatting with the Vice-President of the college and noticed a few students skipping out to do… well to go… they were on their way to…. well actually that’s the point. They probably went to wander around, sit somewhere, go to the coffee shop. One guy said he was going back to bed! I couldn’t help but think, they don’t get it. They are missing out. I know as a fact then when you are in school it seems like it will last forever. But trust me as someone who left college almost 20 years ago, it doesn’t last forever, not even close. After the presentation as 57 year old man walked over to me and thanked me. I asked if he was a teacher at the college? His response was brilliant… “Nope, I am making up for a lot of lost time, pissed away my youth doing pretty much nothing. I am going to get some of that time back. It’s a privilege to learn!” Why does it take us all so long to realize the good things. So, as you start another school year today commit to fun and make sure you also commit to celebrating every day the opportunity you have to learn! Be obsessed with the learning opportunities you have in front of you! It’s a chance for a FRESH start! Here’s today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and SHARE your answer here on the STUpendous BLOG! “How will you take advantage of your NEW school year? What will you different to learn and grow? Leadership 2008-09-02T15:50:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-flower-between-the-rockst1/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-flower-between-the-rockst1/#When:14:32:00Z I am taking some time to unwind and reflect on my wonderful summer. I am trying to get back into my routines that exist for the ten months of the year that I don’t work at our leadership camp. I am so positive about the future of our programs and where we are going as an organization. I believe we have gathered the best team we have ever had and I try and celebrate them every day. In fact today we will have our annual end of summer celebration at my cottage in Georgian Bay. I was talking with a friend of mine who is planning a huge conference in Quebec City. I am one of the speakers and couldn’t be more excited. While we chatted she was concerned about the slow arrival of registrations. We were also talking about a dear friend who is battling cancer and doing it with a very positive attitude. As we were ending the call she said that her challenge didn’t seem so bad compared to cancer. I hung up the phone and looked out into the Bay and noticed a lone daisy rising up from the rocky shore. It stood strong in the wind, the waves lapping against the rocks. Got me thinking, we need to put our life in perspective more often. Not dismissing our challenges and failures but celebrating the 1% actions we take towards our goals, the good stuff that we have done. That flower represents to me the strength of the positive, the perseverance of the human spirit, the light of a true leader. So grow where you are planted, learn from your mistakes and remember that someone else is watching how you handle your challenges. Is it with grace or negativity? Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and share your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG! How do you celebrate your challenges? What have you learned from your failures? How could you handle the next road block differently? Goal Setting, Learning and Growing, Motivation, YLCC 2008-08-27T14:32:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-right-reasons/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-right-reasons/#When:10:12:00Z 15 years ago after the first summer of YLCC, by summer I mean 3 days, I decided that I wanted to make it part of my life. I wanted to expand the camp program from 3 days to a week. We did that, then it was two weeks, then three and four. We grew as big as we could then made the big switch to a new camp site and added two more weeks. For a long time we felt that six may be the longest. Then 2008 rolled around… Eight weeks later, all I can say is wow! It was a resounding success. I couldn’t be happier. I took last night to decompress and reflect. I tried to figure out why it was so good, so stress free. I figured it out, the team. We created a fantastic team this year. There was no drama, no stress, no real challenges. Was it 100% perfect? No, but that’s fine because we learned. The other big component to our fantastic summer was my Senior Staff, simply the finest total group of people I have ever had the privilege to work with. In years previous I had held onto people, or allowed people to stay at camp because of sentimental reason. I had hired those that had “great resumes”, I had struggled with trying to always show them I was proud in the past. It was hard. This year we put together a dream team that work for the RIGHT REASONS, the camp and the campers. Their soul goal was making YLCC world class. They did it. So thank you for a summer that camp directors and owners can only dream of. Thank you to the wonderful, young and dedicated group of counsellors that made that pure leadership impact on every camper. Thank you to Wakonda, thanks to all of our parents for trusting us and most importantly thank you to the campers for making deposits. BSE Here is today’s question… Please read it, write it in your journal, answer it and share your thoughts on the STUpendous BLOG by adding a comment. What are you truly thankful for today? WHAT A GREAT BUNCH OF LEADERS! - Thank you! Leadership, Motivation, Team Work, YLCC 2008-08-25T10:12:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/failure-success/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/failure-success/#When:15:48:00Z Speaking at a conference on entrepreneurship in Ottawa and spending some time with a lot of amazing people. Young and old. I asked the group what they have learned being a creator of business, what would they tell someone who is only considering being self-employed? Here is what one amazing 21 year old artist told me… “If you believe in what you are doing, don’t worry about the failures and the detractors. If you work hard and never give up, you will succeed.” How many of us give up at the first sign of diversity? The first wrong turn, or the first put down? The answer is too many! So take some and recommit to the dreams and goals you have. I believe in you. Remember the only true failure is one you don’t learn from. Leadership 2008-08-13T15:48:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/dream-dare-do/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/dream-dare-do/#When:13:49:00Z Had a great few weeks. I apologize for being away the past couple of weeks. Camp is so busy! So full! So fun! I truly love it. In fact the more I get into the summer the more I realize that it’s almost over and I need to cherish these last few weeks. It is a long 10 month “off season”!! One of the highlights of the past few weeks happened last Monday. We were blessed to have two amazing individuals visit us at camp! Steph and Matt are two West Coasters running around North America for the environment. Each of them running their own marathon every day, 42 kms each… 26 miles. They have a DREAM… Run around North America, raise awareness and one million dollars to help the environment. They are DARED themselves to do it… After thinking of the idea they got the people needed to believe in them and put it together. They had more then enough people tell them they were crazy (that will happen with any big dream you may have). Then they actually got themselves to DO it! They took what we teach each day at our camp and in our leadership programs… To Dream, Dare and DO! Is it easy? NO! Does it make life harder? YES! That’s the beauty of truly living isn’t it? You can spend your life as the passenger in the back seat of life or you can be the driver! The very real possibility of failure exists everywhere and with everything we try that’s new! We need to understand and accept this. If we don’t we will simply become the rock that gathers moss not the rock that is carved into the beautiful statue! It’s ok to be afraid, just don’t let that fear stop you. If I had you wouldn’t be reading this BLOG right now on this website and I wouldn’t have ever met Steph and Matt! This is me running with Matt and Steph for the Run For One Planet DREAM! For more information PLEASE check out their website and see how you can help! What is your DREAM? I DARE you to DO it! Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning and Growing, Motivation 2008-08-05T13:49:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/a-vision/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/a-vision/#When:13:16:00Z Can you trust me on this one? Can you stand outside of reality for just a few moments and pretend that you have boundless possibilities in front of you? You could grab them, any of them, anything you want is right there… waiting for you. Isn’t that a brilliant idea? I know, it’s hard, in fact I bet when I asked you to do it, many of you laughed at your own ideas and dreams. It’s the way we are brought up, most of us anyway. “Be realistic!’ “Don’t be silly” “Stop dreaming!” “Come back to reality.” “That’s a dumb idea!” If I could get a dollar for every time I was told that I would be able to vacation for a few weeks in an exotic place… I truly believe that you can do anything you put your mind to. If you push out the voices of doubt, yours and those around you, whatever you conceive can become reality. I heard a great story yesterday about former US President, Bill Clinton. When he was a young teenager he toured the White House and told the then President “I’m going to have your job someday!” I am sure thousands of children have said that, many have truly believed it but then most come back to “reality” and move on. Last summer I was driving through Algonquin Park and saw a legendary camp… Tamakwa. If you have ever seen the movie “Indian Summer” you may recognize the name. It’s been around for a long time. Many famous people have attended the camp. There is a sign at the boat dock that is made out of Birch that simply says, “Tamakwa”. You have to drive through it to get to the camp. I love that sign. When I drove past the camp last summer I stopped and got a picture of myself just underneath it. It was kind of cool. On Friday, while I was away in London, Ontario, the campers and staff did something that I am SO proud of. They built me (the camp) a YLCC entrance just like Tamakwa… but better. I have had many visions of events that will happen in my future. I dreamt once of this happening, I could see it. When I arrived back at camp at midnight I was met buy a bunch of campers, staff and senior staff. They stopped me on the road and asked me to get out of the car. I was then blindfolded and walked down to the entrance. They removed the fabric from my eyes… I was in awe. I was in tears. I was proud. My vision had become reality. I feel good about it, the campers and staff that built it feel good about it and in the end a new piece of the YLCC quilt has been sewn into our story. What is your vision of the future… what do you see happening to you? Remember to let go of reality and write a list… you just never know what will happen. Goal Setting, Leadership, Learning and Growing, Motivation, Team Work 2008-07-22T13:16:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/frustrated/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/frustrated/#When:16:56:00Z So I got this great new iPhone. I have been excited about this product for about 2 years. I really wanted it. I waited and waited and well… waited. It arrived last week and wow do I love the technology. It is slick and sweet. I was a hit when I arrived back at our camp… everyone wanted to see it, touch it. So now that I have had it for about 4 days I am completely frustrated by it. I can’t make my email work, sync my calendar and some of the apps I downloaded simply have disappeared. I have been sitting at my computer for about 2 hours… trying SO hard to figure it all out… no luck. I decided to reset my entire phone and try again. From the beginning. At the height of my frustration I got up to take a deep breath and try and relax, I don’t usually get upset about… well… anything, but I was. I took a brief walk around the building I was in and came back to my computer. I am now ready to start over, reboot both figuratively and literally. I will get through this and I need to realize it’s not important, not a big deal. Put your problems in perspective, for every issue that seems so horrible there is someone else going through something much worse. This doesn’t mean that your frustration or challenge doesn’t hold validity. It does, it’s just that if you try and put it in perspective you can deal with it better and usually get a BETTER result. That’s a simplification I admit but I do believe that it works! Keep breathing, keep leading… come on iPhone work with me. Leadership 2008-07-14T16:56:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/evolution/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/evolution/#When:18:26:00Z I love innovation! I was one of the silly ones that got up super early and went to my local Rogers store to buy an iPhone! I was third in line to get my new apple product. I knew there might be some issues with it launching in 22 countries but I went anyway! To say there were some glitches would be an understatement! Rogers computers crashed keeping me in the store for about 2 hours, there were only 6 phones of a designated 16 and then Apple’s web crashed frustrating hundreds of thousands of new users. My friends and I remained calm and about 6 hours later… I am typing this blog on my new iPhone! Too often we get so upset about things that we can’t change. It wasn’t the sales clerk in the store that caused the problem and in the grand scheme of things I still have what I wanted and I love it! I hope that we all take a giant lesson from this. When times are tough, take a deep breath and stop. Most times in the end it all works out! Leadership 2008-07-11T18:26:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-zone/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-zone/#When:14:59:00Z If you have been following my BLOG’s then you know I was working on a 22 day challenge. It was a HUGE succes, then I got busy with camp. Had some friends visit and fell off the challenge. It has been really upsetting me. Then I thought back to a book about a diet called the ZONE. It is one of many books that used to be around my house. The first page shared some brilliant life wisdom. It said something like this… “If you fall of the Zone diet, don’t panic because you can get right back on it the next day.” That’s the key isn’t it? You need to continue and work hard on the ultimate goal. Don’t beat yourself up. I am back on it again tomorrow. Back in my 22 day zone. I needed to tell you that so that I could remember it for myself. If you believe in what you are doing, keep at it. Goal Setting, Leadership 2008-07-08T14:59:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/panda/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/panda/#When:21:22:00Z What a brilliant last seven days! Our first week of YLCC is now done. There were so many amazing moments, too many to mention. There were simply great days of pure summer joy. One of my big moments happened on Tuesday. I took my son (happy birthday Matty) and youngest daughter to the movies. We went to see Kung Fu Panda. The movie was full of laughter, adventure and a really great message. Basically, the point was that (I am sorry if this gives anything away) if you believe in yourself you can do anything. There was a BIG scene in the movie where the Panda (Jack Black) realizes that he has the power to do what he needs to do. As soon as he said that, my son who is eight today turned to me very proud of his discovery and said… “Dad! Do you get it? All he had to was believe in himself, he has the secret power by just believing in himself! Do you get it?” I almost yelled out loud… “DID YOU HEAR MY SON!?” I was so proud! We all need to find the power with ourselves. It is incredible what I can do, what you can do, what we can do… think about it. Leadership, Family Life, Learning and Growing 2008-07-05T21:22:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/influence/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/influence/#When:12:54:00Z Who do you influence people on a daily basis? You can’t say you have no influence. You have friends, family, co-workers and even people who you pass by on the street or in a shop. I am so blessed that I work in a field everyday of my life with the ability to change the world around me. If you know me you might be thinking that due the fact that I am professional speaker and I run a summer camp that it’s easy for me. Truth is that you are right… sort of. I do get to get up every morning and speak to 85-150 people every day, impart some wisdom, share in great conversations and high five some brilliant young leaders. Beyond that though I try and influence people every single day everywhere I go! By influence please understand I don’t mean getting people to conform to my way of thinking. What I mean is that I want to create a positive feeling where ever I am. It feels good. I was in a store just the other day and I was joking with the staff, we were all laughing and smiling. I didn’t know any of them personally, but we all celebrated together for a few minutes. As I was leaving with my purchase the salesperson behind the counter said… “Thanks for making our day!” I stopped, smiled and returned the complement… “Thanks for adding to mine!” You too can do this every day. How we act, talk and carry ourselves each day influences those around us every moment of our lives. So before you set out today, stop and think. Ask yourself this question (and please answer it here in the STUpendous BLOG!), “How will I influence people in a positive way today?” Have an influential day! Learning and Growing, Motivation 2008-06-30T12:54:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/learning/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/learning/#When:13:07:00Z I have a confession to make… I am not proud of this. I have kept it to myself for many, many years. This part of my life caused my mother a lot of frustration for a good part of her life. It’s one of those things that I used to think that, if I had just one wish, I would go back in time and do it all over again. This is part of my life that I haven’t really spoken about. Ready for it? I was horrible at school. All of it. Elementary, high school and post secondary. I didn’t enjoy the structure of the classroom. I wasn’t “dumb”, if I enjoyed it, I excelled at it. I remember my high school principal saying to my grade 11 Math teacher… “Stu’s not here to learn, he’s here to enjoy himself.” I didn’t graduate with my friends, I had no cap, no gown. I did not walk across a stage. My parents did not snap a fun photo of me with my arms raised in celebration. There was no after party. I sat in the audience, alone. Wishing I had worked just a little harder, done just a little more. I learned a lot that evening. It would be strange for my old English teacher to meet me now. I keep three journals, I write all the time, I live for another chance to share my thoughts with myself and anyone who is interested. I have written two books and I am beginning my third. I love the passion I get from learning. In fact, one of my three journals is labeled “The Learning Journal”. Each day, I try and share some time with someone great. I watch, read or listen to a great thinker almost every day. It’s like going for coffee with them. This morning after my run, I watched a 30 minute interview with Richard Branson. He taught me something today. He pushed me to think about how I live my life. He said, “All you have in the end is your reputation.” Made me think about the day-to-day actions of the friends I keep, the staff at The Leadership Training Centre and the way I live my life. I got charged up. I am ready to learn more. Consider this quote… “The level of thinking that got you to where you now are will not get you to where you dream of being.” - Albert Einstein There was a time when I fought the learning, Now I have an insatiable appetite for it. I want to grow. Too many of us finish our formal school and put our lives on “cruise control”. Not this guy, not me. I want to learn more about the world, more about me. So what are you going to learn today? How are you going to push yourself a little further. I have met too many people that have said they wished they learned more, not less. Want to start? Look at this website ... it has a plethora of great wisdom… http://www.ted.com. Go learn, enjoy. Learning and Growing, Motivation 2008-06-21T13:07:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-beginning-line/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-beginning-line/#When:00:08:00Z Well it’s 10pm on Monday June 16th, 2008. I have done it. In two hours my 22 day challenge will be done. I have really changed part of the core of my being, of who I am and how act and react to people and situations. I am proud of myself and that’s ok. To often we don’t pat ourselves on the back. We don’t high five each other enough. It’s almost as if the thought of simply being excited for something you have done is a bad thing, you are considered to be arrogant or pompous. I strongly disagree. I was like that for a long time, hiding behind myself. Always concerned that if I tooted my own horn that I would be look down on. Now please don’t get me wrong. I am not talking about grand standing or showing off. I simply mean it’s ok to say “Good Job” and then smile and move on to the next challenge. I feel good about me. I like that feeling. As I got closer to the end of the challenge, friends were asking me if I was looking forward to a beer or sleeping in or taking some time of running. I was surprised at the questions. For a while I was thinking that it would be nice to just “get through it”. Now though I have created new habits, new thinking and simply a new way of living. Imagine if we all could instill 1 good habit every three weeks into our daily lives! At the end of a year you would have over 15 new habits! That’s awesome. So to answer their question… No. In fact I take the last 22 days as simply the walk and stretch to my the starting line, the beginning of the race. You just can’t walk up to a marathon and start running. More often then not you will fail. I am ready to put the feet into the blocks and begin the real challenge; the race of life. So what’s my next step? Another 22 day challenge. Another list of 15 things to change and work on, to get better at. Racers… Take your mark… Oh, by the way I will be writing a blog in the next couple of days that will explain how you can do your own 22 day challenge. So check back and again thanks for all the support. Goal Setting, Leadership, Motivation 2008-06-17T00:08:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-dream/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-dream/#When:23:05:00Z Sitting at the lake today, looking at a crowded beach front. Sandcastles being built, kayaks scooting about, people relaxing in the sun on a Muskoka chair. I am happy. My dream was right there in front of me. Something I had considered a whimsical thought once was so very real. I remember the first spring so many years (5) ago, only 8 school groups maybe 300 students. Now 2008, we will have close to 2000 students and over 30 schools. We are still growing. When I first thought of the 22 day challenge I compared it the idea of the creation of our camp. There were some doubters, some supporters and a lot of people that reserved their comments. I had tried a couple of times to start the challenge before and come up short, way short. This time I stuck to it, and now that I am on day 20 I feel great. I figure I have accomplished 95% of the challenge, a few little challenges on the route. One thing I discovered is the support of real friends, those that care. One of the big parts of the 22 day challenge was to let go of the things and people that hold me back from being the person that I truly want to be. I have done that and I have never felt so free. We tend to hold onto people, places, times in our past that we wish we could experience again, went a different way or even didn’t happen or met at all. I held on to a few of those “things” and it hurt me. I now feel free. I am surprised how much I have grown in such a short period of time. Thanks to all of those who have sent me support and encouragement. I will continue to grow as the camp will. When you find our what works and what is truly important then anything is possible. I have to run, I have to judge the sandcastle contest! Motivation 2008-06-14T23:05:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-run/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-run/#When:21:04:00Z Stayed at my mom’s last night. There is a certain comfort when you arrive back at the home that you grew up in. I recognized the smell and the feel. My mom has made many, many changes to the house, but in the end it’s still “home”. As part of the 22 day challenge (let’s hear it for day 16!), I run for six days and have one day of recovery. So this morning I had to run, but this would be another challenge for me because I have only run my run, my 5 km around our property. I was so nervous. The night before I mapped out the circuit by driving in my car until I found a 5 km route. When I awoke this morning (on time… 4:39am) I did my morning holy hour and then got ready for the run. Tightening up my running shoes I ventured out of the house. It was a beautiful morning, perfect temperature, a light rain was still falling after the mighty storm that carried through most of the night. I ran and I ran, 1 km then 2, 3, 4 and finally the 5th. The thing was I was still full of energy, still ready to run some more. So I went around my old street to the circle (it’s a court) and instantly remembered great games of hide and seek, kick the can, tag, king of the castle in the winter. As I ran by, I could here the laughter, the kids darting around, screams of pure joy. I could see all my friends… John, Chris, Anita, Lori, Derek, Brian, Pete and my brother. They were there, clear as it was 30 years ago. I continued across the road and did a lap around my old elementary school, still the same. I saw the place I won at marbles (a game long lost now), where we played 21, soccer and handball. I ran by where I had my first kiss, the time I tried a cigarette, that spot I was married for the first time… Darlene where are you? I slowed down at that exact spot that Kieth punched me… the same place where I got right back up and tried to fight back. I ran back to my mom’s home, my home. I ran up the steps top speed, just like I did when I was eight years old. When I got to the door I saw my face in the reflection of the window. I wasn’t eight I was thirty eight, a long way from that time. But as I turned around to look across the street at my old best friend’s home (long moved away), I felt good. I had done it, I grew up. There was a time when I thought 38 was like the end of a life. I would never reach that time, that age, no way. My elementary school principal once told my mom I shouldn’t take advanced courses in high school because I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I wasn’t focused enough, smart enough. My mom had faith in me, she signed me up for the advanced courses. I more then survived, I succeeded. As I move towards the end of the 22 day challenge I am very aware that I am capable of more. My mentor has always told me, “With clarity comes mastery.” I know that’s true now. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. You can be the person that YOU choose to be. I know it sounds a little cheesy, but I am proof. That run today reminded me of where I’ve come from. The street, the playground and the home. I am ready to keep going, to keep building, to keep getting better. Motivation 2008-06-10T21:04:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/pushing-the-boundries/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/pushing-the-boundries/#When:16:09:00Z Spending a wonderful weekend with my friend and mentor Robin Sharma. It’s the annual Awakening Best Self (ABS) weekend held at an amzing place called the Kingbridge Centre. One thing that I love is the entire idea of the weekend, to find out what we as human beings can be. To look at the child that we were and where we lost the spark for learning, loving, laughing and truly living. Today is the 13th day of my 22 day challenge. It’s great because that’s what it’s all about, the challenge. I love to push myself and find the change in myself and then in turn help others find the change in themselves. This is the idea of the new website http://www.ylcc.com. We wanted to create a website that would better represent all of the work that we do with people of all ages. I have already felt the energy increased around our new website, we pushed the boundries of what we had, what we thought we could do. What we found is we can do better. Just like with our own lives. Day 13 is almost over and number 14 is upon me. Tomorrow will be the pushing of new boundries. I am excited for me and just as excited about you. Imagine what we all could do if only we pushed ourselves every single day. Man, I find life more exciting every single moment! Leadership 2008-06-07T16:09:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/when-50-was-equal-to-1000/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/when-50-was-equal-to-1000/#When:18:00:00Z Day 11, half way through the 22 day challenge. It really has been amazing. People have been asking me what is this 22 day challenge? It’s actually quite simple. The idea is to take the 15 areas of my life that I need to improve and commit to 22 days of non-stop work on them. No excuses, no days off. Why 22 days? Simple, there is a common belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit. So to make it for 22 days is to engrain the habit a little more. You can do it too! Just pick those 5, 12, 15 or 19 things that you want to change, write them down, keep a check list and then really commit to them. Watch the magic happen. Only pick the changes that truly matter to you! Last night was special, magical in fact. I was the MC of the annual Soldiers Memorial Hospital Golf Tournament and auction. What was incredible wasn’t just the fact that that we raised $130,000 for the hospital, it wasn’t the fact that we were able to buy a new stretcher, infant weight monitor and a vital sign monitor. People were generous and there was lots of fun to be had. My favourite part of the evening and the most magical was when we started the live auction. Now, I am not an auctioneer, but I was able to encourage the crowd to spend over $20,000. The first item up for bids, a fifty dollar bill. Our hope was to raise $100. The idea was that people shouldn’t come to charity auctions looking for a bargain. The point is to raise money! What happened next was awesome… The first bid was $50 (by me), then $100, everyone clapped we had done it, doubled the value. Then someone at the back said $250! What, wow!? I thought we were done, someone else said $500… then $750, the crowd was really excited. Finally an older gentleman put up a single finger… One thousand dollars. We closed the bidding. We had just raised $1000 for a fifty dollar bill. I was almost in tears. I asked the winning bidder what drove him to spend $1000 for a 50 dollar bill? His answer was brilliant… “We have a universal health care system, aren’t I part of this universe? We all need to work together.” I think if we all had that attitude about our communities, companies, our lives, friends and families we would all be a lot better off. It can’t always be about me, it needs to be about us. Together we truly are better. Let’s open the bidding at $250! Do I hear $300? Leadership 2008-06-05T18:00:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-dot-dot-dot/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/the-dot-dot-dot/#When:17:00:00Z I write a lot. I am not the best writer and I usually have lots of mistakes. I am lucky though to have some trusty proof readers. You can tell when one of them has read my material and when one hasn’t been proofed. One of my favourite things to use is the “...”. I use it to signify a pause, a moment to think. When the reader should stop and consider the thought that has been written. In life we rarely take time for the “...”. We live at a pace of such speed that we miss what is happening all around us. I was going for a run the other morning and got to my favourite spot on my route. It’s a little stream that runs through a forest, goes under the road, continues for another 150 feet and then eventually spills into the Lake. As I was running by I heard splashing, I turned quick to see three very large pearch swimming up stream, perhaps spawning. I slowed down to look. I turned looked to my left at the other side of the stream, winding away and disappearing into the woods. There, about 40 feet up was a Blue Heron. It was flipping small fish into its beak, one after the other. This moment was amazing. It was time for the dot, dot, dot. I find as I continue on the 22 day adventure (day 9) I am discovering more about myself, life and the world around me. I am taking time to absord life through my skin, eyes, nose, ears and touch. It’s beautiful. It’s calming. Take some time today to stop, absorb, listen. It can change the course of your day. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some life to absorb… Leadership 2008-06-03T17:00:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/bike-riding/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/bike-riding/#When:16:00:00Z I don’t remember learning to ride my bike. I am sure my dad or mom helped. I do remember my first real bike though. A purple chopper. One of my most vivid memories of being a child was my father taking me to get a new seat for it, one of the cool ones. Just like a real chopper motorcycle. I can see myself clipping my hockey cards on the spokes so that my bike would make that perfect sound, like I was really ridin’ a hog. Such a great memory. I do remember teaching my first daughter to ride her bike. My hand on the seat. Running with her, letting go and then she would wobble a little, then a lot and then in the end fall, cry a little and want to quit. We wouldn’t though, I would always say to her, as I have with the next two kids, “If you fall off, get back up, wipe of the dirt and try again.” I can see her just as vividly, that moment when I would run along behind her and let go and she didn’t fall. I would keep up with her not holding on. Then suddenly, I would slow down. She would ride along farther ahead by herself, tassles on the end of handle bars flowing in the wind, silver, pink, red. She would sail, I would stop. My eyes glazed over a little as this moment would be the first of many, those moments where you have to let go and let your child grow, help hoist the jib sail and let her ride the waves of life that lay ahead. To chart her own course. The key with life is no different than the key to riding a bicycle. You fall off, you get back up. Does it hurt to fall, yes and in the the case of a bike it can hurt a lot complete with bruises and blood. The moment though that you get it, the pain is gone… forgotten. Soon you ride with your hands behind your head, as if on a unicycle. With ease and grace. Today is my day 6. I have fallen a little here and little there but for the large majority of it I have pushed through. The best part is it’s getting easier. Life’s like that, some call it “the secret”, I call it bike riding. Nothing can beat that feeling of the wind in your hair, the sun on your face and the speed you get up going down a hill. It is truly brilliant. Live your days that way. Be the Lance Armstrong of your life. Peddle hard, fall… but get back up. I will. Leadership 2008-05-31T16:00:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/my-guide/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/my-guide/#When:16:40:00Z So three days into the 22 day challenge and I couldn’t be in a better place. Really loving it. I can actually feel myself getting healthier and stronger. I can feel the blood in my veins speeding up with excitement! I have taken to meditating in the morning. If you would have told me three years ago I would be meditating, I would have told you that you were a little crazy! I love it though. I have been doing it off and on for the last year and half and really using it find piece, to learn the art of focus (always working on that one). Today as I sat on my couch, my candle lit and the light smell of vanilla in the air I closed my eyes. The sounds of the ocean and the Japanese flute coming from my stereo. When I focused myself, I found I was on a beach, a light cool mist in the air. I took deep breaths. Soaking in the surroundings. I saw myself as I want to see me. Fit, smiling, calm and happy. I looked to my left and saw a man standing, alone. He was dressed in white pants and flowing white shirt. The colour that of a sand dollar. His head tilted to the sun. Although the sun was hidden behind light grey clouds hiding its warmth. I walked closer to him, trying to make eye contact. I couldn’t see his face. Although his hair was longer and his skin worn from a life of enduring strong gusts of sea air. “Who are you?” I enquired. “Your guide.” was the answer. I waited for more but nothing. His eyes remained closed his face directed towards the sky. “What are you looking at?” I finally asked, trying to break the silence. “The Sun!” a slight smirk could be seen coming from the corner of his mouth. “But, you can’t see the sun, it’s behind the clouds.” “You don’t have to see it to know it’s there…” he said in a wise tone. I looked up, trying to see what he saw; I closed my eyes and looked again. There it was, the sun. Brilliant! When I looked back towards my guide to tell him I saw the sun he was gone. I was alone again on the beach. Just me, the sand, the ocean and the sun. It’s true, isn’t it? You don’t have to see it to know it’s there. Disney saw his Magic Kingdom long before it ever truly existed. King saw a world of equality years before it would ever be realized (still isn’t there yet). It’s like the life that you choose for yourself. It hasn’t happened yet… not all of it. You have to see it before you can achieve it. That’s the point of my 22 day challenge… I need to clarify in order to see what’s next. What is it you want to see in the future? Think about it, it could be awesome! If you’ll excuse me, I have some sun to soak up. Leadership 2008-05-28T16:40:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/fresh/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/fresh/#When:16:41:00Z Remember when you were just a little tyke? Remember Christmas Eve? I do. I can, clear as day remember standing in the middle of the hall of my house. My brother and I pulling our pyjamas bottoms down low and our shirts to our knees so that it looked as if we had tiny short legs. We would laugh so hard, our bellies would actually hurt. I can see my mom standing tall arms on her hips, in almost a superman post. She had a firm voice but a loving smirk as well… “Time for bed! Santa is coming but only if you are asleep!” I think my brother had stopped believing but kept up the magic for me. I would stall a little longer, waiting till the last moment before I was physically placed in my 10x12 space. I would crawl into bed and try and hold out for morning, one eye open and one closed. Kind of like an old west movie… you never know who would attack or surprise you… Santa? I would wake up at 3:55 that morning, Christmas day. No problem, no yawns, no complaints. Springing from my bed, waiting to hear my brother. Was he up? It’s was so dark outside! I had only slept for 3 or 4 hours but I felt well rested, like I had returned from a vacation. Many of us can’t remember those feelings! We can’t fathom the idea of getting up early. I can. Today, I started my 22 day challenge. This morning I sprang from bed at 4:39am, no problem. Why? Because I have a purpose and with a true purpose comes a powerful passion. One that rivals that of the childhood anticipation of Santa’s arrival. Do you have one? I hope so, because if you can find one, you will find a way to change the world! I will keep track of the 22 day challenge here on the STUpendous BLOG! Check back, start your own, today! I think I hear bells… Santa is that you? Woo hoo, life can be brilliant! Leadership 2008-05-26T16:41:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/twenty-two/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/twenty-two/#When:18:42:00Z I was alone last night, late. I had just returned from a laughter filled evening with a few staff from our Leadership Training Centre. I stepped back into my house and stood at the front door, I surveyed the room by the light that was coming from above the stove. A low 25 watt light bulb filled the room with an eerie quiet. An unusual mess. What a busy weekend. I could here the bare feet slapping the floor, the laughter of my children while running from their bedroom to the kitchen and back top speed. Chasing each other, falling, waiting for a moment to see if any real pain would arrive. When none was felt they would spring to their feet and begin the run again. Ignoring my calls to slow down and be careful. I looked at that open space in front of the couch and saw my sons “Space Boy” pajamas and three power rangers strewn across the floor. On the dining room table a half drawn picture of my daughter and I holding hands looking towards the sun, big smiles. The written message being simple… “I love you daddy!” I looked around, sort of waiting, sort of just hoping for a call from their rooms. I heard nothing, just the wind through the trees outside my home. I kicked off my shoes and flopped down on my couch. I picked up the fourth book in the “Secrets of Droon” book series. A 30 plus set of children’s novels that we are reading. I wanted to read with them, to see their expression as the adventure was playing out in their heads. I wished they were there to say “Please daddy, just one more chapter!” They weren’t there. I had dropped them off at school that morning. I had driven home…. alone, feeling empty. I pulled my journal from my bag and started to read. To look over the past year. What was it that has made me so sad. Why couldn’t I bounce back from this feeling of emptiness? Maybe it’s because I wasn’t being true to me. Being honest with the whole picture. I need to change that. Please don’t get me wrong. Life is pretty good right now, I am spending time with wonderful people, my business seems to be going in the right direction and my personal life is looking up. I just can’t seem to shake this feeling of something missing. I wrote for a while in my journal, trying to be specific and yet straight from the heart. There were some common elements in those entries. I created a 22 day challenge for my self. 22 days of changing those pieces of my life that I know I need to reboot. I hope that through this process I will be able to jump back into the “game”. I can’t change how often I see my children, that is out of my hands. I can however create a home that will demonstrate an exceptional family life when they are here, with me. One that they will remember and cherish. It’s not about the stuff, it’s about the impact. I won’t see my children now for almost a month. When they return I will be ready. My heart on my sleeve, arms open to catch them when they are jumping into them. To hold onto the times we have and to love the moments we share together. The room is still quiet. I pick up a few of the toys on the floor and walk to their rooms. I fall onto my sons bed and look up at the big picture of Superman on the wall. I can only imagine what he dreams about… I close my eyes and nod off to sleep. It’s been a while since I slept in a single bed with pirate sheets… It was ok. Leadership 2008-05-21T18:42:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/gone-but-not-forgotten/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/gone-but-not-forgotten/#When:15:43:00Z I turned the corner to the entrance, the same road that I would ride that big yellow school bus as a camp counsellor. When you made that turn, if you were good, you knew exactly when to start. You would time it so when Bus 3 rounded the corner and entered the main camp you would be in full voice. All 40 kids screaming the camp song. It became a battle between buses. Kids would talk about that days winner around the flagpole. “Bus 3 was the loudest!” one young boy would announce. His statement met with jeers from the Bus 6 line! “Bus 6 can’t be beat!” , they would reply! The battle would go on all summer. I closed my eyes… I could hear the roar of the young campers as their excitement grew. This was my camp, their camp. It was a pride of exceptional levels! I opened my eyes to look down the camp entrance… gone. The trees and grass and wild flowers over grew the once well travelled path. I trekked down the road, hoping to see some of my past, where I grew up. As I turned the corner into main camp… nothing. The kitchen, brownie lodge, south lodge, the directors cabin… the flagpole, gone. There wasn’t a trace. Like nothing ever existed. Decades of childhood memories had to be just that. Memories. I looked for anything to touch, to hold, to look at… all gone. It felt like I had dreamt all of those summer stories. I walked down to the waterfront, the path so overgrown I got a little lost through the forest, the same woods that I could navigate in the pitch black without hesitation. I had to hike along the lake to find the waterfront area. I did get there, but it was nothing anymore, just a few feet of sand. Drift wood covered the once large beach area, weeds filled in the holes. I closed my eyes again. I could hear splashing, laughing, people swimming, I could hear my counsellor telling us it was time to canoe, to learn a new stroke, the J, the C… quiet now, gone but not forgotten. As I walked up the old service road I finally found a piece of the past. A couple of old archery stands, fallen over covered in Moss. There was the proof. I was there and so were thousands of other kids over those 40 or so years. I became a good person there. My mom made a choice so many years ago. Send Stuart to camp. I went. It made me in part who I am today. I heard the words of another camp director who retired earlier this year. He said, “I wanted to retire while I still loved what I did.” I still do love it. I was missing something though… I regained it back at that old waterfront. The innocence, the fun, the purity of it all. I truly hope that the thousands of campers that have been part of YLCC over the last 15 years will have such strong warm memories so that when they close their eyes they can remember the good, the laughter and the friendships. My old camp is gone, but it will never be forgotten. As I drove away, I thought of what it was, how it could disappear. Hard to understand. When I reached the top of the road I noticed an arrow nailed to a post. The arrow with the camps name on it was pointing to the direction of the camp… the camp that no longer exists. I stopped my car and got out. I looked up at the sign and jumped up to grab it. I pulled it off that pole and held it. I needed that sign more then the old camp did. The last physical proof that the camp ever existed is now gone. I will put it up at my camp. That way I can see it everyday, so I can remember why it is that I do what I do. I still think that Bus 3 was the loudest… Leadership 2008-05-13T15:43:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/five-thousand/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/five-thousand/#When:14:44:00Z I am a fan of politics; I am amazed every day how insane it really is. American politics is really fun to watch. How each candidate panders to the voters. Doing what they think will make them look good, sound sincere to a certain group. It could be drinking a beer in a local pub, bowling with town folk or even appearing on WWE wrestling. It’s like a big SITCOM. It’s fun to watch, but it’s also sad. The reality is that this world is really messed up. We need real leaders, doing very real things. I want to know what these potential leaders are going to do to right the ship, deal with real issues and make positive change. Last night I was watching an interview with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He said one of the most shocking stats I have ever heard… Ready for this? The United States spends $5000 a SECOND on the war. That’s $300,000 a minute or EIGHTEEN MILLION DOLLARS an hour!! I was shocked. That means in one day, the United States spends more money on a war then anything else… anything. You would have to think that if that money was to be spent on homeless, education, healthcare, alternative fules, world piece… you name it, it would have to better. We need real leaders in this world. We all need to start to realize that we are in real need of massive change. We need it soon. When I see my children smile, I hope that they will have a chance to be better. We all should hope so. Leadership 2008-05-06T14:44:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/strength/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/strength/#When:20:45:00Z Was thinking about strength tonight. On my phone there is a line that reads “For the kids!”. I wrote it as my screen note the day I got my phone and I haven’t changed it since. I think it’s important to draw your strength from something that is very real. I have been thinking of that for a LONG time and realized that the reason I do most of the things in my life is because of my three children. They are amazing. I cherish them every time I spend a moment with them! I was reading a book today by my friend and mentor Robin Sharma he wrote, “with purpose comes passion.”, true isn’t it? I am so busy on a daily basis that sometimes I simply shut down. I need to remember the reason I do things, it’s not me… it’s for them. To make their world and the world around them better. I am truly blessed that I have a position in which I can do that. So do you though, the choices that we make each day are HUGE. Mother Teresa said’ “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” What if we all realized that through our own actions we can draw strength. So tomorrow I speak to a group of young people… tomorrow I will find my strength in my actions, for my children and in the end for me! Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer and PLEASE share it here on the STUpendous BLOG! What do you find strength in and why? Leadership 2008-04-29T20:45:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/story-book/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/story-book/#When:21:46:00Z Saw a movie on the weekend. Nimm’s Island. Not bad, not great but above average. The movie was good because it was an adventure, one that I felt fine taking the kids to. No adult humour, just an adventure. I got one really great line from the film, went something like this… “Be the hero of your own life adventure!” Great message isn’t it? To often we look to others for the adventure or wish our life was like someone else’s. Truth be told your life should be the adventure and you really can be the hero. Live each day to the fullest, cheesy as it sounds it is a great way to live! Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer and of course share it here on the STUPendous BLOG! If you could be a hero who would it be? What qualities do you admire in your hero? Leadership 2008-04-22T21:46:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/longevity/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/longevity/#When:21:46:00Z Last night I met Josl Huter and his beautiful wife Elfriede. In 1964 Josl started one of Ontario’s finest ski resorts in Mount St. Louis. He and his wife have been in business for almost 50 years. Building with their hands what has become their legacy. Josl was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1958 and was given only 6 months to live. Josl would have none of that, he decided to undergo some very dangerous and unproven surgery to remove the ping pong ball sized tumour from his brain. He survived and is here to tell his story. I was honoured to be able to tell their story last night at a dinner in part for them. It was wonderful. I asked Josl and Elfride their secret to success. Josl responded quickly and honestly, stay involved in your business and be honest. If you do that you will succeed. True. I raised a glass in honour of these two wonderful people. They are such a hard working honest couple, they make me want to work a little harder. No question today, just a challenge, ask yourself, are you truly hard working and honest? I hope so. “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” - Thomas Jefferson Leadership 2008-04-08T21:46:00+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/knowing-when1/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/knowing-when1/#When:19:47:01Z Have you ever done something for a while and it went really well and you wondered how long it would last? So you push it for as long as you could, then all of a sudden it crashes, turns bad. Then there are people that seem to recognize when it’s a good time to get out. When it’s time to retire, move on, change jobs, close a business or end a relationship. They just seem to have a knack. They get out just at the right time! I have been presented with many different examples of both. Just yesterday I had one of each. I had a chance to meet Paul, a 60 year old camp owner/director. He has decided to close his camp. I had a chance to spend about 90 minutes with him. I asked him why he was “getting out”. He said. “I wanted to leave when I still liked what I was doing. I have had 20 great years. It’s time for something else.” He wasn’t upset, maybe a little sad but confident with his choice. He went on to say, “I am proud of the lives that I have affected, some of my staff from the past has become teachers, great parents and some work with service organizations. I had an impact. Their lives are different, better because of this camp.” I like Paul. I hope our paths cross again. He inspired me and made me think. It’s amazing how people enter your life at unique times. The second person I crossed paths with was a young, first year university student that can’t seem to let go of High School. She wants to return for a school conference that she was involved with last year. The teacher advisor has had to put a stop to the return so that the current student leaders won’t have any distractions from this former student leaders return. We all need to move on. It’s knowing when that is the secret. There are many reasons why we don’t move on. There’s comfort, staying with what you know, fear of change, fear of failure or the unknown. The thing is that life was meant to be lived. It’s not a bad thing to do something different or go out on a limb… isn’t that wear the ripest fruit is!? Think about it. If you decide to make that change, make it on your terms. Enjoy the ending, don’t regret it. Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer and SHARE your thoughts here on the BLOG!  Take a personal life inventory, is there something you need to let go of? Is there something that you could try that’s new? Leadership 2008-04-02T19:47:01+00:00 http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/one-hour1/ http://www.ylcc.com/stu-saunders-presentations/stu-pendous-blog-detail/one-hour1/#When:15:48:00Z What could you do with an hour? What change could you make with one hour? How could you not only impact your life, but the life of others in just 60 minutes? Great question and it is the question that you should answer today in your journal. But today at 8pm wherever you are in your time zone turn off the lights, unplug the tv (if it’s plugged in it still uses power), turn the heat down… It’s a great opportunity to spend time with each other, play a board game, read by candle light. JUST DO IT! I hope you all do this VERY little thing to help impact the world! For more information on Earth HOUR Click on the above picture! ALSO PLEASE SIGN UP so they can track the impact. Please post your thoughts on what you would do with that 60 minutes! Leadership 2008-03-29T15:48:00+00:00