Stu Saunders Presentations

Stu-Pendous Blog - Archives for April 2008

These are the thoughts of speaker, author and camp director Stu Saunders.
For Stu’s original blog, you may still access his archives here.

Strength

Apr 29, 2008

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?

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Apr 29, 2008 at 1:45 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (3)
Story Book

Apr 22, 2008

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?

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Apr 22, 2008 at 2:46 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (2)
Longevity

Apr 8, 2008

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

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Apr 8, 2008 at 2:46 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (0)
Knowing when

Apr 2, 2008

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?

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Apr 2, 2008 at 12:47 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (5)
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