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Stu-Pendous Blog - Archives for June 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.

  • Influence

    Jun 30, 2008

    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!


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Learning and Growing Motivation on Jun 30, 2008 at 6:54 am | Permanent Link | Comments (5)

  • Learning

    Jun 21, 2008

    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.


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Learning and Growing Motivation on Jun 21, 2008 at 7:07 am | Permanent Link | Comments (1)

  • The beginning line

    Jun 16, 2008

    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.


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Goal Setting Leadership Motivation on Jun 16, 2008 at 6:08 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (1)

  • The dream

    Jun 14, 2008

    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!


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Motivation on Jun 14, 2008 at 5:05 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (4)

  • The run

    Jun 10, 2008

    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.


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Motivation on Jun 10, 2008 at 3:04 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (5)

  • Pushing the boundries

    Jun 7, 2008

    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!


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Jun 7, 2008 at 10:09 am | Permanent Link | Comments (0)

  • When 50 was equal to 1000

    Jun 5, 2008

    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?


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Jun 5, 2008 at 12:00 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (1)

  • The dot, dot, dot

    Jun 3, 2008

    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…


    Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Jun 3, 2008 at 11:00 am | Permanent Link | Comments (2)

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