Stu Saunders Presentations

Stu-Pendous Blog - Leadership

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

Impossible

Nov 20, 2008

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!

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership Learning and Growing Motivation on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:01 am | Permanent Link | Comments (2)
Small Packages

Nov 17, 2008

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.”

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Nov 17, 2008 at 8:57 am | Permanent Link | Comments (4)
Reminder

Oct 30, 2008

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!

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Oct 30, 2008 at 1:43 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (6)
Sacrifice

Oct 23, 2008

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.

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Oct 23, 2008 at 11:19 am | Permanent Link | Comments (3)
Foundations

Oct 17, 2008

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!

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Oct 17, 2008 at 10:43 am | Permanent Link | Comments (5)
Thanks-o-meter

Oct 14, 2008

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.

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Oct 14, 2008 at 5:08 am | Permanent Link | Comments (4)
5 Minutes

Oct 8, 2008

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?”

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Oct 8, 2008 at 8:27 am | Permanent Link | Comments (3)
Your children

Sep 26, 2008

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!!

Posted by Stu Saunders in Goal Setting Leadership Learning and Growing Motivation on Sep 26, 2008 at 7:35 am | Permanent Link | Comments (5)
Show time

Sep 20, 2008

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.

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Sep 20, 2008 at 10:38 am | Permanent Link | Comments (2)
Waiting

Sep 13, 2008

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!

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Sep 13, 2008 at 3:11 am | Permanent Link | Comments (4)
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