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.

The still pond

Dec 31, 2008

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!

Posted by Stu Saunders in Goal Setting Leadership Learning and Growing Motivation on Dec 31, 2008 at 4:44 am | Permanent Link | Comments (10)
Colours or colors

Dec 28, 2008

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?

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership Family Life Learning and Growing on Dec 28, 2008 at 8:31 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (5)
What’s important?

Dec 19, 2008

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.

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Dec 19, 2008 at 3:14 am | Permanent Link | Comments (3)
Now you see it

Dec 17, 2008

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!

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Dec 17, 2008 at 4:31 am | Permanent Link | Comments (2)
Tis the season

Dec 1, 2008

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.

Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Dec 1, 2008 at 7:39 am | Permanent Link | Comments (4)
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 (3)
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 2:43 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (28)
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 12:19 pm | 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 11:43 am | Permanent Link | Comments (5)
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