Youth Leadership Camps Canada

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.

• 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 7:14 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 8:31 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 11:39 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 3:01 pm | 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 12:57 pm | 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 6:43 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (7)

• 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 4:19 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 3:43 pm | 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 10:08 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 1:27 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (3)

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