Youth Leadership Camps Canada

STU-Pendous Blog

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

• Goodnight but not goodbye

  Sep 2, 2009

  Hello leaders of the world. I am so sorry about not posting for almost two months. I was away, home every night, gone most days and dreaming deeply each night. I had the opportunity to see the future, to contemplate the past and live gloriously in the present. Yes I was at summer camp!

  This summer over 1000 campers came through the gates of Youth Leadership Camps Canada. They came from a dozen different countries and varied backgrounds. They came to learn, to lead, to laugh and to share themselves with each other.

  It was a banner summer. The best in the 17 years that YLCC has been in operation. There were many tears on Saturday as campers left for their homes and sunday as most of the staff went their separate ways. The rewards that are given to the staff are endless. It’s up to them and the campers to continue to share in the lessons learned.

  I want to thank everyone, the staff, campers and parents that made the camp so successful. A few summers ago a former staff member quit saying the camp wouldn’t be successful without them. They were the reason we were success. Since they left the camp has more then tripled its size and now has two locations. I am not saying anything negative about that person but the one thing I learned this summer is that YLCC is a success because of a larger group of people that work SO hard together to make the magic happen. One person alone can not succeed without the help of others.

  Terry Fox had to have someone drive the van. YLCC doesn’t succeed because it’s located in Oro-Medonte (Orillia). It succeeds because people care.

  We are already planning for the 18th year of summer camp. It will be a success again. It will grow some more. I will have less to do with that success. It will be a family that works together to Dream, to dare and to do and that is the magic that is YLCC!

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Sep 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (1)

• Turn the key

  Jul 6, 2009

  One of my favourite phrases that I heard from my dear friend Robin Sharma was the idea of “the power of start”.

  Simple concept but yet so true. In order for any change to happen in our lives we must simply start the process. We can hum and haw all we want. We can research and debate the pros and cons of any change, but the excitement doesn’t happen until we actually start the process. Don’t be afraid to start small. We call them 1% action steps, small, sometimes tiny little movements towards the goal. It may not seem like much but it’s the act of the start that gives us the momentum to push, to grow and to complete whatever it is that we are trying to accomplish.

  So start today, make the change, start your engine!

  PS - YLCC 2009 started today, it’s so exciting to watch the 100 new campers arrive with such energy and enthusiasm. They are about to start their journey of leadership!

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Goal Setting Leadership Learning and Growing on Jul 6, 2009 at 3:52 am | Permanent Link | Comments (3)

• Hallmark happiness

  Jun 21, 2009

  Here I sit on my deck on a beautiful sunny Sunday, I reflect on my good fortune. I have three children. All amazing and unique in their own ways.

  I am a single father and don’t get to see my kids nearly as much as I would like or probably should.

  Today is also Father’s day. The holiday was started in 1910 and became an official holiday in 1972 after president Nixon signed a congressional resolution. It’s mostly celebrated in North America. The day really became big when the Hallmark greeting card company realized there was plenty of money to be made. More money is made on Mother’s day then Father’s day but there were no shortage of people lined up yesterday buying a card at the last minute.

  Please don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the idea of a day dedicated to recognizing the role of a father in a child’s life. Their role has been downplayed for most of history, their rights have been pushed aside in most custody cases. I am all for a one day “special” high five, a nice hand made card and a cup of tea made for me. I think though that we NEED to celebrate our loved ones; family, friends and colleagues every single day. It’s not in a card on a specific day that has great impact, it’s the phone call when you least expect it or the hand written note that arrives in October for no reason. Those are the moments that I would cherish much, much more.

  So today celebrate your dad, grandfather or friend who works hard to raise his children. The real challenge and gift is to do it again some other day, not on a calendar but in your heart.

  Please follow me on Twitter. I will be sending out a FREE Twitter Cast called “Breaking from the heard” on Friday for all those that are following me in Twitter.

  https://twitter.com/ylccstu

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Family Life Learning and Growing Motivation on Jun 21, 2009 at 12:06 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (2)

• Clarity

  Jun 17, 2009

  I miss journalling. I Journal. I should journal more. There’s so much to journal about! What do you journal about? Journal… is that a diary?

  So many of us live our lives like we drive cars. Sometimes it’s smooth and then sometimes we find ourselves spinning in a snow bank or deep mud. We are in a car (living a life), we are going somewhere (we have a job, family, car, vacation in the distant future), we are pressing down the gas (moving forward slowly), spinning and spitting up dirt and snow (making mistakes whilst moving in some direction). Eventually without persistence and dedication we give up, call a tow truck to pull us out (turn to quitting, drinking, sleeping, depression or plain anger). If we are lucky a car will stop and people will help push you out (teachers, friends, colleagues, coaches, ministers or parents).

  Why is it that some people never seem to get stuck in the “mud”? Why do some people drive 10 times more then we do and yet never seem to use their CAA/AAA card?

  Simple, they have more clarity. They have a clear and precise destination in mind. They have taken methodical steps to achieve their goals one at a time. Each time they get a little stuck they pull out their journal and reflect on the path they started from, the achievements that got them to where they are now. They look at the goal (end destination) and see if a course correction is needed. They ask the tough questions. They realize that to succeed in any part of life the more time you take to plan (journal, ask questions, adjust the course, become problem solvers rather then life blamers), the better the journey will be. What are the steps you take each day/week/month/year to take responsibility for your life?

  If the answer is none, not many or this sounds like stuff for chicks, you may want to reconsider the next thing you do or step you take. It can start now. Get more clarity.

  Get a journal, write the date and this statement… “At the end of my life I want to have accomplished these ten things…”

  Write the list, if more then ten, great! If less then ten keep asking yourself for more. This could be the first step in a beautiful adventure. Start now!

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Jun 17, 2009 at 12:16 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (3)

• Silence IS golden

  Jun 7, 2009

  I am away at a wonderful retreat just North of Toronto. Leaders from 15 nations have gathered to spend an intensive weekend with Robin Sharma. I strongly encourage you to visit his website to see all the amazing tools and resources that are available to you.

  We spent some time in silence yesterday. For some it was very hard to sit in absolute quiet, others embraced it.

  I haven’t written in so long. The longest I have gone in almost 4 years. Why? I think it’s because I had nothing really to say. I was so busy. Busy figuring out how not to be busy. Don’t we all do that sometimes?

  Spending time at this retreat, although I am a facilitator it is a rejuvination of my spirit. My 5 week absence has been 5 weeks of silence in a way. Time to think, reflect and focus.

  Take sometime today and sit in pure silence. Think about all the aspects of your life, everything. Write out what you are “busy” doing. Sometimes we find in the end that we don’t have to be. You can be quiet, it’s ok.

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Jun 7, 2009 at 9:28 am | Permanent Link | Comments (4)

• Positive Pandemic?

  Apr 30, 2009

  So much news over the last week about the Swine Flu. I am in fact a person that was in Mexico for the beginning of this “crisis”. I have been in quarantine for the last 5 days. I am fine. I feel as if the world is almost excited about the negative news. It got me thinking about a different type of pandemic… a positive one.

  What if we tracked positive acts that happened around the world. You would turn on the news and see a world map showing positive acts happening in real time. Instead of WHO (World Health Organization) there would be WPO (World Positive Organization).

  It would be so exciting not depressing. I am all for it, I think if we focused the amount of media time on positive actions rather then negative hype the world would be a better place…

  Ok I have to go now there’s an update on CNN about the positive flu…

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Apr 30, 2009 at 9:08 am | Permanent Link | Comments (1)

• seventy three

  Apr 6, 2009

  Here’s the amazing thing. My father is 73 years old. He and my mom who is 70, have been living in the jungle for 5 weeks in Costa Rica. Their days are full of adventure. Hiking through the mountains, riding rafts down the river, waking at 5 am to swim under a waterfall.

  I just got a bunch of pictures from them. The one I have included is of my father repelling down a cliff into a warm pool at the base of a waterfall.

  He’s 73 years old. Stop putting off the life you were destined to live people. Do something amazing today. His actions have inspired me for sure.

  

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Family Life Learning and Growing Motivation on Apr 6, 2009 at 10:01 am | Permanent Link | Comments (5)

• Rejuvenate

  Apr 2, 2009

  I am sitting at my dining room table. Steaming cup of coffee in my hand. My windows are open. The song of a thousand birds echo from the trees. I close my eyes and feel their excitement to be awake. They are soaking up the brilliant morning sun. I look out to the grassy hill in my front yard. The long grass has been pressed down by the snow. It looks like a heard of wild animals had perhaps stampeded through.

  Amongst the open yard there are two radically different worlds. A small patch of snow is holding on. Defying the warmth of the sun. Refusing to melt away into the soon forgotten season. Inches away, a small patch of neon green bursts through the trampled grass. Reaching for the sun. Its tiny leaves stretched outwards like a father waiting for his child to fall into his arms.

  I see myself as both the snow patch and the green new growth. Holding onto my past, trying not to let go of the coldness of what I know needs to be cut free. I live though for new growth… reaching for brighter, warmer days. To grow and learn and be stronger, more alive.

  What are you doing today to grow? Let what you know needs to… go.

  Spring.

  Rejuvenate.

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership Learning and Growing Motivation on Apr 2, 2009 at 8:04 am | Permanent Link | Comments (7)

• What’s your best?

  Mar 28, 2009

  4 years ago I attended a conference that changed my life. I was working hard at my business, the business of leadership development. I was doing the same thing I had done for years and years. Making small changes, doing little things. Then I was invited to spend a weekend with Robin Sharma in Toronto at his Absolute Best Self Weekend. It quite honestly changed my outlook on life and how I perceived my limits.

  Within two days I had created a new plan for my life, my business and my future. I continue to use the tools I learned at ABS every day. I also can’t tell you how many great people that I met that are now friends. One of the most powerful nuggets of wisdom I picked up was a quote by Arthur Schopenhauer

  “Nearly Everyone takes the limits of their own vision as the limits of the world. A few do not. Join them.”

  That single quote and the skills that I learned at ABS transformed my life. Is there a quote or an event that has changed yours? It’s good to remind ourselves that we need to challenge ourselves daily to be better, to do more. Please take a moment and share a quote here on the STUpendous that has had a great impact on your life.

  If you are interested in spending three days that can transform your life I strongly encourage you to experience ABS!

  

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Leadership on Mar 28, 2009 at 7:31 am | Permanent Link | Comments (6)

• Short… sweet

  Mar 25, 2009

  I am sitting at my favourite Starbucks enjoying a latte. I know all the staff, I am a regular. The manager is sitting at the table beside me. She has just promoted a young barista to a shift supervisor. I am happy to see her so excited. I open my Macbook and look at my dozen new emails.

  “I don’t know it you heard?” says the manager as she leans over to me.

  “No, what’s the news?” I reply.

  “Sandy the other Starbucks Manager, her husband passed away on Sunday.”

  “How?!”

  “Sudden, don’t know all the details. Went into hospital on Wednesday and was gone on Sunday.”

  “How old?” I asked.

  “39”

  “I’m 39.”

  We were all silent for a few minutes.

  Life is short, we need to make it sweet. Be great, be awesome. Stop complaining about silly things that are truly silly. Hug your children, love your spouse, smile at a stranger, lead without title.

  Now.

  You know this stuff. I talk about it all the time. This is not new.

  “The sad part about it is we all go back to our lives and not think about it in a few days.” the manager adds as I empty my inbox.

  True.

  Need to stop that, need to stop.

  
  

  Posted by Stu Saunders in Goal Setting Leadership Family Life Learning and Growing Motivation on Mar 25, 2009 at 1:26 pm | Permanent Link | Comments (6)

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