The STU-PENDOUS BLOG!

Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - Day Three of the rebuild… today we continue to recreate the creation. Have you ever done that? Taken time to recreate you, your goals, dreams, home, network of friends?

Back in 1992 I started a summer youth leadership camp called Youth Leadership Camps Canada (YLCC). At the time we were four young, enthusiastic and unbreakable leaders. Not really sure of what we were doing, I was the only one with any real camp experience, we weren’t sure who would even come.

We wrote a program (way to go Ian Tyson (www.iantyson.ca) and we began the adventure that would grow from a 3 day weekend camp to a multi-million dollar leadership training centre on the shores of Lake Simcoe. What was once a retreat for 47 students’ council kids has become a program that works with 2-3000 people in the spring and fall and a summer camp that works with close to 600 campers in the year.

As we have been growing and learning, we have added many new programs. We learn more, we do more, like all of us should do in our own lives. This past year I have spent so much time doing self reflection of both my personal life, but also the way we teach leadership to the Youth of the world.

I realized that we were actually failing on our potential… we could do more, in fact we could change the world.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
- Ghandi

It is with that in mind that I started with my self, then my spring staff and now with the programs at our camp. We have a responsibility to do everything that we can to make the world in which we live better. Not by screaming at Walmart or George Bush but by looking in the mirror and doing what we know inside is right.

I recently spent an incredible weekend with Robin Sharma (www.robinsharma.com) who has become a mentor that I look to for inspiration. What I found when I got to spend three very intense days with him, which included an opportunity to ask him questions, eat lunch with him, walk down the hallway and look to him for his wisdom. Each time I did, I discovered he was real, very real. That made everything he said and did much more impactful and meaningful. He has looked in the mirror and he is acting and living his actions and words.

“Leadership is not about executive position or title. It is about connection and influence. At its highest, leadership as all about adding value to the world and blessing lives through the work you do.”
- Robin Sharma

It is now 12:09 am Thursday, June 22, 2006… we are recreating the creation. We owe it the the world to give every camper the tools and the direction to succeed and make their world a better place.

I am excited about the journey… I am excited for every single camper aged 7-19 that comes through our gates! We will help create the magnificance in which they will become.

Today’s Pic is from our late all day brainstorming and writing sessions at the Couchiching Inn… coffee, tea, water and of course passion. Our fuel!

For more information on STU! or the YLCC Summer Camp goto www.ylcc.com We still have spots for this summer!!

Wow… what a weekend!!! We had our annual family camp! About 100 people or about 22 families showed up for the big weekend. It is truly one of my favourite times of the year. We always run the program on Fathers Day Sunday as it allows families to commit to being together for this cherished Hallmark Holiday.

One of the most important parts of the weekend is that it reminds me that the family unit is so important. The challenge in 2006 is that the modern family unit can be comprised of many different scenerios. You can have single mom’s and single dad’s, you can have same sex parents, parent’s living together but no married, traditional married couples, grandparent’s, and foster families. So many combinations, the one constant is the need to be together. As our life and society get busier and is measured by the amount we have rather then the love and time we share it is important to remember to schedule time (sad to say) in to our days and weeks. The important part is to make the time to be with the family, regardless of the make-up.

I am a single father that does not get the opportunity to see my children as much as I would like. In fact, when I tell people that I get my kids every other weekend they sometimes say…

“That’s pretty good!”

The sad part is, that most of us dad’s say “Yes it is!”

Since the courts in the province that I live are so lopsided in favour of the mothers that most men have resigned themselves to saying… “Yes it is.” I am not saying anything against moms, I just wish it was a little more evenly balanced.

Well, I can’t change the courts (not yet, anyway), so I have decided to stop screaming at the system and design a new system for myself. I can only control my life, not my ex’s, not the legal system. The best thing that I can do is give 110% to my children for those few days that I have them. I know that I am making an impact, when I drop them off this morning and with a little tear in their eye and say “I’ll miss you daddy, I had a great weekend!”

Please do not be a commercial parent. Don’t put your kids to bed during the commercial breaks, turn off the TV. I read to my kids. In fact my 7 year old daughter and I are reading an entire series of chapter books together. She loves those moments, and I live for those moments.

Have a great family moment today… I know it’s game 7 of the Stanley Cup, but your children are MORE important.

Today pic’s is from Family Camp… the winning sandcastle in the 2006 sandcastle contest! Way to go Van Eyk family!

For more information on everything we do at YLCC goto www.ylcc.com

Why is that so many of us put off change and improvement? Why is that we wait to make our lives better? Have you ever noticed that? We wait until our birthday, a holiday or New Year’s day to make a change.

We seem to need “markers” on our choices to make anew. I would like to propose a new idea… why can’t we change today. Right now, there can be chance to do something new, as my ABS friends would know, a chance to increase or improve by 1%.

It may be better to set yourself a date for a completion rather then a starting date. If you only make a date for starting a new habit or dropping an old one, then you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself.

It is better to make small measurable steps towards your goals and dreams! Start today, what can you do today to make a difference in YOUR life.

Make a list, open the journal and write down all of the stuff you can do today to make a small measurable change. Make today your New Year… the only thing that I know for sure is that each day is a day to grow and live an entirely new life for those hours you are awake! Get to it!

Today’s pic is from a trip to a local garden store, we are in the process of putting all the gardens in at the centre. One of my favourite places is Freskiw’s, a little nursery just down the highway from me. You walk in and get recharged by the smell of the flowers and the excitement of the customers that are renewing their gardens. The are always making small changes to their gardens to make them a work of art… like your life!

For more info on STU! or the YLCC Leadership Training Centre goto www.ylcc.com  

Gooooood Morning! It is just before 6am on Wednesday morning. I am up early, writing in my journal, trying to work through some ideas and issues. Do you do that? Do you take the time to have conversations with yourself? Do you take the time to self reflect?

I meet so many people in my travels that are so stuck in one belief and one idea that they close themselves off to such incredible potential. The most amazing thing that our current world offers, is the ability to discuss, read ideas from all over the globe in an instant. To go to giant bookstores that provide you with coffee shops and comfee chairs to read their books in. There is so many wonderful ideas simply floating around… why don’t we take more time to embrace them?

I was having a bit a challenge yesterday, If you don’t know, I own a large training centre (camp), and it takes me evey penny to keep it open, market it, maintain it and improve it. Well on Monday, I drove back into camp after taking my dear friend Trish to her birthday lunch and what happens… water gooshing (great word) from the ground.

It turns out that the septic pumping well at our camp is over-flowing. Now, if you know anything about septic, an overflowing well of 30,000 litres of waste is not good. We manually pumped the septic and waited for the experts to arrive.

Yesterday, they did. It turns out that I need to replace two mercury floats, it also turns out that they are expensive. So friday, the team of plumbers and electricians will be here to replace and repair the system. Now, I could get upset and angry about this. What would be the point? How would that solve anything? It has to get done… this is a lesson I would have liked to have learned years ago. We spend so much of our time screaming at the universe, the government, ex-girlfriends and spouses, the price of gas, whatever. Do you think that the mercury floats in my well could care less how I feel, or what’s more, do you think they did this on purpose? NO! I need to adapt, figure out, make the course correction (repairs) and move on.

The amazing thing about life is that you go to bed and wake up with another chance to start all over. So this morning, I was up early as usual and was working on some journalling when I saw the sky turning colours… the sunrise. I ran down to the beach with my camera, took some deep breaths, felt the sand under my feet and saw the sun come up. Incredible… beautiful.

Each day is a new mini life you get to live. How are you reacting to the world around you? What could you do today to make the world and your own world just a little bit better.

Today’s picture is from my morning sunrise… wish you could have been here to see it.

 For more information on STU! or The YLCC Leadership Training Centre goto www.ylcc.com

Have you ever made a list of the things you most appreciate? The people, places and things that you most treasure? What are they? Here is a challenge for you… take a clean piece of paper in your journal (you do have one don’t you?) and write down the 25 things you most appreciate in your life.

I take the time to do this in my journal at least once a month. How much more energy would you have if you would write down the pure joy that surrounds you?

I want to tell you my top five…

1. My Children
2. My Mom
3. My Brother and his family
4. My Health
5. Trish Thachuk

If you know what you appreciate you become more aware of what it is you need to spend time working on or with. I would if I could spend the most time on my children. The best legacy I can live is the brilliant influences that I leave on my own children.

Did you see number 5? Trish Thachuk, my assistant Director, My personal life assistant and most importantly my friend. Today is her birthday… 26 years old I have known since she was 16 and she has grown so much. Today I appreciate and celebrate Trish Thachuk!

Today’s pic is from just about an hour ago. Trish and I went and did a couple of the things that bring her joy… sushi for lunch and then to Starbucks for her favourite latte. Small price to pay to appreciate the joy and hard work you bring to so many. Thanks so much… you are truly brilliant!

Day 3 - Just left the Kingbridge Centre and I am sitting at my favourite Starbucks in beautiful Barrie, Ontario. Thanks so much for reading the BLOG’s this weekend. My highest readership ever… Today alone more then doubled Friday. Thanks for your support in everything that I do. I am nothing except a crazy guy if I don’t have friends and followers of what I am doing, what I am trying to create with YLCC Inc. I am gratefull, truly.

How do I encapsulate what I have learned over the last three days? How do you tell in a few paragraphs what a “monk” has told you in 24 hours of teaching.

I simply say this… I am different… or maybe I am now me. Maybe I am more the person that I want to be. Maybe I am the person that I hope to be on the day I am placed to rest.

“When you were born the world rejoiced while you cried, when you die may the world cry while you rejoice.”

How does that happen? What does that quote mean to you? How does that make you feel?

Write it out… journal it… I say it every day, “If your life is worth living, it’s worth recording!”

This afternoon I went to my funeral… people were there, there were tears, laughter and so much thought.

What do I want people to say about me when I die? If I could write the speech that my closest friends would say what would they say?

Try… write it down, embrace it. BE HONEST! Are you there now? Are you that person… really? Everyday?

Three days… more questions now then I had before I went in. One of the best things I learned from my journey this past few days… I am good and I do deserve it. Do you know what the greatest thing is? SO DO YOU!

Today’s pic comes from our last activity that we did in our class… In India roses are used to celebrate life, during and at the time of death. Today I died… Tommorrow my new day begins. Stu Saunders… born June 11th, 2006. I am excited. Each day is simply a mini example of your life… how are you living!

Dream BIG! Don’t Settle! Be STU-pendous!

For more information on STU! or YLCC goto www.ylcc.com

Day 2 - Wow, what a day… just got to my hotel room, unpacked my bag and looked in the mirror. Wow (yes I know I said it twice), what have I learned in just 14 short hours? What have I become more aware of in the last 14 hours?

The answer, LOTS! So much, so much that I can do to make the world around me not just better, but GREAT! There are two lessons from today that I really embraced that perhaps you will learn from.

Before I get to them, I want to impart something upon you that matters so much to me. I have always said it, but until recently I haven’t truly lived it.

Journal… journal, journal, journal. Write, write lots ask yourself questions and don’t be afraid of the answers. Tony Robbins says, “If your life is worth living it’s worth recording.” WOW, what a thought. I try and give you not only little pearls of my wisdom, but I also ask that you try and answer the questions that I ask of you. I may never see your answers… but you will!

Nugget Number 1… “With clarity comes mastery!”

When we write down the life that we want to live, the dreams and goals that we truly want for oursleves, we begin to see what it is that we are missing out on. We begin to see the path, or the obstacles, that are in the way of our path. What is it that you are doing today to create tomorrow? More importantly, what is you are not doing today that will effect your tomorrow?

Now the simple act of writing down your goals some would say is a very HUGE step. The problem is that we put so much weight on that first step, we forget to take the next one. Read them the next day… write down what it is today that you will do to reach those goals.

Robin Sharma shared with us the most simple comcept… it you were to improve or move closer towards a dream or a goal by only 1% would that be hard? NO! If you want to be healthier why not change your diet today by one percent… here is an idea, do not eat after 8pm. That’s it! I am not saying stop eating, or drop everything that you know is bad for you. Just don’t eat after 8pm. That will give your body more time to digest the food you have eaten and will allow your body to burn off the calories that you took in. Eating late, forces your body to take the time sleeping to digest… you burn less of the calories and also burn your energy that could be used sleeping in a quality state.

If you improved 1% per day then in 30 days you would be… 30% healthier then you are today. So if you want to be a doctor spend 30 minutes reading the medical journals or biographies of great doctors. 30 minutes…. 1%!

Nugget Number 2… “If a nail stands up, it’s nailed down.”

Wow, a classmate of mine today from Japan said this. He said in Japan if you are different and stand out, they push you back down. We are programed everyday to be the same… what we see on tv, in movies, what we wear. We are told not to stand out. The kid that jumps up and down the hall at school is a freak! No, he’s a genious… maybe not Einstien… but he will be remembered. Do you want to simply blend in? Do you want to be the Falcon or the Chicken (YLCC reference)?

In our dining hall at camp or as we call it “Vulture Hall”, we have beautiful tables that are like giant picnic tables they seat 10… Each year nails in the benches wiggle out, they catch peoples pants and always rip a hole in them. Nails that stand out, catch people! They make a rip, a wripple… we nail them back down because they are not safe… but they wiggle back up!

Stand up, stand out… if you get knocked down…. wiggle back up. Think I am wrong? If someone told you (my older readers) 20 years ago, that you would buy water in bottles you would of laughed. Why would you buy from a bottle what you can get for free from the tap? Bottled water today is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, a litre of Evian is more then a litre of gas. We scream about the price of gas, but not water.

Stand up! Write down your dreams and challenge yourself today!

Today’s pic comes from last night. I have met people from all over the world. I have chatted with people from every walk of life… Here I am with Martin (in the middle) from Grand Prairie and Ronin (on the right) from Dublin, Ireland. All of us successful, all wanting more. Dream BIG, don’t settle and be STU-pendous! Please feel free to comment and share!

FOR MORE INFORMATION OF STU OR YLCC GOTO www.ylcc.com 

So Day 1 over… just got back to my room at the Kingbridge. What a night… a long night, but a fantastic night! I learned a lot tonight, about leadership and most importantly about myself.

What if I told you that every thing you do now effects you when you are 50 or 40 or 80? What if I told you that you can make a change that can effect your whole life… now?

You can, you might just be missing out on something amazing later if you are cheating yourself of the best life today.

How do you live your best life today for the most brilliant life tomorrow? Balance, you need to find it, you need to live it. I refuse to beleive that you can’t. I truly beleive that you are able to make the right choices today to acquire the most fantastic tomorrow.

Ask yourself this, am I…

Eating like a champion?
Sleeping the amount I need to sleep and not sleeping away my life?
Saying no to the time suckers that exist all around us (tv, internet, eating to excess, smoking)?
Exercising today… how you treat your body today will effect your health later on!

Ask these questions… write down the answers, look at the words on your page. Be honest, be real. If you don’t like what you see, make some changes. Find your balance and live it!

So about the night… Robin Sharma was… real! He is real, so organic, so fantastic. He said one thing (of many) tonight that really hit me.

“Leadership isn’t about doing what’s easy, it’s about doing what’s right!”

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Today’s pic is from tonight! I had a goal, to meet Robin Sharma. Tonight I did, we chatted and I hope that he will remember our connection.

Fantastic… that is the word that is ooooooozing from my very bones. I am at The Kingbridge Centre in King City, Ontario. I am here for a three day workshop with Robin Sharma a world recognized speaker, author and motivator. He is most famous for his book “The Monk who Sold his Ferarri”.

Now if that isn’t enough, I am already blown away by the venue. Wow, what a fantastic place. I work with my staff at the YLCC Leadership Training Centre every day and encourage them to always do more and give more then expected to our clients. We do not have the financial means (yet) to have what The KingBridge Centre has, but we do have the people, and the desire to be better and do more.

Is that enough? It is a HUGE part of the puzzle, but within the first thirty minutes of being here I gained a dozen new ideas that I will take with me back to our neck of the woods.

Stay tuned to my blog over the next three days as I share with you the excitement and the learning explosion that I am sure will happen. It is true, with an open mind comes great joy!

I will have many more pics for you… please feel free to comment!