The STU-PENDOUS BLOG!

Three weeks done… I have been away for three whole weeks. Tomorrow I will be back at my camp, sleeping in my own bed. I have enjoyed myself. I have laughed with old friends, met new ones. Found some great innovation and had some adventures.

Best of all I got to spend some time with the kids. I love them and they seem to be partial to me. That is brilliant. Being a single father and not being able to spend as much time as I would like to, I have to make the most of the moments that are given to me. We did that… we had so much fun every day, they were truly life adding. Every moment, every day.

We found a little beach in a beautiful town called South Hampton. They loved it because the water was a little deeper and there was a little playground right on the beach. The best part though were the really cool stones that scattered the shore.

We spent hours on our hands and knees trying to find cool stones. What makes the stones so unique is that they are all so smooth and colourful. They start out as rough, jagged rocks, but since they are washed against other rocks in the waves all day they get worn down and become little gems.

It takes years to create them, they just don’t turn over night. If you leave them long enough some will become precious gems. Isn’t that a great metaphor for being a leader, for being successful?

So many people want to have success overnight, they think there is a magic pill or a quick fix. There isn’t one, it always takes time. We talk a lot about 1% action steps, little things that you (and I) can do each day to make the journey to your goals and dreams real.

I wish I could go back in 50 years and see those rocks, and see the gems that they became. That is truly brilliant, the gems they become are worth more then the jagged rocks that they started out as. People make jewellery out of them, they put them in glass cases and create crowns out of them. True Magnificence is like the gem… it takes time, but when it is created, it will shine and the world will be drawn to it.

Get out the journals!!!! Here is your question, it is two parts. Some of you may have done a similar question before in the past but it never hurts to keep reviewing and re-visiting your finish line.

What are those small 1% action steps that you can take TODAY to work to make your goals and dreams come true?

Second part, what are your 30, 60, 90 day goals? Write them down and work towards them.

Please write the question and the answers in your journals and then post some comments here.

Today’s pic is from the beach, the rocks… becoming gems.

For more information on the YLCC Leadership Training Centre or STU! Saunders speaking please contact info@ylcc.com or visit www.ylcc.com

I live now for moments. The moments in between the minutes that are in between the hours and those that are in between the days. Single moments that happen that can change everything, you may not know it. The more intune with those single seconds you become is when you start truly living.

I had one yesterday… I live for these now. It wasn’t long ago that I realized that everything happens in your life for a reason. The more I accept that, the easier the lessons are, the quicker my life excels.

Having a coffee last night at Two Chicks, meeting new people, laughing and truly feeling that I was part of the scene. If you remember a few blogs ago I was telling you how Sauble Beach is supposed to have the second best sunsets in the world… I hadn’t experienced anything to tell you about until yesterday, last night.

I started to see the most brilliant ORNJ colour from the window at the cafe, I grabbed Em and Matty and we ran down to the beach. The colours were like an atrists canvas. If you have ever seen the movie “What Dreams May Come” then you can imagine the colours I was seeing.

I was in awe, Matty and Emily where also excited. Matthew said…

“It looks like the sky is a campfire.”

Emily yelled out in the excitement…

“Daddy, God is using his crayons!!!!”

What a moment… the entire stay here was worth that one moment. There were couples, old and young watching and holding each other, children playing in the surf, an older man looked over at me and said…

“Makes you want to cry a little doesn’t it?”

Here is today’s question… please keep sending out invitations to the STUpendous BLOG!

What are those little moments that have changed your feelings, emotions even your life? What moments to you wish you could have right now?

Write the question and the answer in your journal. Don’t have a journal, new to the BLOG, get one and join in. Please don’t forget to share your thoughts with everyone!

Today’s pic…. the moment. Love it!
  
For more information on YLCC Leadership Training Centre or STU Saunders Speaking please goto www.ylcc.com or email stu@ylcc.com

Sometimes people just get it… They always get it after the fact.

Two stories from my drive on Friday up to the cottage. I had picked up Emily and Matthew and we had a few stops to make prior to hitting the highway. We needed to grab a coffee from Starbucks and then goto the mall to get new school back packs and grab a little treat.

I haven’t been in the mall for a few months and a bunch of new stores had opened. First new store we saw was the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory… really cool. They have taken the old standard candy apple, and made 20 different “new” creations. The owner came over told us all about the different types of apples and then we got to go and see how they make them and saw the chocolate being stirred and apples being dipped. Awesome… what a quick adventure. This little store just seems to get it.

Next store, Build-A-Bear Workshop, this place is awesome! For 15 to 27 dollars you can pick a bear, then you get to stuff him and put a heart inside. The heart is the best part, you get to rub it on your head to make your bear smart, rub it on your arm to make it strong and rub it in your hands to make it warm. The last part was truly the best, you get to make a wish and put the heart inside of the bear.

They provide a birth certificate with the name that you chose for your bear and the name of the owner. They had a blast and we spent about $40. This place really gets it. They are innovative, creative and getting noticed.

Lastly, as we drove up the highway, Emily and Matthew spotted a massive playground. I am sucker for stopping and letting them play. Bayfield is where we stopped, I went there once when I was about 8 or 9. Don’t remember much outside of the beach. What a place!

Bayfield is like a movie set. Every single store and shop is perfect. Every building is clean and painted. I asked a man in a pub who had worked at the Red Pump restaurant for 23 years why the town is so great, so beautiful. His response was so fantastic…

“The town decided they wanted to make the village beautiful, they put aside their differences and worked together.”

They really get it! How many towns, businesses, school careers, families and friendships have gone bad because people are always playing the blame game. They are trying to find reasons for why the world, the government, the weather is against them. If you think about it… you know what you have to do to bring your life to brilliance. Why are you waiting? You to can get it!

Get out the journals… Here is your question. Please if you could do me a favour spread the word about the STUpendous blog to others. I want to get to 500 people a day. With your help I can!

What is that one thing, habit, obstruction that you will no longer tolerate in your life? How would your life be different if you you didn’t have it?

Please write it in your journal and write here in the BLOG! Thanks for your support!

Today’s pic comes from Bayfield… notice the bears! They haven’t left their hands!

Late BLOG today and it is mostly because I had visitors last night at my cottage. We were up late talking and laughing and telling embarrassing stories. Wonderful night, lots of new energy created by some old friends.

There arrival was late and unexpected, so before they got there I went for a run along the beach while the sunset was going on… beautiful night. They say in Sauble Beach they have the second best sunsets in the world, right behind Hawaii. Well I am not sure of that, but it was very relaxing and inspiring.

As I ran down to the end of the beach (I try and run at least 5 times a week and love it) soaking in the air and light breaze of the water, the waves slowly lapping in and the colours changing quickly as the sun went down. I could not of been happier. I had good tunes, the iPod was on random, you never know what you will get to listen to when you have over 3500 songs (and room for more).

Here is the bottom line, I was really soaking up life, really in a good moment. I was almost back at where I started about 5 kms later when I spotted a white lump, rather large in the middle of the beach. As I got closer I noticed it was a seagull. I thought it may be sleeping, resting, but when I got really close it tried to move, it didn’t, it couldn’t. It was dying.

I quickly went back to my truck and got my camera. I got down on my stomach and moved really close, his breathing was heavy and he didn’t even try and move. I took a photo and waited with him… then a group of older people walked by and looked down. One older gentlemen (mid 60’s I am guessing) looked down at me and the seagull, smiled and said…

“Fly Jonathan, fly.”

If you haven’t read Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, take the time. It’s not a hard read but an inspiring one. I won’t get into all the details of the story, it’s basically about a seagull wanting to fly, but on his terms.

I got back to my cottage, put the picture on my laptop and noticed something. The scene was perfect, the seagull was on his last breath, lying on the sand 15 feet from the water and the sun was going down. I guess for a seagull if you could pick a place to have your last few moments this couldn’t have been better.

I slowly walked away and said to this little bird… “Sleep and dream, it’s time to go.”

Here is today’s question… get out those journals. This is a question that is hard one but really revealing.

If you could pick a place for your last spot to watch your last scene of your life, where would it be? 

Think about it… write down some comments here. Don’t shy away from this one. If you know where you want to go, you will have an easier time finding the path.

Today’s pic is from that bird… “Sleep and dream, it’s time to go.”

“He was alive, trembling ever so slightly with delight, proud that his
fear was under control.”
                                             - Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Good morning great BIG beautiful world! I am excited today to be alive, alert, awake and enthusiastic! How do you feel today? How are your vibes? What is that word for the day?

We use a journal as a part of the Balanced Based Leadership system that we teach at camp and other leadership programs that we run. The journal is why I write these questions everyday here in the BLOG! One of the activities that we ask every participant who uses our system is to write a word for the day. You see, this sets in your subconscious a feeling for the day. You can create a positive cycle in motion that will let you have a truly brilliant day.

So, my BLOG today is called Trying times because we are having some trying times at camp. In the previous 13 summers I have had to fire only three people, for that I am very proud! We hire good people, we instill in them, good values and a hard work ethic. People usually want to be part of camp, want to belong. They want to have that ability to change a life, maybe their own.

This summer we have had to fire or come close to firing 6 people. This has been hard on our Assistant Director who’s job it is to deal with staffing. She is not in the habit of having to deal with this… yesterday she called me as I am on holiday’s and asked me for advice as she usually does. She was having a very trying day, she was strong but in her voice you could sense her stress.

We talked, we reminded ourselves why we do this and how we are changing people’s lives. I told her a funny story and we laughed a little and then we moved on. That’s what you have to do, learn from it, adjust your sails and keep sailing. That’s how the strong succeed.

So while I was sitting in the Cafe this morning I realized that perhaps these young people that have been “let go” are being taught a life lesson by our camp still. You see we call the parents of people we fire to try and explain why and what is happening. Side note, I was fired once in my life, I was at jobs where people were fired, no boss ever called my family. They said I was fired and that I had to leave… there wasn’t any negotiation by me or my family. I screwed up, I needed to go.

One of the parents of the staff we were firing said to us…

“Hey it’s not your fault he screwed up, don’t get upset about it. These are the lessons that make you a man!”

Thank you to that father, who like my mom would of said the classic, “It’s your bed, you lie in it!”

I wanted to end my BLOG by thanking our Associate Director - Dave “ORNJ” Graham. He had to come out to camp last night and drive one of the staffers back to the GTA, late at night. That’s a family, thanks for being there ORNJ. You didn’t get into this to deal with this stuff, but aren’t we still teaching?

Get out the journals… this is a real soul searcher this morning!

What lessons have you learned from less then pleasant experiences? Looking back now, how have you grown as an individual by having to have a “hard lesson”?

Write down the question and the answer in your journal, and of course share with all of us!

Today’s pic comes from a happier time… ORNJ in all of his brilliant sunshine! Thanks to Phil (www.phillyd.com) for the brilliant picture.

For more information on YLCC or Stu Saunders speaking goto www.ylcc.com or email us at info@ylcc.com. For more information on Phil, his photogtaphy or his speaking services goto www.phillyd.com

Hey there BLOGillians (not sure if that is a word…. should be though). Just a quck BLOG today. Lots to do.

I was doing some work for the last couple of hours and have been listening people who have been coming in and out of the Cafe. I noticed something… people really don’t say please and thank you. They order their coffee and then they take it and leave. Wow, I always say thank you. I always say please. Maybe it was my mom and my dad that always reminded me how important it was. Maybe it is just common sense to me.

What I know for sure is that it makes people feel good. It only takes a second and it doesn’t cost anything.

Brilliant.

Here is today’s question, get out your journals and make sure you post some comments here in the BLOG. This is a good question…

Who do you wish you could thank in your life that you haven’t?

That’s it… think about it. Who? Here is a little homework as well…. why don’t you go do it now. Send an email, make a quick call or even better, send a note (snail mail has such a great impact!).

Today’s picture comes from the archives, these two people are working so hard right now at YLCC. I want to thank them today… Trish and Hill! Thank you!

For more information on YLCC or Stu Saunders Speaking email info@ylcc.com or call 705-326-2433

Love it… no I really do. Sitting in this new cafe that I love…. Two Chicks Cafe. What I can’t figure out is that here I am in a very small town, having great coffee, eating a whole grain vegeterian bagel, and working on the free wireless internet. Now here’s what I don’t get, I live in a small city (much larger then this town) of about 30,000 and there isn’t a single place that I could do this.

There was one place that had the wireless but you had to pay $7.95 for an hour. You see they don’t get it, free wireless has people coming in for a coffee and a change of pace and the ability to access the internet. There is no question that they are selling a ton of their pastries, sandwiches, smoothies and of course coffee while people are on the net. Some people just understand, while some do not.

Einstein’s theory of insanity is great…

“Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.”

I may be paraphrasing but you get the point. If we are going to be successful in life we need to be innovative, creative and create splashes within our life.

I was reading an article in a magazine called “Country Garden’s” (thanks for leaving it at the cottage mom) and there was a quote a gardener wrote that said she like to create splashes of colour in her garden rather then spots. Spots never get noticed.

Brilliant, like the Two Chicks, whatever we do in life, school, business we need to leave splashes of colour, splashes of life…

People are always surprised at how I can become part of a place so quickly. I came to this cafe 6 days ago, didn’t know anyone, never been here before. Today when I walked in the staff said…

“We were wondering when you were coming in?”

The staff then went on to create me a special vegetarian bagle that wasn’t on the menu. Make splashes, not spots. Be brilliant.

Here it is today’s question. Oh, by the way, thanks for spreading the word about the STU-pendous BLOG. So many readers and lot’s of great comments. PLEASE comment it makes a massive difference to everyone’s motivation. Get out your journals and here we go…

How can you make a “SPLASH” in your job, school or circle of friends? What can you do to be noticed, not by making a fool of yourself, but by being you?

I know this is a hard one, but really think about it. You too are magnificent.

Today’s pic comes from my garden, oh by the way… my garden is about 64 acres, so for a flower to make a mark it has to really make a mark… A splash of colour!

For more informatio on the YLCC Leadership training Centre goto www.ylcc.com or call 705-326-2433

Good morning world! I am up early today, great sleep after watching the eye opening movie Syriana. Like reading, you should try and find great books, you should also try and find great movies that expand your mind and challenge what you know.

On to my daily thoughts… For those who do not know I am a single father of three wonderful kids. Two of them I spend a lot of time with over the summer. My youngest two, Emily and Matthew. Well yesterday I was given two incredible gifts from them. Both were unexpected.

One, my daughter was in her room at the cottage playing with her brother and sharing some pretzels. She ran down the stairs yelling out “Daddy, daddy, daddy!”

I thought something may be wrong, but no. She looked up at me with those big eyes and said…

“I made this for you.”

In her hand was a pretzel, the middle eaten out so it was now in the shape of a heart.

“I love you!” she hollered to me as her feet took back upstairs for more fun and games with her brother. A simple act, not life altering but life adding. It was a little bit of joy that lasted me through the day.

Two, while I was at “Two Chicks” yesterday morning, my son Matthew was with me. I like to bring them with me so they can see that I have to work sometimes. If you want some great advice about raising children, be the person that you want them to be. Don’t tell your kids to eat well, while you eat a big bag of Doritos… get it? I can’t tell my little ones to work hard if they never me see working.

Anyway, he was watching me work, playing with these cool wooden blocks (love the Two Chicks, so innovative) when he got an idea. We were sitting by the door and he jumped up and said, “I am going to open the door for people!”

Sure enough, that’s what he did… for 20 minutes, open and close with a smile and “you’re welcome” to each new customer. The smiles he created in the probably 50 people that walked through the door yesterday were unforgettable. Truly brilliant… what did he get for his hard work? 50 cents in tips and a free cookie from the staff at the cafe.

Matthew gets it, he provided little bits of joy to all those people early in the morning… so simple.

So get out your handy journals. Don’t have one? New to the BLOG? Each day that I post I write a journal question for you to write and reflect upon. The idea being the more you reflect on your own life, wants, dreams, goals and motivations the more potential you have to succeed. It’s like having a chat… with yourself. You also can look back and re-read where you have been and how you have grown.

What are the “things” that you are doing today to create little bits of joy in your life and the lives of the people around you? What can you do today to make someone smile?

Please don’t forget to write both the question and the answers in your journal. Please, write some thoughts here in the BLOG. I currently have upwards of 250 readers a day so help each other, take a moment and share.

The pic… you guessed it… the pretzel!

For more information on any of our leadership programs or STU! Speaking contact us directly at info@ylcc.com or visit www.ylcc.com

Sitting in my new favourite place, Two Chicks. Great music playing, Matthew building a castle out of wooden blocks in front of me. Great coffee and of course the internet!

So yesterday I was on pins and needles all day. A new paertnership that I have been working on for the last two months had a little set back. It by no means went “bad”, it just had a few set backs. I was asking for approval to go-ahead with 6 diferent projects and got the go-ahead for 3 and half of them. I was really upset at first and then I got a phone call from my trusty assistant J-O… she said to me some very important words.

“You got here by tennacity. You don’t give up!”

That really helped. You will find when you surround yourself with positive people you get that support you need. Then I got an email from the main guy I have been working with at the group we are trying to create a relationship with.

He wrote me a quick note that wrote…

“Stay positive. Nothing good ever came easy.”

He is right of course. I just need to refocus and work a little harder. If I want it then I can make it happen. I am still excited and I am still positive. Made me think about all of those people that go through our programs like camp. It is easy to be positive while you are at camp or at that retreat, but can you stay that way when you are back in your daily lives?

Here is today’s question for your journals… get them out!

What can you do today to stay focused and move towards your goals? What are those small steps, those 1% actions you can take today, right now?

Write down the question and the answers in your journals and then please post some thoughts here in the BLOG!

Picture today to follow as I am having problems with uploading my pic. No worries…. just a set back.

Early morning, sun coming up over Lake Huron. Beautiful day, one of those days that you feel great to be alive! Always looking for examples of innovations. Found a ton on this trip. I am in the small waterfront community of Sauble Beach on Northern Lake Huron. I am staying at an amazing log cabin just 4 minutes from the lake. I rented it for three weeks, I am so excited to have this time to write, read, re-invent and spend some very needed time with my kids.

I was walking around the main street yesterday, a typical sight at any beach community, tons of young people in bathing suits, great tans and dozens of surf shops. I took a right off main street and came across a little cafe called “Two Chicks”. Tiny little place and I mean tiny, but it was packed, really packed, lined up 10 people deep. The music that was playing was cool, jazz and blues, what a vibe. The smell of fresh coffee, fresh baked pastries was strong in the air. Tucked away in every corner was a computer station with free internet connection. Young peope checking email, chatting on MSN… awesome.

I spent a moment and talked to the owner, super nice lady. She said that they were open early and closed late. Then the kicker, if you come in early you can use your laptop on the patio… “we have wireless…”

So I got in my truck this morning and drove the 6 mintues into town and grabbed a cup of coffee and opened the laptop… voila… online! The shop has been hopping all morning. Love it!

Grad the journals, dust them off (I hope you have been journalling without me) and get ready for a new question.

“What are you doing each day to be unique, to be you? Anyone can follow the crowd and do the “expected”, but how will you be different?”

Write the question and the answer in your journal and please don’t forget to post some off your thoughts here to share with others!

Today’s pic comes from the little cafe… love it!

For more information on STU! or any of our leadership programs goto www.ylcc.com or email stu@ylcc.com