The STU-PENDOUS BLOG!

Sometimes I find it hard to write a BLOG. I really feel that I need to write something that has a real point, one that will make my readers and myself think. So I was a little off and on of late. My friend and fellow speaker Phil Doucette (www.phillyd.com) reminded me of something without even knowing he did. My reason…

I attended a weekend retreat last June in Toronto with my mentor Robin Sharma (www.robinsharma.com) and spent three glorious days learning and growing. Robin was discussing with us many of the techniques, rituals and systems that have made him a success. It really hit me… there is one single GIANT idea that makes it all work… having a reason. You need to find your reason.

At our leadership centre and camp we call them FLAGs - Fearless Life Altering Goals. These are such awesome goals that once you decide and commit to them it makes getting there simple. If you know what you want, if you know how bad you want it, then nothing, and I mean nothing will stand in your path.

Once you announce this FLAG even to yourself (preferably written down) you become more aware of it and more passionate about getting there. You can either achieve a life of Magnificence by having a FLAG or a reason to make your FLAG happen!

I have a FLAG… I actually have about four of them flying high right now. What I also have is a reason. I was reminded recently that I must not fail, I will make it happen! 

Here is your question for the day… please SHARE with us your thoughts and spread the STUpendous BLOG to your friends!

What are your FLAGS? What are your reasons for accomplishing them?

Here are two of my reasons… I have a third… camera shy!

For more information on STU or YLCC email us at info@ylcc.com

I am back… I have had a crazy busy week. Speaking and having so many amazing groups at the YLCC Leadership Training Centre. Hello to Mowat C.I., Twin Lakes, Sacred Heart, Centre Dufferrin and West Side SS in Orangeville!

I also spent some time North of the centre at Camp White Pine in Halibutron. Wow, what a beautiful site. It’s what I dream YLCC to be like one day. The director has really made a plan for the camp, really has some vision and is making it happen! I was there to work with Micheal Power/St. Joseph’s CSS. They are a large school from Toronto (Etobicoke), that run there grade nine camp there. Over 450 students! Grade nines, senior student leaders and about 25 staffers, it was a very well run program. The kids loved this event and it set the tone for their entire school year.

Remo, the lead staff advisor and I were talking after my speach and he made a great comment. I had told him how great he was doing with the camp program and he said…

“It’s not me, it’s the students. That’s the key. I just get all the credit. They plan it, promote it and pull it off. They are the SUPERSTARS!”

He told me that young people, when given the chance, can be and do amazing things! Way to go Power, you are doing it!

Today’s question… I hope you have been writing well I have been gone. Please don’t forget to post a comment here and tell your friends I am back!

What can you do today to be a superstar? What are those actions that you can take today to go above and beyond?

Today’s pic is from that amazing group of Superstars! They really were Supstars!

For more information on STU! Speaking please email info@ylcc.com

This is the third time that I have tried to post this BLOG. It’s ok though I have five hours to finish. Why do I have five hours? I am on the train, I am on the way to Montreal. Tomorrow I speak and I need to be there tonight.

Why would I take a five hour train ride to Montreal when I could take one hour flight? Good question… it’s not because I am scared to fly. It is not because all the flights were full. It’s not because I am a train buff. It is because I need to, I choose to. In fact I love the train.

When I take the train it forces me to take five hours to myself. I try and have that time every day early in the morning but it’s hard. My travel schedule is full, we have dozens of groups that are at the Leadership Training Centre every week that demand my time. So by being on the train I in a way force myself to be with me. To read, write, think and just be alone.

In today’s society, in our Western culture we are alway on the go. We think if we stop or rest we will miss something. I challenge you to think about a powerful idea. You’re not… in fact I think we may be missing more by not stopping and enjoying moments and the journey. I sometimes get my best ideas and motivation by doing nothing except slowing myself down. Think about it… take time to breath today. Go somewhere… the colours are changing, the air is fresh. Go to a Starbucks and have a latte. Read a book or meditate. Be with yourself… stop, it’s ok.

Here is today’s question, and please take some time to post a comment or two here in the BLOG. You never know if that idea or activity that you do could be what someone has been searching for their whole lives. Get out the journals and the pens…. here it is.

What are those rituals that you do to make “me time” a reality? What can you do today or this week to schedule in time to be with just you?

As expected, I am going to write a little bit about today’s anniversary. 5 years ago, the world came to a “halt” as a horrific tragic event happened. Four planes were hijacked and three hit their mark. In the end over 3000 people died in those attacks from all over the world. That is sad… many people’s lives were changed in an instant.

Today though, I think we should not only reflect on that day, but on the days since the 11th of September, 2001. What else has happened after that loss, what have we learned, how have we grown as a western society, as a human race, as a people?

Here are some alarming numbers of how we “dealt” with those attacks. How we have learned…

Over 50,000 Iraqi civilians have died in the “war” on terror.
Over 3000 US and British Troops have died liberating Iraq
Over 5000 Afghan civilians have died since we freed their country
Even for Canada, we have lost 30 troops, the most since the Korean War

The London Evening Standard says that the ”official” death toll of the war on Terror is 62,111. Some experts say it is much higher.

In fact. Business Week estimates today that the cost of the war on terror will reach (by the end of this year) 2 Trillion dollars. It has been said we could have cured most deseases and fed the world’s starving children for decades with that money.

The really sad part of all this, is that Osama Bin Laden has never been caught, and no weapons of mass destructions were ever found.

I am not here to say that you should or should not support any “war” but I am here to say that we need to reflect on what we have learned.

Are we more tolerent, more appreciative, happier, compassionate? Not sure… I know I am. I have strived to be the kindest person I can be to everyone I meet. Every human I come in contact with. I work hard at our camp to have an impact on every single individual that comes to one of our programs. I will not stop, I can’t.

Here is today’s question… Please, I am really intersted in your thoughts so post some comments.

How you have changed since the attacks of September 11th? How do you look at the world and the people around you now in 2006?

Today’s pic… I mde it small because I think we have lost sight of what it is that we need to focus on. Children… this war is about money, oil and not being able to find a solution. For their sake we need to try. Hug someone today.

I had a revelation yesterday. I was in Quebec speaking at a camp in Mont Tremblant. Great groups of students from ECS a private girls school. I worked with them for about 2 hours. We laughed together, we learned together and we grew together.

After about an hour and half I asked the girls to build a cake. Not a real cake but a cake about what makes their school special. There task was to draw a cake and include a representation of what makes their school different and special from other schools (other cakes… get it?).

Every cake has basic ingredients, every school has basic components, but something makes them different. You will probably buy the chocolate cake with cherries and sprinkles before you by a plain cake without any icing.

Think about you… every person is made up of the same basic ingredients… but some of us stand out and make an impact. Some us get noticed. Some us do great things. Some of us are doing more then others, not settling for the norm of the masses.

Today’s question…

What is that you can do to be more then just a basic human? What is that icing that you can put on you?

Write you answer in your journal and PLEASE don’t forget to post here!

Today’s pic is from yesterday… making the cake!

Interesting thought… are you worth it? Is what you are doing worth it? Is what you are upset with or at worth it? I think we need to ask ourselves these questions more and more every single day.

What do we have to do to make those choices? How do we put it all in perspective? Is there a way to measure our daily thoughts and actions on some sort of a scale so that we can create better days? Well here is the big idea… there is no easy way to judge. There is something though that I have lived by though for a very long time… the 5 year rule. I ask myself when I make a decisions or something negative happens, maybe a challenge. I ask myself if in five years I will be affected by this choice, this event. It has done me well.

This fall will mark five years since my marriage ended. There have been a lot of lessons that I have learned because of and since that event. I am a better person now, more aware of who I am and what I want to do. I am more appreciative the time that I have with my children. I am more honest then I have ever been with myself. I am healthier, happier and more productive. My business is starting to flourish. My life is good.

If I go back 5 years though, it all seemed hopeless, like my life was over. When I would fall asleep at night I would feel as if there was no tomorrow sometimes.

Everything that happens in our lives strengthens us, teaches us and makes us the people that we are. I was ridiculed as a teenager in high school…. I was too involved; I was a student leadership geek. I would say that it was worth the jokes and heckles… it has made me who I am.

So… it is worth it… I now believe that what I am doing today is not only worth it, but it will be worth it to millions.

Today’s journal question is a great one… get out the pens and get ready. Please don’t forget to post in the comments section. It really helps us all.

What is that one event/activity/challenge that you had, that at the time you weren’t sure if it was all worth it and now when you look back it is?

Dream BIG. Don’t settle. Be STU-pendous!

Today’s pic comes from a day of joy… one that was and is worth it. Today was the first day of school for millions.

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

Just a quick BLOG today. I am about to get in my truck and make the drive to the Oro-Medonte. Looking forward to it, I want to be home. I am looking forward to a great fall and then another long winter. I have so much to be excited about, so many new projects… some really big. Stay tuned here in the STUpendous BLOG and on www.ylcc.com for more information and updates!!!

Here is the quick BLOG-LOGIC for the day. While I have been in Sauble I have met some great people, one of them is the local computer guru Thom Noble. Thom handles all of the computers at Two Chicks and I got his number from Beth who owns the cafe. She said he’s a good guy, he can help you.

One of our amazing staff at the Leadership Training Centre got a new laptop last Christmas. It never really worked all that well, as well as it should have. It got slower and slower with each passing day. So…. to shorten my extremely long story…. I asked Thom to see if he could fix it.

He called me this morning and said it was done and working like a charm. There was only problem, he couldn’t get the sound card to work because he couldn’t find the right driver. He said that as long as I  had the original discs at home (which I do) it would take 30 seconds to load up and be done.

“How much do I owe you?” I asked.

“Fifty Dollars.” Was the response.

“Is that it, why so little? You had it all week! You spent hours on it.” I shot back.

“I didn’t finish the job… so I would normally charge $120 but I couldn’t finish, sorry.”

“Thom, you fixed the computer, it works amazing and you told me how to finish.”

“Stu, when you start a task in life you must finish it. No matter what, that is how you build a reputation. Fifty dollars is all you owe me.”

Wow… powerful statement. That’s how you build a reputation. I love it!

Today’s question is so simple and yet so powerful!

What are those actions you will take to build your good reputation?

Write the question and your answers in your journal and DON’T forget to post them here in the STUpendous BLOG!

Today’s pic… one last one from the summer. Have a safe long weekend all!