The STU-PENDOUS BLOG!

I don’t have them that often, I have many good days, quite a few great ones, but rarely do I have a perfect day.

Today, my best friend from my high school years was in our home town for his daughters birthday. He’s actually on route to a cruise with his wife, so this was perfect timing. He lives in Portland, Maine now so the old 90 minute drive to Oakville isn’t an option. So when we can get get together we really try.

It wasn’t an opulant day, it wasn’t an event filled day. It was simple. It was simply nice.

I was given the opportunity to spend the day with all my children and we got to visit an old friend and watch our kids interact and laugh and play together. I was told at least 30 times by people that I looked healthy and happy. I was told that people where proud of me. I felt great, watching my oldest daughter who most of these folks had not seen in 8 years, shower her with compliments of how great she looked, how she had grown up so much. I got to see Emily wow everyone with her beautful eyes and her impeccable manners. Matthew, my 6 year old son frequently had the adults in stitches with one of his funny stories or sassy smiles.

Having this time, enjoying some food and simply laughing out loud with good people made this a perfect day. Now, I am sitting in one of my favourite Inns in a big chair and enjoying a cup of tea. What a perfect end to a brilliant day.

Here is today’s question… I really enjoyed all the answers from the last few BLOG’s keep posting your comments here. If you are new to the STUpendous BLOG write the question and your answers in a journal. I post about three times a week and many of the readers post their comments for everyone to read.

What would make your prefect day? One catch, you can’t spend money you don’t have.

Today’s picture is from that perfect day… the birthday girl and Emily!

For more information on any of our programs call 705-326-2433 or email info@ylcc.om

Huge Idea. The least expected can sometimes be incredible. Canada has never been a powerhouse in much of anything. We have prided ourselves in being mediocre, we are kind, considerate, we don’t wave a flag. We like to simply blend in. I remember once my 6th grade teacher told me that being Canadian was being ok with second.

Well then along comes Joe Thorton, Steve Nash and now Justin Morneau. What do these guys have in common? All three are MVP in their respective sports. Joe is the current NHL MVP, Steve the NBA’s reigning best and now Justin is the best in Major League Baseball! All three are from small town Canada, all still proud to be Canadian.  

Never let your surroundings dictate your success. You grow where you are planted. If you work hard and turn off the negative voices that say you can’t be successful because you aren’t from the right place. Then you be surprised by the unexpected! Way to go Justin, you have given every Canadian the JUSTINification to be number one not number two!

Today’s question… this is a good one! Write both the question and the answer in your journal. PLEASE, PLEASE don’t forget to post your thoughts and comments in the STUpendous BLOG!

If you could do anything at all, if you had nothing holding you back, what would you do, be and have? More importantly what’s holding you back?

A very happy Thanksgving to all of our readers South of the Border!

Today’s picture is of the man himself… Justin Morneau

For more information on Stu Saunders speaking or The Leadership Training centre email info@ylcc.com

Working out this morning at the Gym (love the morning workout), and I was reminded of the power of doing more of the unexpected. An older gentlemen and I where getting changed into our street clothes and I asked him if he had a good workout? He responded with a smile and thumbs up.

I then asked him how long he had been a member (I only work out the gym in the winter, so I just re-joined again). He said he had joined about two months ago and loved coming in the mornings. It’s very quiet at our gym in the early hours. The doors open for 6:00 am, he told that he almost quit a few weeks earlier because when he arrived at 6 am and the doors where locked and no one was there. He waited 20 minutes with the other early morning regulars until finally someone showed up to unlock the doors. The young girl who opens in the morning had car problems and couldn’t get to the gym on time.

Well here is where the story gets good. Bob is the General Manager of the Gym. When he heard of the problem he found the members that where locked out and proactively gave each member a free month, added onto their yearly membership along with an apology.

No one quit the gym; in fact that action has encouraged some morning members to recruit others to join.

Today’s question…. get out the journals and write the questions and the answers. Please don’t forget to post your thoughts here on the BLOG!

What are some memories you have of people going above and beyond? What are some actions you can take today to go above and beyond?

For more information on YLCC go to www.ylcc.com we are now excepting registrations for the summer of 2007!

I can’t believe it… I really can’t, sitting in my favourite restaurant having a wonderful breakfast. Checking my email (love wireless) when I got a message about the new PS3 (Play Station 3) being launched tomorrow in North America. I have a friend who lives in Maine and is a freak for technology. He has the 42 inch plasma, surround sound, Xbox 360, HD DVD… you get it, everything. There is no doubt he has ordered his PS3 and will have fully wired tomorrow night.

Here is where I am in a little bit of shock. The PS3 was released in Japan a week ago and people were buying them for $400 and selling them on Ebay for a lot more. How much more? There is one being sold in about 38 minutes to the highest bidder, that bidder is currently psmystical and his current bid is $4050.00. He will own his new gaming console exactly 24 hours prior to the rest of North America. He is willing to pay ten times the value of the product. Crazy…

Have we become a nation, a society of instant gratification? Remember the fun and surprise in getting a role of film developed? What is more prescious? Here is the point… we need to stop every so often, and re-evaluate the importance of life, family, friends, charity and even our health. It’s true that psmystical might value the Play Station at a very high level but I wonder what else he could spend that money on?

Here is today’s question… PLEASE get out your journal and write the question and the answers you come up with. As always everyone loves to hear what your thoughts are so post them here on on the STUpendous BLOG!

What could you spend $4050 on to make your life, your world and your family a little better off? Feel free to be creative!

Today’s picture is of the infamous PS3. Feel free to cut it out and pretend you own it. There will be plenty available in January for less then $4050.

For more information on YLCC or Stu Saunders email info@ylcc.com

10:12 Saturday Morning, cold, rainy and grey. I was in my pajamas, reading a book. Drinking a cup of tea. It hit me… this is remembrance day. One of the most significant days of the year. I don’t claim to be a historian (my father is), I don’t claim to be a religious person (spiritual… it’s different), I don’t claim to be a perfect person (no-one is).

I do though, hold some things important. One of them is the fact that we have a free and thriving country, one that is free from war, works towards eliminating racism, violence and poverty. One that still makes a BIG deal when a soldier is killed in battle, questions the validity of why we have gone from peace keeping to fighting.

November 11th is an important day, one that we need to stop and reflect on what it is that we are so lucky to have. I did, I got my campmates together and we raced 35 minutes south to the nearest city. Parked as close as we could and stood in a mass of people. I wasn’t able to see anything, I wasn’t able to participate other then listening to the sounds of the veterans and current soldiers call to attention.

When the trumpet played the last post, and we where asked to be silent for 2 minutes to respect those who have fallen in battle or in the face of a fire or as a police officer. I was shocked by one individual… a 16 or 17 year old youth, ciggerate in his hand and a poppy pinned to his pants on the zipper. He was laughing and talking to his “friend”… it made me angry, upset and most importantly a little worried.

As I looked up from him… I noticed that there wasn’t a large number of youth in sight. I mentioned this later to a friend of mine and his response was…

“They’re kids, they don’t understand. You can’t get upset about it.”

My thought is yes, yes I can. More importantly, I (and we) should. In an age when the world is growing in size and speed. When people fight for gay rights, equal rights and human rights. Shouldn’t we all pay homage to those who allowed us to have a country that we can fight for those rights at all?

Thank you to my grandfathers that fought in World War Two, thanks for those that fight today. I don’t support war, but I do support you.

Today’s question…

How can you show appreciation to those that have allowed us to be free? What is it you can do today to celebrate that you live in such a great country?

Please write your answers in your journal and please write some thoughts here in the blog.

Today’s pic is from Saturday… Lest we forget…

For more information please go to www.ylcc.com

What a week, what a very long week, in fact my week started on the 31st of October and just finished yesterday. I have been away from the BLOG for a long time… I have been a little busy of late. I ran a conference (well I helped run a conference - Thanks Trish and J-O) this week. The 27th annual Ontario Student Leadership Conference was a MASSIVE success. Close to 1000 student and teachers filled a hotel in London and really had a great time.

In fact it was one of our best conferences ever! The reviews were fantastic, the vibe was wonderful and the results will be long lasting. I had the great opportunity to meet so many dynamic teachers, students and speakers.

I learned (as I always do) from every moment of this event. I learned that there are people that call themselves leaders and yet lack many basic leadership skills. Seeing only the negative, finding only fault. I also learned that the MAJORITY of the leaders at our conference are positive, energetic and really getting it.

Two big lessons I learned where from two of our speakers. George Stroumboulopoulos was our opening speaker. I can’t say enough about how nice of a guy he is. I got really excited as we chatted off stage about our conference. He seemed to really “get it”. The only problem is when he got on stage, he missed the point of why we where there. He also missed a great OPPORTUNITY to impact the students he was speaking to. Many of the teachers where dissapointed and many of the students felt as if they lost an OPPORTUNITY to learn from someone who has done so much.

The next lesson I learned came just after the conference. While driving home last night from a Starbucks run I received a call from Phil Boyte our second speaker. He called to say thanks, to follow up and to make sure that I was happy with his program. He took the OPPORTUNITY to call me after the fact. He was paid, he had long reached his home and he was on to his next client. He reminded me that leadership is a 24/7 job. Thank you Phil!

If you are interested in what happened at the conference check out this video on youtube shot by one our speakers, Ward Bingham.

Thank you for the OPPORTUNITY to come into your lives each day (I will become more regular now) and share my thoughts. Here is your chance now…

Get out your journals and write this question and as USUAL please write your thoughts here in the comment section of the STUpendous BLOG!

What are the opportunities that you can take today to make your day, week or even your life better?

Today’s pic comes from the conference… me and George. I am glad I had the OPPORTUNITY to meet him.

For more information on OSLC go to www.ylcc.com