The STU-PENDOUS BLOG!

Today is an anniversary of sorts. Two years ago today I started the STUpendous BLOG. I wasn’t sure what a blog was. In fact it wasn’t until a couple months later after a friend bought me a book entitled “Blog” did I even know what it meant.

On this anniversary of my blog I went back and re-read my first full post. The writing was weak, the spelling errors a plenty and the focus was well… unfocused. The topic was about finding a mentor. I wrote about a book that I had just finished reading, “The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari” by Robin Sharma. It wasn’t the best book I had ever read. It wasn’t as stirring as “A Fine Balance” or as moving as “The Alchemist”. But it moved me. It made me realize that I needed to find clarity and direction. I was spinning my wheels.

Well today, 2 years later, I have much more clarity. Here is the thing, dreams do come true. Goals can be accomplished. Persistence does pay off.

5 days ago my mentor and now friend Robin Sharma spent the weekend at my place. We talked, laughed, shared and set goals… together. Thank you Robin. Thank you readers of the STUpendous BLOG. Thank you to those that understand the goal of YLCC, the dreams of me. I am not perfect. I do not know everything. I have much to learn and further clarity to find.

What I have learned is that those that think they know everything, those that believe they know it all, the few people in my life that feel they have figured everything out. Haven’t. The day I stop learning, growing and striving to become a better person is the day that someone is saying the eulogy at my funeral.

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and PLEASE, PLEASE share your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG.

What are your goals? What have you accomplished in the last two years? What did you want to accomplish but have yet to? 

Robin and the winter staff of YLCC. Wonderful times!

For more information on YLCC or STU Saunders speaking please contact info@ylcc.com

I stood there. Looking up at the clear, cold, november night sky. The full moon beaming down on the fresh snow. the glimmer of the crystals of snow where all around, so beautiful. The night was perfect.

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” The words broke the silence.

The question came from my friend and mentor Robin Sharma. He was up visiting with his family for the weekend. I looked down as he was gazing up. Wow, what  simple and powerful question.

I stumbled through my answer… where I thought I wanted to be in 2012. Still in business, have love in my life, be in shape, my kids respecting me and loving me… It was full of lots of ums and mmmm’s. It wasn’t presice or clear.

Later over tea Robin shared with me his five year plan. Very clear, very strong and very precise.

I woke up early on Saturday and wrote and wrote three pages of where I saw myself in five years. I was surprised with what I found. I will write more, I will clarify and I will commit to it. I am so ready to be more aware of the next five years.

A powerful (yet simple) moment, brought a massive change in me.

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and of course PLEASE share your thoughts on the STUpendous BLOG!

Where do you see your life in 5 years? Every aspect, every facet. Be specific!

Life offers us twists and turns every day. Most of us spend our days in mediocrity. Doing what we have to do to get by. Going to school, showing up at work, hanging out, putting in time until…

That’s the question! That’s the point! I learned this in such a powerful way this weekend. It didn’t come from a life or leadership guru, from a powerful work of art or a life altering book. It happened in a split second in a movie theatre while watching an average movie.

After one of the most fantastic weekends I have spent with my kids in a while, full of adventure, laughter and moments, I ended it off with a trip to the movies. I was intrigued by a trailer for Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. I am a big Dustin Hoffman fan and love the idea of movies about sparking children’s (and adults) imaginations.

The movie was average at best. Had some great moments and some funny lines. It also had a darker side dealing with death that is not at all advertised in the trailers. Just as Mr. Magorium is about to “depart”, he leaves a single pearl of wisdom to his apprentice Mahoney (Natalie Portman). She is not ready to take the next step in her life; he holds her hands and simply says…

“Your life is an occasion, rise to it.”

BANG! There it is! I was so moved by the line I stopped watching the rest of the movie. I had to remember it. Life is an occasion! This is so true, yet very few of us do it. Don’t wait for life to happen, happen to life. Re-read that quote a few times. Write it in your journal; put it near your alarm clock. Dream, Dare, Do!

This is your life, your day! Live it!

Here is today’s question…. Read it, write it, answer it and of course share your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG!

What are you going to today to begin to rise to the occasion, the occasion of your life?”

Lord of the Rings is a classic. There are debates over the true litterary value of the book, but it was chosen as the number one book of the 20th Century. The plot of the story is simple yet still complicated through its simplicity. The whole adventure revolves around the power of a ring that everyone wants. They will do anything to get it, even kill. In the end, the ring must be destroyed to save those that loved it.

It’s available in either a three book quick read or a short movie trilogy of about 11 hours or so.

What’s the point of this Stu? Sometimes in life you are given opportunities (rings) and sometimes you fight for them. You will go to the ends of the earth to get them. Other times, even though you truly know the opportunity, the event, the item or even the person is the most amazing chance, life partner, friend or accuasition in you could ever have or imagine you ignore it.

Why? Is it the fear of finally having it? Getting what you really want or is being offered is sometimes a transition point. You might be holding on to the past, carrying a fear of moving forward. You know that if you get it, your life would change, for the good, but it will change. We as humans for the most part fear almost all change.

The same goes for the bad stuff. These are the bad parts of the ring… those bad habits that we never seem to let go of! We know we should. We tell ourselves that what we are doing is a negative decision or a habit we should break. Yet we don’t. Why? Because of that same fear of change. Perhaps it’s the security of the known. Women suffer from Battered Women’s Syndrome. They continue to return to abusive relationships because in their minds it is better then being alone. They believe that with enough time these men will change. Overwhelmingly they do not and these women continue to be verbally and physically abused. Comes back to change…

So what is the final point of all of this? Simple (again in complexity there is simplicity at the core). What is it we are either holding on to or ignoring that we should change. What is the good ring we should put on and what is that bad ring that should be cast into the fire.

I suggest that not until we let go of those bad habits, bad idea’s or bad influences we can not truly move forward. It is also avoiding those great people and opportunities that have that create a roadblock that holds us back from true magnificence. Let go or embrace… but do it. 

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and PLEASE share your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG!

What is that one ring you should cast in to the fire and what is the one ring you should finally embrace? Make a change, do not fear it.

I have the pleasure of having three beautiful, incredible and smart children. I am always getting compliments on how great they are. Asking me what I do to make them so wonderful. I know that they have been brought up in a warm environment. I know that they are loved. I also know that I have little time with them. In that time I try and demonstrate the love I have for them through my actions. I try and role model. I also try and share with them any wisdom I have learned over the years.

In fact almost every night wether my kids are with me or not I talk to Emily and Matthew, my two youngest. I try and text my oldest daughter Kristina and tell her I miss her and love her.

Each night before they fall asleep I ask my kids to tell me the six most important things…

These are the basis of what I call a “good person”.

Emily and Matthew announce them to me without hesitation. If I forget to ask they remind me.

Here they are…

1. You can do anything you put your mind to.
2. Always finish what you start.
3. Always tell the truth, never tell a lie.
4. Always be kind
5. Think before you act!
6. Daddy loves you forever and ever and ever and ever!

I believe that this simple 30 second routine helps them dig their foundation a little deeper. It also reminds me to live by those simple principles. I am blessed to have these great kids. I love them more then anything. They are my passion and my purpose.

Imagine if all people lived by the “Six Things”. what a wonderful world we would create.

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and of course PLEASE, PLEASE share yout thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG!

What are your six things? Write them down here and in your journal. Place them somewhere you can see them every day.

Quick entry today! Just finished the 28th annual Ontario Student Leadership Conference (OSLC). HUGE success! We had over 900 amazing teachers and student leaders from all over Ontario. It was a wonderful time. I have had the good fortune to run this conference for 9 years. Each year it gets better, smoother and in turn bigger. Success breeds success.

During the entire conference teachers who had attended before commented on how smooth everything seemed. Saying it was so relaxed, laid back. It was going along too well… then it happened. Our closing keynote speaker called me… late. So late. His plane landed almost an hour late and we had to stall.

So I rallied the troops and ask our singer to sing some more, I jumped in and did an impromptu speech and Scott, one of the most wonderful young magicians I know, jumped on the stage and did a trick! The delegates laughed, cheered, listened, danced and sung. It was a celebration.

The speaker did show up. About a third of the delegates had to leave (busses and such). He did a 35 minute wonderful talk. Those that left early may have felt they got less then they paid for. Those that stayed got SO much more then they could of asked for.

Leadership is about rolling with what life gives you. Our closing speaker said that only you have control of how your life is played out. You are the only person that can truly ruin your day. I was stressed when Bobby (the speaker) didn’t show up. I was worried about what people would think. Did I throw in the towel? NO! The leaders around me stepped up and we turned it into a great closing.

Thanks to everyone who helped run OSLC. Especially Ian and the wonderful Trish. You make me look good!

See you next year!