The STU-PENDOUS BLOG!

Got thinking of my recent cruise. I went alone and spent some time with a dear friend. One evening I ventured to Deck 4, the helicopter pad. There you could access the absolute front of the ship. One step more and you would fall off the edge. Very much like the scene in Titanic, “… king of the world!”

What got me thinking was the aloneness of it all. I was on a ship with close to 5000 people, yet I was all alone. I mean there was nobody around, at all. I felt the warm ocean wind against my face. The moon was bright and there where an infinite number of stars. No city lights, no people, no outside sounds. Beautiful.

We teach the three S’s in our leadership programs. Silence, Solitude, Stillness. We are always on the go, moving from place to place, activity to activity. There is beauty in listening, thinking and stopping.

I stood there in the middle of the ocean, alone and still, thinking. I reflected on my life, so much done so much to still do.

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

What are you doing to allow yourself the three S’s? When you do, write down everything you think of, take at least 20 minutes to allow yourself to be alone, still and quiet. Try and find a quiet place, adventure into the woods or into a special place.

Spent a fantastic night last night. I went to Robin Sharma’s book signing at the Indigo in downtown Toronto. Great crowd, over 200 people squished into the book store as Robin spoke to the group for about 30 minutes, then spent well over an hour signing his new book and any other book that people brought with them.

Two things really impressed me last night. One, the line up was long, instead of Robin sitting behind the desk that Indigo provided he came out to the people and signed their books. Taking time with each person to listen, answer questions and share. Instead of the line moving up, coming to him, he went to the people. Moving forwards to each person in the line. A great leader comes to the people. He or she doesn’t wait for them to come to them. That is real sincerity.

The other pearl I garnered last night was through a question from a young girl from Israel. She was 20 and was really moved by Robin’s books. She asked him a simple question, “Have you reached enlightenment?” Robin paused for a second and said, “The more enlightened I become, the more enlightenment I realize I need to discover.”

Brilliant, isn’t that true? The more you discover, the more you will find there is so much MORE too discover.

People get so caught up in routine; they don’t push the walls around them that hold them in or down.

The young girl looked truly thankful. She smiled and walked away a little more enlightened.

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

What are you doing on a daily basis to increase your enlightenment? What can you do in the next 7 days to expand your world a little?

Sitting in Old San Juan. Found a Starbucks, having a latte. Love the consistant service that you get at every single Starbucks. It felt a little like home, comfortable… I can order my drink, listen to the jazz over the spanish chatter as children play on the cobblestone street in front of the shop. Sun is shining, it’s 28 degrees celcius outside. Beautiful.

I am about to head home to Canada, to the cold and the snow. I had a great seven days, visited 4 islands, met 20 new friends and was accused of being a cruise director. I am here on the adventure because my dear friend Terri invited me to come visit her in the Caribbean. Such a wonderful opportunity to see what she does, to understand how the third largest cruise ship in the world operates with close to 4000 people dancing, eating, watching shows, gambling, swimming and even rock climbing. Over 1200 staff, super friendly. I got to see the other side of the ship. I got to spend time with Terri’s friends and see how a ships crew work together, live together and share together. It reminded me of our Leadership Training Centre.

Last night over an incredible dinner at Portifino’s, one of the many restaurants on board and by far the finest. Terri and I had a 3 hour dinner, we talked all about the past, the future and the present. She really made me proud and a little jelous. She picked up and left small town Ontario and travelled the world, back packed across Europe alone, has friends on every corner of the planet and manages a crew of 14 in her division on the ship. They respect her and she does a great job. Here’s the thing, Terri is only 25. Wow… made me think (I do a lot of that). Made me take an inventory of the my adventure. I have done lots, more then many of my friends. I live a blessed life! But, I could do more. Lots more.

We need to live our lives to the fullest, you know this stuff, but perhaps we all need to make an adventure checklist. I have and I will have a little more in 2008. Why not? Thank you Terri for a true Adventure!

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

Question, what do you do in your life for adventure? Challenge, make an “Adventure Checklist”. Everything you have or want to do. Keep it in your journal or post it somewhere you can read it daily… work towards it!!

Every so often I see a movie that inspires me. Last night I saw a movie that I think every single person should see. Juno. The movie is brilliant, well written, wonderfully acted and funny with a heart warming realness to it.

People are so quick these days to try and find the quick rush of joy. A date or two suddenly becomes a relationship. A job becomes a hassle. Schooling is nothing but an irritant. We have entire relationships on Facebook, myspace, msn and dating sites. It seems that a wholesome, loving, witty relationship like the one that is depicted in Juno now seems fake and “unrealisitic”.

Not once in the movie do the characters communicate on the cell phones, text each other, check their facebook or flirt on MSN. They connect, have conversation, touch each other, flirt in person and fight face to face! The parents talk to their daughter and are passionate and honest. They take time… together. Beautiful. Organically, not with the aid of technology.

So here is my question and my challenge (two today)… Read then, write them and answer them and of course PLEASE, please, please share your thoughts with everyone on the old STUpendous BLOG!

Here’s my question… What is the most sincere thing you have done for someone over the last 30 days? The challenge is this, what can you do in your life to become more “organic”, to reconnect with a more base level of your being? 

Please take the time to see this movie… fantastic! For more information on Stu Saunders speaking email info@ylcc.com

I live to live. Does that make sense? My point is, that each day we are given 24 hours to do with as we please. I know it sounds old and used but it’s true. There are people on this planet every single day that blame everything for every single down turn in their lives except one… themselves. They never look in the mirror. I have done it… in the past.

Pearls of wisdom are all around us. I get them from listening to people, watching children play, conversations with those that have lived a little longer and reading books. This morning I was at the gym for my morning workout. Each day the staff put a quote on the board in the change room. Today’s said something like this…

“Tell me how to do something and I’ll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I’ll never forget.”

Hit me hard. It’s so true. How often do parents, colleagues, bosses, family tell us what to do. It isn’t that often that they involve us in the process. It can also be turned around to yourself. How often do we say to ourselves do this or do that, but don’t? We should not be just saying it, but actively involving our whole being in it. It’s one thing to say, lose weight, it’s another to go to the gym or change your diet. That’s involving yourself in your life. We need to take responsibility for our own actions. You will find more often then not that you are responsible for your own place in life.

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer and of course share!! I hope that these BLOG’s will inspire you to make a change and share your thoughts with all the readers.

What is it today that you can do to involve yourself in your own life? How can you make a positive change in your life… now? Look in the mirror… do you like what you see?

To dream is a powerful thing. To take your dreams and make them reality is amazing. I will admit that to often people say things like your dreams can be real if you choose… well I waited by the door all day and Jennifer Anniston, she never showed up!

As we bring in the new year, 2008, what dreams would you like to make reality? What would you like to do this year that perhaps you have simply keep putting off time and time again?

Here are my top five for 2008:

1. Continue to improve my health and physical state! World class body… I am worth it!
2. Read 30 books. I read a lot, but not enough! Currently reading the Pilgrimage.
3. Finish writing two books. My first book will come out this fall (fingers crossed)
4. Find a partner I can share my stories with, laugh with and grow with!
5. Continue to create a leadership centre that will challenge all people to Dream, Dare and DO!

There are many off shoots to those goals (dreams). I have lot’s of personal ones, many with my family and friends and still more with business. I will continue to journal, reflect and clarify. Remember it’s perfectly fine to change your dreams and goals. Life changes and so do you!

Here is today’s question… Read it, write it, answer it and of course SHARE your thoughts here on the STUpendous BLOG. You never know when YOU might inspire someone by your thoughts!

What are your five goals and dreams for 2008? What is something you can do today to move towards them?

Happy New Year!