Better to fight for something than live for nothing. – George S. Patton

What’s something in your life worth fighting for?

Family? Faith? Friends?

Working to improve ourselves is a fight. The natural current of life is towards what’s easy. Something has to be worth fighting against that current.

I think that’s why so many of our goals are easy to give up on.

Attention, vanity, money, power – all of them don’t really satisfy and aren’t worth fighting for. So when we pick a goal in that direction we give up. It’s just not worth it.

But your family? Worth it.

Reframe some of your goals and point them in the right direction.

Save the money to bless your friends and family.

Workout to build the energy and stamina to enjoy your time with your family.

Get more skills so you can be of better service.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today marks the 16th anniversary of when I started sending out these daily attitude emails.

It all started as a quick email to the sales team to get us started off right for the day.

And now it’s been long enough for someone to get a driver’s license.

Small habits build up. Over time. If you stick with it.

What’s something small you could start today?

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/F9IAY6upi0E?si=cwt4zGsRJLnrEctb

Reminder time – stop worrying so much about what other people think about you.

Life is way too short to spend it worrying about stuff out of your control.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Silence is a source of great strength. – Lao Tzu

I feel like this is something God has been trying to remind me about lately.

Quiet is good.

Silence is a source of strength – what a great way to put it.

Whether it be just talking less, letting let distract you, or a mindful meditation practice – we could all use a little more silence.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

Simple thought to start the day.

Don’t wait. Do something nice for somebody.

And then do it again.

And keep doing it all day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“The first step to getting what you want is to have the courage to get rid of what you don’t.” —Zig Ziglar

Part of moving forward towards our goals involves moving away from something else.

We must choose.

We can’t sit on the fence.

It involves risk and takes real courage.

So many live life trying to hold on to all the possibilities, playing it safe.

Spend a few minutes today dreaming about what you want. What you really want.

What you want so badly and clearly that you are willing to give something else up for it.

And then get after it. Get started. Today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Let your gentleness be evident to all. – Philippians 4:5

Meaghan put this up on the chalkboard on the wall in the kitchen this week.

What a great reminder – we should be gentler.

Someone cuts you off in traffic – gentleness.

The waiter messes up your order – gentleness.

A coworker makes a mistake and you have to clean up the mess – gentleness.

Life is full of opportunities to be gentler. We don’t need to be always on the lookout for the mistakes of others and respond harshly when they happen. We can be gentle and gracious.

The real secret in Bible verses like this is that – YOU are better off. In responding better to another of God’s children, you are the one who gets more peace.

Others may or may not respond well to our gentleness. At least one person will take advantage of you. But I still think you’re better off.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS The few verses around this one are real good ones too –

Philippians 4:4-9 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

https://youtu.be/Zj6rMcVNQbw?si=I1P-C326jxeUBwvZ

25th anniversary of September 11th – resending this note I sent out on the 20th anniversary.

Not all time in life is equal. – Jim Collins

Some moments hold greater significance than others. Some moments require greater attention than others.

Today we are all reminded of one of those moments. September 11th was a moment when the course of history changed.

For those that died, those last moments were unequal.

For those that risked their lives to save others, those moments were unequal.

For those that fought battles on foreign soil in order to make sure it doesn’t happen again, those moments were unequal.

For those that hugged their loved ones a little tighter that night, those moments were unequal.

Not all time in life is equal. Some moments require more of us. They require us to dig deep and perform, love, hope, and have more faith than we have ever had before.

In this time we can create something wonderful.

We can create a nation united.

We can create a family filled with love.

We can create a force for good in this world.

We must take advantage of the unequal times in our lives.

Let’s get started today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – Les Brown

Also – it’s never too late in the year to set some new goals.

Don’t the let the end of the year wind down without pushing for something.

Make a short list of what you’d like to do before the end of the year.

Post it somewhere.

Share it with a friend.

Get to work.

Make it a great day.

Jake

You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure. – Zig Ziglar

Getting to where we want to go requires change.

It could be how we dress.

Or who we hang out with.

Or what we eat.

Or how we spend our money.

Or how much TV we watch.

I’m not sure I’m a believer in "fake it ’til you make it", but I do believe that if you can start acting like the person you want to become, you are on your way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Zig was full of funny little lines like this. My favorite – "He smiled so wide he could eat banana sideways!"