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!"

Labor Day is a great reminder of the importance of labor.

The work that so many do is meaningful and taking a day to recognize it is important.

But work and labor are also to be recognized as well.

It’s a blessing to be able to work.

To be of service to those around us.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking – I worked and labored and deserve a day of recognition and rest. And you do.

But to stop there is to miss part of the point – we must also be thankful for the opportunity to work. To add purpose and meaning to our lives in service to something bigger than ourselves.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk?si=y6fxOR6vRUe1WCJe

First Friday in September so I had to send out this classic!

The year is going quick. Fall is almost upon us.

Before you know it, we’ll be talking about Christmas and complaining about the cold.

What’s left on the goal list for you this year?

What could use a renewed sense of motivation and attention?

Make it a great day.

Jake

The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. – Michael Altshuler

Getting older sure has made it seem like time is really flying by.

The kids are growing up.

Life is moving quicker.

This quote was a good reminder.

I’m still the pilot.

I still choose what to spend time on.

I still have to pay close attention to where I’m headed.

Make it a great day.

Jake

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. – Lewis B. Smedes

Another reminder about forgiveness.

It is ourselves who are freed when we choose to forgive.

Hanging on to whatever it is hurts us, not them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Everybody wants to save the Earth; nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.” – P.J. O’Rourke

My dad sent me this quote yesterday….maybe he was hinting about my lack of helping with dishes as a kid.

The quote is a good reminder that we can get caught up in the grand themes of life. Like our only chance at making a difference is through something grandiose.

Instead, the real difference comes in how we love our neighbors, family and friends.

If we all set out to love each through service, it’d probably work out pretty good….

Make it a great day.

Jake

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6:26-34

Any time I feel the anxiousness creeping in, I try to remind myself of the verses above.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of worrying.

Our minds appear to have a natural tendency towards worry and anxiety.

But I believe God has a different plan for us.

Promises like joy and peace are there for us if we can renew our mind and put the right thoughts in.

If you’re feeling a lot of anxiety lately, read these versions again. Maybe every day. Renew your mind with these timeless truths.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/3wsf6eUdIVw?si=wHeUeCPhkCH7LPQD

Turn lemons into lemonade.

We get to choose our perspective.

Life will give us lemons.

We get to choose what to do with them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale

A mentor of mine used to say "If you’re going to kill time, you might as well work it to death".

Time passes at the same rate for all of us.

Whether you are the President of the United States or sitting on your couch eating Cheetos and watching re-runs (are re-runs still a thing?).

We get to choose what to do with that time.

Are we pursuing our goals and dreams?

Are we scrolling passively while others chase theirs?

Are we buying into the lie that it isn’t worth it to work hard?

Get going. Who cares how long it will take. Just stick with it and don’t quit.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Well begun is half done. – Aristotle

It’s easy to give up or lose steam on a project or plan if we haven’t made any progress or begun well.

The beginning is a great time for a little extra care and attention.

Write it out. Make a plan. Schedule some time. Get off to a good start.

Sometimes this work when you are stuck on something. Just start over. Begin again but do it better this time.

Make it a great day.

Jake