This week Mavidea celebrated it’s 13th birthday.

On each anniversary, I’m reminded of a couple of central themes that stand out over the years.

Thankfulness – man, do we have a lot to be thankful for. To be able to work with each other and do meaningful work in service to customers is more rare than common, and we get to do that every day. I’m so very thankful for all the people that have made this whole journey possible and worthwhile at the same time.

Relationships – we are built for relationships. Business is a conduit to deliver value to others through meaningful relationships. Over the years we’ve seen new children, friendships, and even a marriage. Life has happened in and around Mavidea (both good and bad), but through it all we’ve been able to lean on and into each other.

Mortgage/rent payments – every year on our anniversary I spend a few minutes thinking about how our team has helped each other make all those rent payments, mortgage payments, El Porton dinners, birthday presents, COVID19 toilet paper purchases, and all the other incidentals of life. The money that has come through our business has been spent on making the lives of our employees better. Sure, we could have done better, but we’ve made a lot of life possible for those that matter most to us – our team.

Thank you all for being a part of that journey. Even if it’s been from afar, you have made a difference and will continue to do so.

I’m proud of all the Mavideans and their families who have made it all possible.

The best is yet to come.

Happy Anniversary, Mavidea.

Make it a great day.

Jake

This email from last year seemed appropriate to send again this year. Either proving that I’m not good at coming up with new ideas or I need a lot of reminders….

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

In particular lately, I’ve been thinking about how this quote applies to our work.

At Mavidea and Maxlider, we are in the service business. We work for our customers.

And they break our hearts all the time.

By not taking the good advice.

By cancelling and switching to another provider.

The same with our coworkers and teammates.

But these relationships are what make our work so worthwhile.

Only when we make ourselves vulnerable and open to the relationships around us do we get to experience the joy of our work.

At the risk of being a little sappy and corny, I’m going to ask you all to do something.

Open your hearts. Step into the scary situations and be yourself.

Lean in to the special place reserved for you in this world.

With our customers, with your teammates, with your loved ones.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today is my brother’s 40th birthday.

Many of you have heard a few stories over the year and already know that Bill is a special person.

I consider myself lucky to have a brother that I know I can depend on.

Despite his keen awareness of my many shortcomings, he loves me and supports me.

For this, I am extremely grateful.

We all have innate desire to be known and loved.

If you are lucky enough to have someone like this in your life, call or text them today and tell them how thankful you are.

If you don’t, I’d encourage to pray and work towards it.

Relationships are hard and being vulnerable is even harder still, but it’s worth it.

As the world seems to spin out of control with conflict and turmoil, now is a great time to lean into the important relationships of our lives.

To come closer to the ones that matter most.

Happy birthday, Uncle Bill!

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Kindness is giving hope to those who think they are all alone in this world.” – RAKtivist

This year has been an interesting one so far. Lots of turmoil and anxiety.

Life is happening to all of us in a way that feels unfair and leave us all wondering what is going to happen next.

It’s easy to feel alone and worried in the face of all the uncertainty we are facing.

It’s also a great time to insert some kindness and grace.

To be kind to all we encounter in a way that shows love and builds hope for all.

Lean into kindness today. Give a little extra to those you encounter.

Change and growth happen one person at a time. Might as well start with us.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/S3J_3mcOwdQ

As a follow up to yesterday’s email – let’s all put a little love in our hearts today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One does not fall in love; one grows into love, and love grows in him. – Karl A. Menninger

Love is a choice.

It’s a conscious decision to put someone else’s wants and desires in front of yours. Consistently. Over time.

That’s what I thought of when I read this quote.

How can I better grow the love in me for others?

What choices can I make today to foster love?

If you get to the end and haven’t consistently grown the love for others in your life, you will be disappointed.

Love is hard.

Love hurts.

But the alternative is worse.

Choose love today. Choose growth.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Get excited that you can make yourself do the little things that will change your life. – Jim Rohn

I once heard a talk from a former Navy SEAL talking about how motivation comes and goes. Feelings come and go. But discipline can be built and can always be there.

Jim Rohn shares the same message.

Discipline can be built.

One small step at a time.

Get excited about the opportunity to do the little things that will change your life.

Start little.

Build confidence.

Get a streak going.

Make it a great day.

Jake

These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor – and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror. Michael N. Castle

A nation of character with a long history of patriotism and honor.

Memorial Day was a reminder of those who have given their lives to defend and protect us, but it was also a reminder that we have something worth fighting for and protecting.

Our nation isn’t perfect.

But it is something special.

It is worth fighting for.

Today I am thankful for our history and for all those who have gone before us.

Let us all be reminded to do our best to build upon and honor the past by making the most of the time we have.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/Eab_beh07HU

Wanted to start Memorial Day weekend off with some good vibrations.

I’ve thought a lot about the global tension and anxiety being felt and how when things finally make a turn we will all collectively sigh in relief.

Be a part of turning things around.

Put out some good vibrations this week.

Find some joy.

Laugh.

Relax a little.

Even if just for a moment.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. Leo Buscaglia

This is a quote that falls into the “reminder” category.

Most of us are well aware of the folly of worrying.

But we still do it….

So, reminder for today.

Don’t worry, you are only wasting the only time you really have – today.

Make it a great day.

Jake