Reminder only this morning.

Today is the start of Q4.

If you’ve got some goals or plans you wanted to finish this year, the clock is ticking.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army or in an office. – Dwight Eisenhower

I think a lot of us merely think about integrity as the honesty part of the definition.

An interesting second way to define integrity is: the state of being whole and undivided.

Part of having integrity is internal. Did we do what we committed to ourselves to do.

When we don’t meet our own standards, goals or ideals we become divided somehow. It creates a source of stress inside of us.

Integrity also comes as part of our dealings with others.

Do we do the right thing?

Jim Rohn summarizes this by saying "Do what is right all of the time, no matter what the costs."

We must develop this kind of "fanatical integrity" in ourselves in order to build the successful life we want to lead.

Make it a great day.

Jakeu

https://youtu.be/HgknAaKNaMM

This is Annie’s favorite song lately.

I think she likes the inspirational video clips the most.

But I’d like to suggest one change.

Change all the I’s to We’s.

Champions don’t exist without a “we” involved.

It can’t be done on your own.

You become a champion by being part of a great team.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The dog that trots about finds a bone. – Golda Meir

Action is required if progress is desired.

Struggling with something?

Find a way to get up and move around.

Go look for a book to read.

Go look for a mentor.

Go look for a new customer.

Go walk around the block.

Go make a new friend.

Get moving.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

But sometimes it doesn’t.

Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.

That is the sort of bravery I must have now.”

― Veronica Roth, Allegiant

Most of us don’t live our lives on the high wire – most of us aren’t cops, firefighters, soldiers, etc. (a big thank you to all of them!) risking our lives in daring fashion to save and protect those around us.

Most of us need the second kind of courage and bravery mentioned above.

The courage to stand up the day to day struggles to be a less selfish and more kind person.

The courage to stand up to a culture and peer pressures that can lead us away from our own values.

The courage to be the kind of husband, father, friend, coworker we’d really like to be.

Today, I’d like to encourage you to look for the little moments of courage and to be brave in those moments.

It might take all the courage you can muster to say “no” to that cupcake after lunch.

It might take all the courage you can muster to be kind to that person who doesn’t deserve it.

You can do it. You can push through. Even if just a little.

You can build your courage muscle. Little by little. Day by day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"It’s never crowded along the extra mile." – Wayne Dyer

We feel a tremendous pressure to “fit in” and “be normal”.

We fall into the trap of “doing what everyone else is doing” only to find ourselves disappointed.

We try to be like “most people”.

Only to find out that:

“Most people” are overweight.

“Most people” are in debt.

“Most people” are getting a divorce.

“Most people” hate their job.

“Most people” are ruled by their stuff.

It’s taken me a long time to realize this, but I don’t want to be like “most people”.

And I don’t think you should either.

What is something you could start doing today to move away from trying to be like “most people”? What’s a small, positive step away from the crowd that makes sense for you?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Saturday marked 9 years since I sent this first daily attitude email.

Thank you.

Thank you for letting me send you emails so often and for so long.

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement over the years.

Thanks for reading.

Sending this has been very helpful for me and hopefully somewhat helpful to you as well.

They all haven’t been great, but the process and journey has been.

Thanks for making it all worthwhile.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/lEsPhTbJhuo

When I see things like this I can’t help but marvel at the talent that others possess.

It’s awe inspiring that they can take a bunch of little kids instruments and make cool music.

And we all have some version of that inside of us.

Each of us was uniquely endowed with some talent or ability to positively impact this world.

Our job is to find it and follow it.

Some are glamorous and make people famous and rich.

Some are less glamorous and make people humble and grateful.

Either way, follow your path. Do the best with what you have been given. Be the best you possible.

Make it a great Friday.

Jake

“If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” – John Wooden

One of the greatest lies we can tell ourselves is that we don’t have time to do what we want.

We can convince ourselves that since we don’t have time, less than 100% effort is ok.

We can explain away not having time to exercise, spend time with our families, etc.

But this quote is a reminder that if we don’t make time for the important stuff now, when will we have time to do it over?

The answer is that we won’t.

And some areas of life don’t get a chance for a do-over.

When it comes to our important relationships (as an example), we only have the time we have. We can’t make more time later.

What do you need to make time for today?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts. – John Wooden

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. – C. S. Lewis

This quote from John Wooden reminded me of one of my favorite CS Lewis quotes.

Courage counts because it’s what gets you through when things get hard.

And only by pushing through when things get hard do we grow.

Courage counts when your honesty is tested.

Courage counts when you can be patient or give in.

Courage counts when you have to pick an apple over that donut.

Courage counts when you tell someone no in order to honor your previous yes.

In these small moments, a courageous person is built.

Make it a great day.

Jake