Author: jakedavis1910

Daily Attitude Email 02 13 17

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. – Abraham Lincoln

Yesterday was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

The Gettysburg Address is a great example of the kind of short but powerful thoughts that President Lincoln was capable of. The quote above is from the address and the entire thing is below.

This quote seemed appropriate to celebrate his life.

It is for us, the living, to be dedicated to the unfinished work of Lincoln’s life.

It is for us, the living, to be dedicated to building a better country together.

It is for us, the living, to make the most of the sacrifices of those who have went before us.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln

November 19, 1863

Daily Attitude Email 2 9 17

"Don’t find fault. Find a remedy." – Henry Ford

Finding faults in ourselves and others is the easy way out.

If you look for them, there will be plenty.

All of us are imperfect in our own ways. All of us fall short at one point or another.

What if we looked for the good in ourselves and others?

What if we looked for solutions instead of making excuses?

Focusing our efforts on improvement and progress instead of excuses and complaints will make us happier, healthier and more successful.

Take care today to focus on the positive.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 2 8 17

The doer alone learneth. – Frederich Nietzsche

Progress requires action.

Action creates mistakes.

Mistakes create the opportunity to begin anew but better.

So many are afraid of taking action out of a fear of making mistakes.

Really we should be more afraid of not taking action.

The key word in the quote above is “alone”. As in, you can’t learn and grow without doing things. Without mixing it up. Without making some mistakes.

Too many times I get stuck in over-analyzer mode and think too hard about something before getting started only to realize that I really just don’t know.

I don’t know the best way to do something I’ve never done before.

I don’t know the best way to do something I’ve already failed at.

I don’t know the best way to…….fill in the blank.

Only by trying (and probably failing, at least a little) will I really learn how best to tackle a particular situation.

Keep yourself moving.

Keep yourself learning.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 2 7 17

The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work. – Richard Bach

Motivation. It seems to be the difference maker.

When we have a purpose strong enough, all the stuff in the way starts to seem inconsequential.

In a recent podcast from Andy Stanely he talked about a way to change this idea around in our heads.

Think about from the perspective of looking for the biggest way to serve.

In what way can you be of service?

Maybe a way to reword the quote above would be this:

The more I am of service to others, the less I call it work.

Whether you are serving one or one million, find a way to be of service.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 2 2 17

Gus: Phil? Like the groundhog Phil? Phil: Yeah, like the groundhog Phil. Gus: Look out for your shadow there, buddy.

Had to share this quote and email from last year on Groundhog Day.

The movie is funny, but it’s also a favorite because it goes a little deeper than that.

A guy lives the same day over and over again.

He tries all kinds of different things to figure out things (life).

He tries the hedonistic, do what you want all day long life and ends up empty.

He tries manipulating others to get what he wants and ends up empty.

He gives up and spends the day depressed and without hope.

He finally tries love, service, humility and authenticity. And it works.

Maybe we can take a short cut. We don’t have an unlimited number of days like Phil does in the movie, so let’s not waste any on the stuff that doesn’t work. Let’s skip to the good stuff.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 2 1 17

One month down already in 2017. Time for honest reflection on how you are doing.

Sit down with your accountability partner and take an honest look at how it’s going.

Be brutally honest.

Face the facts.

Grit your teeth and bare down and get to work if you haven’t made any progress.

Celebrate the wins if you’ve had them.

Resolve to make February an even better month.

Make it a great day.

Jake