https://youtu.be/r3kb9dkddX0

This is one my favorite short little excerpts from Jim Rohn.

4 simple questions to get you moving in a positive direction.

1. Why? What is your why? What gets you going?

2. Why not? Jim says “You going to be here until you die, might as well.” Are there any legitimate reasons for you to not move forward and take action?

3. Why not you? This one gets to the heart of it. You are capable of greatness. Never forget that. YOU can do it.

4. Why not now? No time like the present. Sure, the excuses can pile up pretty quick. But so can the results. Just get started.

Whether you are 5 or 85, I think these questions apply to you.

And I’m confident that a little bit of thoughtful introspection in answering these questions can drive you to do and be better.

Let’s go do it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://www.facebook.com/LADbible/videos/3177006565679845/

Will Smith has a unique gift at explaining life.

This video of him talking about facing our fears is great.

In order to get to the good stuff in life we must face our fears.

At some point, growth requires courage.

One thing he forgot to say is that you are worth it.

You are worth the risk.

You are worth going through all the hard work.

You are worth facing down any fear.

You are worth it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. – Saint Augustine

Great simple reminder of what Easter is all about.

It is also a great reminder of how to treat others around us.

Love each of our neighbors as if they were the only one.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/y3sdByw9uUc

The kids sang this song at church last Sunday at church and it has been in my head all week.

Today is Good Friday, Sunday is Easter Sunday.

Easter is a great reminder of what Christianity is all about.

The simple idea that Jesus suffered and died for us because of his everlasting love for each and every one of us.

Happy Easter.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A version of the same song with a little more pep (fast forward to about 1:30 to get right to the singing):

https://youtu.be/z0CsJ6GO05s

We started watching “42” (the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball) and I have been listening to Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” the last few days (in it he tells the story of his experience in a concentration camp).

Both stories include more than their fair share of difficulty and suffering.

The important thing was how each used their difficulties and suffering to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

We each have the same opportunity.

Sure, our suffering is not on the scale of theirs, but the lessons are the same.

Maybe you are having a hard time with your diet.

Maybe you are battling an addiction.

Maybe you are just having a hard time finding happiness.

Jackie and Viktor would both tell you to stick with it.

The hard part is worth it.

We can embrace our difficulties with the enthusiasm and energy that comes with recognizing that they serve a purpose. They refine us and mold us into the person we are capable of becoming.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS for the Mavideans on the list – I have an audio copy and we have the hard copy of “Man’s Search for Meaning”. If you haven’t read it, I would highly recommend it. It is in my top 10 books list.

"A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." – Jim Watkins

Lasting accomplishments take time.

We have a tendency to underestimate what we are capable of over long periods of time.

The persistent application of effort based on faith towards a worthy goal often meets with success.

Think about where you are and where you would like to go.

Find a way to apply consistent effort towards your desired destination.

You may not make it overnight, but persistence will pay off in the end.

Make it a great day.

Jake

If you’re going through hell, keep going. – Winston Churchill

I don’t have the context for this quote but I imagine it as Churchill with a cigar in his mouth, a glass of whiskey in his hand, standing over a giant WWII map table thing and barking it to his generals.

We all face hardships.

We all have our tougher battles to face.

Keep going.

If you can’t keep going, ask someone else to pull you through. Just don’t stop.

I don’t know your individual situation.

I’m sure that this advice is much easier to give than to receive (or to do).

But you can do it.

You can push through.

You can slay those demons.

You can push through this current hell.

And if you aren’t battling something right now, find someone to help.

Find someone to pull through to the other side.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today marks Annie’s 8th birthday.

She is such an awesome kid.

She is also a middle child. I’ve tried to use this as a teaching moment for her over the years.

It’s easy to feel like being the middle child means not quite getting to do what the oldest gets to do while not quite getting the attention the youngest gets.

I’ve encouraged Annie to adopt a different attitude.

I often tell her “You have a special role in our family. You are the only one that gets to be a big sister AND a little sister.”

It’s so easy in life to compare ourselves to others and think about what we don’t have or what would like instead of what we have.

But I’m convinced that God has a special role and place for each of us.

For some of us, all that stands in the way of embracing that role is a change of attitude.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – This is no way a brag on my parenting skills. I can use as much tips and advice as you have. Please feel free to send me some.

https://youtu.be/CJTxnxXUMA0

Ain’t no stopping us now…

It’s a new quarter and a new season, this is a great attitude to adopt.

Regardless of whether you are coming off a great first quarter or fell behind on your 2017 goals, this would be a great theme song to adopt.

Don’t let the bad stuff get you down.

Don’t rest on your success.

Keep moving. Keep growing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves." – Dale Carnegie

Short and sweet.

Find something on your list that you have been putting off because it is hard or seems impossible.

Work on that first today.

Even if all you do is commit 10 minutes to it.

Don’t let the sun set again before you work on it.

And then spend 15 minutes on the hardest thing tomorrow morning.

And on and on.

Make it a great day.

Jake