“The greatest form of maturity is at harvest time. That is when we must learn how to reap without complaint if the amounts are small and how to reap without apology if the amounts are big.” – Jim Rohn

Harvest time in Central IL. The farmers are working hard at it and the landscape is changing drastically.

Harvest time is such a good reminder of one of the natural processes of life.

You work hard at something and then you harvest the rewards.

Jim’s quote reminds us not to complain about those rewards.

We have earned them, no matter how big or how small.

As you look at your life, look at what you are harvesting (the results you are getting) and see if any changes need to be made.

Maybe you need to work a little harder at it in the spring and the summer.

Maybe you need to pour it on next year and do even better.

Maybe you need to not feel guilty about the awesome results you got.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/f97na9l8O-0

One of my questions I have been asking in interviews lately is “what is your favorite song and why?”

The question always elicits a positive response.

Songs bring back positive memories and can put us in a good mood.

It also allows us to share with others something that has affected us.

This song was mentioned recently when I asked someone this question.

So, what is your favorite song and why?

Either reply all to this email with it or just share it with a friend.

Make it a great day.

Jake

If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else. – Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra passed away yesterday at the age of 90.

He was known for his unique and sometimes confusing use of the English language.

I have always like his quotes like the one above.

Quotes where it is so obvious that you almost overlook the fact that it might just apply to you.

If we don’t have goals and a plan for our lives we will probably end up somewhere we don’t want to.

What a great reminder of the importance of a plan.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Lots more Yogi quotes here:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/y/yogi_berra.html

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

“When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is a great description of our fears.

A scary looking man with a fake beard that immediately becomes a farce when confronted.

Think about what is holding you back from reaching your goals.

What are you afraid of?

Afraid of failure?

Afraid someone might laugh at you?

Afraid someone won’t like you anymore?

Afraid of losing control?

Afraid that it might actually work?

Take the first step today. Take the step through your fears.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today is the 5th anniversary of the day when I started sending these emails.

Some quick math put it at around 1500 emails that have been sent.

That number really sounds a bit ridiculous. Do I really have that much to say? Do people really want to hear from me that much?

Developing a daily habit of trying to put into words the positive thoughts and habits I would like to have has had a meaningful impact on my life.

The positive interactions that I have had with those that have read and responded have been awesome.

I would encourage you to think about one small discipline you can add to consistently add something positive into your life.

Even the smallest habit can add up after a while.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/1omPNEVOIaM

Every time these two do one of these, it amazes me.

It’s amazing what two talented people can do.

But more than that, it just looks like fun.

It’s fun to do good work with a friend.

It’s part of the fun of being at Mavidea. We get to do good work with a bunch of friends.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory. – Mahatma Gandhi

This is probably another sign that I am officially old, but I have thought a lot lately about the little lessons I learned while playing sports when I was younger.

One of the big lessons was that those times when I really did apply maximum effort, it worked.

Those times when I pushed harder than I thought I could always resulted in something I didn’t think I could achieve.

Looking back on it now, it really proves how dumb of a kid I was that I didn’t really figure it out then, but it worked every time.

I’m sure by now you are wondering how this applies to those of us who aren’t currently on a high school sports team.

Motivation.

It all starts there. We have to be extremely motivated in order to give maximum effort.

When it comes to motivation, the best advice I can give is to start where you are.

By that I mean to start with what motivates you, right now.

Sure, it would be ideal if you were more motivated by world peace than you are by looking cool, but if looking cool gets you going, go with it.

This may be immaturity speaking, but I think that our motivations will mature naturally as we seek to make a bigger and bigger impact. That’s why I think it’s ok to start small.

Want to fit into that bathing suit?

Impress that girl? (My wife….I sure hope she likes this email.)

Grab that new gadget?

Want those new cool shoes?

Crush the competition?

Just because it’s cool?

Go get it. Apply maximum effort. Check it off the list. Reflect, reassess and go for the next one with that same gusto.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JW: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4

JD – A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. – Phyllis Diller

EB – TNT….I’m dynamite!

MS – It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:5

Love is such an interesting concept for us to work to understand.

In English, we have just the one word “love” that we use to talk about everything from our spouse to the dessert we had last night after dinner.

Supposedly, other languages have multiple words for “love” and use these to distinguish between the different types of feelings and actions we need to take.

One of my favorites in English is the word charity. CS Lewis uses this a lot in his writing to describe the kind of love we should have for each other.

I like that word for it because charity immediately brings to mind for me being selfless and putting others above ourselves.

In the end, I think that is the most important element of love that we need to have for each other.

Imagine a door in a busy place and you are the one holding it saying “you first”. That is an act of love for another.

If we can adopt this attitude and demeanor in our daily interactions with others each day, we will be loving in the way that can generate happiness, peace and success.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Last night I got to read “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” to Annie.

It reminded me of this daily attitude email from a few years back, enjoy a little Christmas in September:

Officially one week out from Christmas today.

And since we still have small children at home, my favorite Christmas story is “The Grinch Whole Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss.

Here are my favorite few lines:

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?

It came without ribbons! It came without tags!

"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"

And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn’t come from a store.

"Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!"

Maybe I’m just a little bit of a sap, but I think that there is some magic to Christmas. And that it doesn’t come from a store.

As we make this last push towards Christmas, let’s focus on more than the packages, box and bags.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

Bonus Materials:

The Gring song: http://youtu.be/ZgP0aUKlmNw

The whole text to the book: http://bloggingmis.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-grinch-stole-christmas.html