JS – Start where you stand and work with whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along. Napoleon Hill

JW – The burden which is well born becomes light. Ovid

EB – You can observe a lot by watching. Yogi Berra

KJ – It’s ok to eat rice krispie treats for breakfast.

JD – It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. – John Wooden

JM* – When you come to a fork in the road, take it. – Erik Barnlund

I didn’t pick a quote during our manager’s meeting and ran into Jason Lerblance in back before sending this out.

He was taking the recycling out. He reminded me of how lucky we are for all those little things that Jason (and the rest of you) do around here.

It isn’t in his job description. In fact, it is something he could just walk on by (I don’t even notice the recycling bins and whether they are full or not). But he doesn’t. He spends the couple of minutes to put it all together and take it out.

And while I certainly want to recognize Jason for his efforts, he isn’t the only one. I am sure everyone has their own “little thing” they do around the office (if you don’t have one, just pick something and get started) to help out and pitch in.

All these little things are part of how we build a culture and attitude of service to one another and to our clients.

John Wooden has it right. All those little things make big things happen.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/-cHB3Rbz1OI

Since I am off all next week I thought I would send out a song that reminds me of vacation. This one reminds me of the beginning of “The Great Outdoors” one of my favorite vacation themed movies.

Here is the original preview, couldn’t resist sending this out:

http://youtu.be/jfFZYwNRKpc

While I am quite sure there will be a fair amount of sobbing since I am not going to be around next week, keep your heads up….it will only be a week.

On a serious note. Part of working with a great group of people is being able to go on vacation and know that everyone will continue to do the great job they always do when you are gone. What a positive note.

Have a great week next week.

Jake

PS Still looking for 2 more daily attitude email volunteers and someone to send out the Friday Morning Toe Tapper next week.

Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education. Franklin D. Roosevelt

During the debate last night I think the most important thing I heard was “5 weeks until the election”.

As FDR says in the quote above, the best way to get better results through the election process is to educate ourselves the best we can on the issues and the candidates. And then to choose wisely.

We have a responsibility to each other to vote and to do so purposefully and with a smile on our face.

Let’s all make an effort to spend a little time getting ready to vote this year.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS I am off all next week and am looking for volunteers to write the daily attitude emails and the Friday morning toe tapper next week. Just send me an email if you are interested in sending one out.

One thing that has always fascinated me is the potential that we all possess as human beings.

In Norman Vincent Peale’s book he goes through some stories of people doing extraordinary things. People ripping off car doors, picking up cars, and other extreme physical feats in the face of dire circumstances.

In the book, he wonders what we might be capable of if we could harness this power and use it consistently.

What a great concept.

How can you take your very best and consistently reproduce it?

Think about a time when you aced that test, ran faster than you ever had before, communicated clearly with your spouse about something important or any of the other great moments you have had in your life.

And then begin trying to replicate it. Not the circumstances, but the skill and talent latent within yourself.

We all have some awesome inside us, the trick is to consistently get it to come out.

Make it a great day.

Jake

There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. Booker T. Washington

All of us possess strength in one way or another.

We must find ways to use this strength to pull others up.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Her virtue was that she said what she thought, her vice that what she thought didn’t amount to much. – Peter Ustinov

Many self help books and psychologists speak about being more assertive. These people learn to speak up for themselves and to ask for what they want.

All good things, of course. Except when what they thought “didn’t amount to much”.

I liked this quote because it illustrates an important part of goal setting and goal achievement.

We need to be mature enough to think about and set goals towards worthy ideals. Instead of thinking about “getting” we should think about “becoming”.

Let’s make sure the direction we are heading does amount to much.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I am sure many of you wonder what the conversations look like when you put a group of high achieving, world-altering individuals together like we have in the Mavidea management meetings.

Today, we decided to share a sample with everyone.

EB – Of course that’s a good idea, Jake…wipe that dumb smile off your face.

JD – Yes, Erik! I am super excited about you and all your awesomeness!

JS – Working with you guys is spending time with a couple of caged monkeys.

JW – I am a hammer, where’s the nail?

JM – Hey, wait. I’m awesome too.

KJ – I can’t wait to own this company so I can fire these numbskulls.

Since JW wasn’t actually there, he sent me a real quote that I definitely wanted to share as it is one of my favorite quotes and concepts.

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck that says “make me feel important.” – Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay is a great example of a company that has a great “why”. Their why is “to enrich women’s lives.”

What a powerful concept.

And this quote from Mary Kay Ash is a great example of that. We can enrich the lives of others by simply realizing that they want to be appreciated and by providing that for them in some small way.

Remember today to make someone feel important. Because, after all, they are.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/hy-huQAMPQA

Can’t believe I almost made it through September without sending this one out.

Plus, I found this great version of it to make sure you also got a laugh or two in to start the day.

Enjoy your weekend and the end of September.

Time, she keeps flying by.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Every problem introduces a person to himself. – John McDonnell

Not every thing that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. – James Baldwin

John Maxwell recently posted these two quotes as part of a blog post he wrote about the pain of growth.

I really liked how they work together and compliment each other to tell the story of growth.

Problems and pain are an opportunity to see ourselves in a new light, but we must actually face up to ourselves in order to seize that opportunity for growth.

A sure sign of a mature person is the person who is willing to face the mirror and honestly assess themselves in good times and in bad. When great decisions are made and bad decisions have been made.

Let’s all take the next opportunity for growth that presents itself. Let’s face up to ourselves and make the decision to change.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. Fred Rogers

I have seen this quote posted on the Facebox a few times lately and wanted to share it with everyone who gets this email.

It reminded me of the beginning of the movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance” when Jack Lemmon comes on as the narrator and says “I believe that God is happiest when his children are at play.”

Play. It almost seems like a bad word when you are supposed to be a responsible adult. Almost seems like something you aren’t supposed to be doing.

Can’t you just picture it….”Hi, I’m Jake and I’m a playaholic.” “Hi, Jake”.

Play has its role. We all need time to use creativity, exploration and old-fashioned silliness to have some fun.

I am not suggesting that life should be only play. Just that play serves an essential role in creating a well-balanced and happy person.

How often do you make time for play in your life?

Make it a great day.

Jake