“The Pledge of Allegiance starts with “I” and ends with “all.” That’s what America is all about – “I” (individual) and “all” (all of us). When all of us understand how valuable each of us is, that’s powerful. And here’s what else is powerful: When each of us understands how powerful all of us are.” — Jim Rohn

As I sat with Maggie watching the fireworks last night, I was thinking about how many others were celebrating the 4th at the same time. All across America yesterday there were parents and kids, friend and relatives, husbands and wives; all celebrating this great nation of ours.

It was great to feel that sense of community with everyone. As human beings we have this need to feel like part of a community and holidays and celebrations like the 4th are great opportunities to embrace that community and enjoy it.

I am so very thankful for that community and everything it has offered me and my family.

I hope you had a great 4th as well.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Ever heard of half-birthdays? That day of the year that is exactly halfway between your last birthday and the next one.

Well, I figured out (while watching a movie called “New Year’s Eve”) that Saturday night was the half-New Year.

We are halfway through 2012 already, how has it gone for you so far?

How are you doing on your goals for the year?

Do you need to adjust and/or set some new goals?

I am beginning to think that the calendar was made up strictly so we could have these checkpoints along the way. Times and dates to measure our progress against.

After reviewing your progress, it is time to look ahead.

Let’s move onward and upward for the rest of the year, starting now.

Make it a great day.

Jake

In the sales world, one of the secrets to success is a concept I call "one more phone call".

The idea is that at the end of the day when you are ready to pack things up and head home, you make one more phone call.

I have heard many successful salespeople say that this little trick is what made the difference in their sales career.

I know all of us aren’t necessarily in sales, but we can use this same principle to be more successful.

Think about what is your "one more phone call".

What little thing can you do every day to push you over the edge?

Pick something and try it for a week and try it out.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://www.jimcollins.com/article_topics/articles/best-new-years.html

I know it isn’t New Years, but I came across this article and wanted to send it out.

What a powerful concept. A stop doing list.

And not necessarily in the usual sense of most people’s stop doing lists from New Years.

Most people automatically think of things like giving up chocolate, quitting smoking and no more fast food as their “stop doing” lists.

And while I think Jim would certainly recommend stopping those things as well, in this article he is looking more at how you spend your time.

I love his three circles analogy.

If each of the following questions represented a circle, your ideal role in life would be at the intersection of the three circles.

1) What are you deeply passionate about?

2) What are you are genetically encoded for — what activities do you feel just "made to do"?

3) What makes economic sense — what can you make a living at?

I especially liked the last two paragraphs about his mentor, Rochelle.

Looking back, I now see Rochelle Myers as one of the few people I’ve known to lead a great life, while doing truly great work. This stemmed largely from her remarkable simplicity. A simple home. A simple schedule. A simple frame for her work.

Rochelle spoke to me repeatedly about the idea of "making your life a creative work of art." A great piece of art is composed not just of what is in the final piece, but equally important, what is not. It is the discipline to discard what does not fit — to cut out what might have already cost days or even years of effort — that distinguishes the truly exceptional artist and marks the ideal piece of work, be it a symphony, a novel, a painting, a company or, most important of all, a life.

What’s on your stop doing list?

Not sure where to start? I would suggest taking an inventory of your time for a couple of days and then reviewing it. My guess is there will most likely be some glaring areas of “stop doing” potential.

Jake

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale

What a great reminder for us as we pursue our dreams and our version of success.

This reminds me of two major recurring themes.

First, that time is passing at the same rate for all of us. The sands pass through the hour glass regardless of whether you are sitting on the couch watching TV or out running.

Second, there is a tendency to underestimate our potential in the future. With time it is amazing what a person can become. The realm of possibility for an individual that is dedicated to a goal or a dream is vast.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Plans get you into things but you have to work your way out.

Will Rogers

Ever have that problem where you are in the middle of something and just never quite got yourself all the way through it?

Signed up for that 30 day diet program and fizzled out around day 15?

Committed to an exercise program only to give up half way through the first month?

All these great plans that we set for ourselves, but we stop sometimes when the hard work part rears its ugly head.

The reason I really liked this quote was not that it reminded me of all my half finished plans of the past. I chose it because it reminded me that plans and goals are part of the equation but not all of it.

Any time you are considering a new plan or goal, think also about the work involved. Commit yourself to working your way out once we get started.

This quote also reminded me of how we sometimes fall into other people’s plans and have to work our way out.

We fall into the plan of eating what we want when we want and now have to do the hard work of work our way out of that plan by dieting and exercising.

We fall into the buy whatever you want on debt plan and have to do the hard work of budgeting and doing without to work our way out.

We fall into the shallow and hollow lifestyle and find ourselves having to do the hard work of adding depth and meaning to our life through study and thought.

Work is a part of the equation. Learn to expect it and then to embrace it as part of the process.

Make it a great week.

Jake