I am struck by something that seems to be ever-present and never-ending wherever and whenever the human race is faced with tragedy. I think it can be summed up in a single, simple phrase… ‘Hope springs eternal.’ — Jim Rohn

As I thought about what to write in the wake of the tragedy in CT, I kept coming back to an email I sent earlier explaining my 51% rule.

I have included the email below.

Even in the wake of such a horrible tragedy, good is still winning. We must never forget that.

Make it a great day.

Jake

This week I am going to write about some “Jakeisms” that I try to use to keep a positive attitude.

The first one is one that I think about a lot but probably haven’t said to all of you.

I call it the 51% Rule. It is one my core beliefs that at any given point in time the world is more good than bad (51%).

For every person that cuts you off in traffic and flips you the bird, there are 10 jamming out to their favorite song, signing loud and smiling from ear to ear.

For every malnourished and under appreciated child, there are thousands whose parents love them more than anything in the world.

For every company that is ripping off customers or treating employees badly, there are thousands of Mavidea’s making a positive impact in their community every day.

For every abused or belittled child, there are thousands of dads and moms squeezing their little one a little tighter today, tucking them in at night and signing one extra song before bed.

For every rape or murder, there are thousands of policemen, firefighters and soldiers giving their lives to protect others.

For every Adolf Hitler, there are millions of Allied troops who left their loved ones at home and bravely fought against evil to ensure the freedom of all.

When I think of anything bad that has or will happen, I think of the 51% rule and how AT THE VERY LEAST the world is more good than bad and that I need to focus on the good.

The best part of the 51% rule….good has already won. All we have to do is determine the margin of victory. No pressure, no need to be perfect, just try and run up the score.

So, as you are going about your day today, think of something good to do for someone else and chalk up another win for the good guys.

Jake

EB Politics is when people choose their words and actions based on how they want others to react rather than based on what they really think. Patrick Lencioni

JW – Push harder, you won’t die. And if you do? Who cares, you’ll be dead.

JM – In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit. JRR Tolkien

JS Twas the twelve days of Christmas.now it is only eleven.

KJ* – ‎Walk away from the 97% crowd. Don’t use their excuses. Take charge of your own life. — Jim Rohn

JD Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the problem. Jim Rohn

http://youtu.be/9Fjik78LapA

All I have to say is wow.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I sent this quote out earlier but searched it out again as I thought about today’s daily attitude email.

I am just beginning the third of Norman Vincent Peale’s books in the collection I am reading.

The title says a lot "Enthusiasm Make the Difference."

I am learned many lessons from my children but this has to be one of the biggest ones – enthusiasm makes the difference.

Our two girls have been gifted with abounding enthusiasm. (Must have got it from their mom.)

Observing them and their enthusiasm has shown me just how great life can be when filled with enthusiasm.

If we could all find a way to infuse enthusiasm into our day our lives would be so much better.

Take a minute to think about your level of enthusiasm today.

How do you start the day?

How do you approach the next phone call, task or meeting?

How about breakfast, lunch and dinner times?

How about your exercise program?

How about that book that you are reading?

Look for you enthusiasm for these things and focus on it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

It is feeling a lot more wintery lately and I have been thinking about Jim Rohn’s talk about the seasons.

Below is the email I sent about his explanation on winter.

The thought that pops into my head all the time is “get stronger, get wiser, get better.”

Make it a great (winter) day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/TIsPdoM_xtk

A little bit of a toe tapper this morning.

I saw this commercial the other day and wanted to share. What a powerful concept, every kid with a book in their hands.

I am not an expert on education or learning but it seems to me that reading more is a no brainer.

It expands your vocabulary, opens your mind and instructs you.

And it doesn’t even have to cost you that much if you go to the library.

But for today, let’s forget about you and your goals.

Let’s all make an effort to reach out to and read more to children. If you have kids, read them an extra book this week. If you don’t have kids, volunteer for a program to read to kids.

Make it a great day.

Jake

As costly as it was in the lives of our men and women in uniform, in military assets, and in esteem and pride, Pearl Harbor was a watershed moment for America. – Joe Baca

The anniversary of Pearl Harbor was on Saturday and each year that when it passes I reflect again on that generation and what they have done for us.

I found this paragraph in a blog while reading about “The Greatest Generation”:

“The Bible instructs us to give honor to whom honor is due (Rom. 13:7). Surely this passing generation of ordinary people who did extraordinary things deserves our gratitude and recognition. They won history’s worst war and saved the world. They built the America you and I know and benefit from every day. They may very well be, as Tom Brokaw calls them, “the greatest generation any society has ever produced.”

I am not a historian and so I won’t argue whether or not they were, in fact, “the greatest generation”.

I will agree they were great though.

And the reason I think so is because they gave so much.

They gave their friends, brothers, and sisters in a great war so that the world would remain free.

They gave their youth in service to their country.

They gave their all in rebuilding after the war.

If you ask me, all of that adds up to greatness.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – I can’t wait to see Mathy in yellow tights.

EB – Trust is knowing that when a team member does push you, they’re doing because they care about the team. – Patrick Lencioni

JW – If everything is important, then nothing is. – Patrick Lencioni

KJ – Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.

JS – Hello, old friend, it’s good to see you.

JM -The hero is valorous because he stands up to every threat to his values. – Andrew Bernstein

I loved JM’s quote this morning. Made me want to read whatever book that came out of.

One of the reasons that books and movies are so effective at showing us what valor can look like is that it is easier to understand valor when it is pictured as a hero on his white horse fighting the dragon that is destroying the village.

In real life it usually isn’t that easy.

Valor isn’t obvious when we see a young mom at the store. We don’t get the background that her husband is gone, sick, struggling in some way and it took all she had this morning to get to the store and buy food for the kids.

Valor isn’t obvious when we see the old man sitting alone at the table next to us at lunch. We don’t see his struggle to go on every day after his wife passed away a year ago.

Valor isn’t obvious when we look at the waitress serving our lunch. We don’t see her struggle with physical pain but still go to work on her feet all day to make a living.

Words like valor don’t get thrown around a lot, but valor is all around us.

It would be great to make words like valor, character, faith, hope, courage and other inspiring words part of our regular vocabulary. Imagine how inspired you would be at the end of a day, a week, a year in which you focused on finding these traits (and others like them) in others and living them out yourself.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/sWEfszb9h8Q

This was conveniently on the home page of YouTube as I began my search this morning.

Another great example of just how creative human beings can be.

I am always amazed at what happens when you put a bunch of talented and creative people together.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS For those of you who want to listen to the “real” version of this song (I know at least one of you that does), here you go:

http://youtu.be/yXQViqx6GMY

I received this list below the other day and wanted to share with the group.

Listening to Zig Ziglar talk about legacy in his most recent book really brought some of these points home.

You really can learn, grow and share a lot over a long life well lived.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most requested column I’ve ever written”.

“My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more”:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time.

42. You already have all you need.

43. The best is yet to come…

44. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift."