"Without momentum, even the smallest obstacle can prevent you from moving forward. But with it you can plow through anything." – John Maxwell

In the article where John Maxwell talks about momentum, he uses the example of a train. When just getting started, a train can actually be stopped by a one inch block on the track. When moving at full speed, a train will smash through almost anything.

Think about the areas in your life where you are struggling to get started. Maybe you just need to remove the small obstacle to get going.

Focus on a really small, really short term goal.

Once you do that, pick another one.

Keep up this process until you have some momentum. And then you will be unstoppable.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. – Jean Anouilh

The Bible talks often of this idea – giving up your life for another.

This quote says it well in my opinion.

Somehow we must give our life away.

The more completely the better.

What’s the next step for you on this path?

What little thing could you start or stop doing to give more of yourself today?

What could you be working on to make the gift of yourself even more valuable?

Make it a great day.

Jake

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The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. – Jean Paul

Time and experience have a way of clarifying things.

What to do and what not to do.

Who to spend more time with and who to spend less time with.

What to spend money and time on and what to ignore.

If you haven’t gained experience yet – ask someone who has.

Got some experience under your belt? Write some things down. Reflect and observe on what has worked and what has not worked.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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No parent is perfect; we all can look back and think of things we could’ve done to help our children be better prepared for adulthood. And sometimes it’s best to admit it to them and encourage them to learn from our mistakes. – Billy Graham

Maggie turned 18 on Saturday. The list of things I’ve fallen short on in preparing her for adulthood has made itself more and more clear as she’s approached this milestone (that, and moving to college soon).

So many things I wish I could say or do to get her ready.

So many things I wish I had said or done differently.

When I think of where and how I have fallen short – I try to think of it like looking in the mirror.

I should face the results of my choices and the results I’ve created – but not focus on it to the exclusion of getting to work on the next best action I can take.

If we spend our lives looking in the mirror – whether it be for vanity, narcissism, or regretting our mistakes – we will miss out on what we are really here for – to be of service with love.

Maggie turned 18 – time to learn how I messed up – then get focused on this next stage of life – supporting a young woman as she makes her way in the world.

Wish me luck.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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https://youtu.be/oGpFcHTxjZs?si=RXSt-hmILIYbNIUR

What’s love got to do with it?

I know it’s not the message of this song, but I keep thinking that somehow we as a nation need to figure out how to get more love involved.

The election coming up seems to have everyone flibber flabbered even more than usual. With both sides seemingly more and more upset and angry.

When it came to the point that someone decided to take a shot at Trump and killed another and injured more, it’s obviously gone too far.

When I try to add more love for those around me in my life I try to remember that everyone is someone’s son or daughter. They are someone’s spouse. They are someone’s friend, uncle, cousin, aunt or whatever. They came into this world with a need to be loved and never outgrew it.

Even the meanest Democrat/Republican you can think of.

Life is just too short to not fill it with love for the people around us.

It all starts with us and the people in our lives. We love them more and they can love others more and on it goes.

I’m sure this is all too idealistic or whatever, but we have to start somewhere and I can’t think of anything better so that’s what I’m going to try.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Patience is the companion of wisdom. – Saint Augustine

Simple reminder today.

Growing in wisdom takes time.

But it’s worth the wait.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. – Henry Ward Beecher

Sometimes I wonder if much of our anxiety and worry is caused by not meeting our standards.

We tell ourselves we are going to exercise, eat better, quit doing this or start doing that.

And then we don’t follow through.

This turns into a bad mental loop where we think we can’t follow through on anything or don’t have the willpower to do what we say we are going to do.

Some tricks I feel like I’ve seen work for others:

Be careful on what you tell yourself you are going to do. Don’t be frivolous or impulsive. Thoughtfully consider what you are committing to.

Start small.

Be gentle with your internal self talk. Be careful of the thoughts you allow to dominate your thoughts.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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History is a vast early warning system. – Norman Cousins

History is a great place to learn about what can and will happen based on the patterns observed over time.

This is true generically and philosophically and culturally.

But it’s also true in our lives and the lives we observe around us.

Think about the histories you have observed with yourself and those around you.

Given the histories you have observed – is there something you should stop eating?

Given the histories you have observed – is there something you should stop spending money on?

Given the histories you have observed – is there somewhere else you should look for happiness and joy?

Give the histories you have observer – is there a better way to spend your time?

We can all learn from the vast early warning system around us – we need only pay attention.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Trump will be something not soon forgotten.

Our pastor yesterday spent the service talking through how we as Christians can respond to this event and be a part of moving in a more positive direction.

I’m sincerely hopeful that this event will be a turning point – one in which we as a country can decide to not let it go this far.

That we can all be more civil in our discourse.

That love can be the starting point of our desires for change and our engagement in conversations with our fellow citizens.

That we can be known for our ability to come together as a nation instead of being torn apart.

Hopefully we can all join in prayer for our nation, the person who was killed, those injured and our political leaders.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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https://youtu.be/UbxUSsFXYo4?si=bTkoUb47f2JhRJBk

Went to Dolly World this week so I thought it would be appropriate to share this Dolly Parton song.

After listening to it though – I’m sincerely hoping that no one at our little companies feel this way about their job.

We’ve always set out to make our businesses a great place to work and be a part of.

Someplace where everyone can move their careers and the lives forward.

It hasn’t always been a rousing success. We’ve made our fair share of mistakes.

But I can tell you in all honesty that we’ve tried every step of the way to make it a great place to be.

I hope that all of you understand that we mean it. But we can’t do it alone.

You are a part of making everything better. For yourselves and your teammates. No one succeeds on their own.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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