I received the email below and thought I would share.

I apologize ahead of time to all you out there who aren’t dog lovers.

Jake

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where
they went. -Will Rogers

Why we love our dogs so much

When people hear that I spent more than a year wandering the aisles of America’s dog shows while working on a book about the culture, the first question they inevitably ask is: Why? Why do otherwise normal humans with decent jobs and sound minds spend all of their free time and much of their disposable income on what seems like such a frivolous pursuit—primping and preparing their dogs to be judged in the show ring?

It’s really quite simple: because people really, really love dogs—almost as much as they love their children. Sometimes, even more.

That said, there are probably plenty of you who own dogs who still don’t see how that explains the motivation to put them in dog shows. So let me put it to you this way: Do you adore your dog to the degree that you sometimes call yourself “Mommy” or “Daddy”? Do think he or she is the most beautiful and special creature there is and ever has been? Do you often brag about him or her to friends and family? Do you post adorable photos on Facebook? Well, this is exactly what we do with our children.

And it’s why people show dogs. Because while dog showing is ostensibly about breeding — it’s the way the best and healthiest stock is identified — it’s also about validation.

Just as parents want teachers to tell them their kid is the smartest and politest in class, dog owners want to hear people lauding their dog’s beauty and obedience, and there’s no better place to hear that than in the show ring. Which isn’t to say that dog show participants need a ribbon to prove what they already know. If there are 3,000 dogs entered in a particular event, you’ll find 3,000 humans who’d argue for hours about why their dog is best.

It’s almost impossible not to feel that way. Because the bond between humans and dogs is more intense than our bond with any other species, and there’s not even a close second.

Dogs were the first domesticated animals, the ones that made domestication of all others possible. Scientists can’t seem to agree whether it was 10,000 or 15,000 or 100,000 years ago, but it’s inarguable that dogs evolved from wolves because of us. They were selected and honed to be our companions — to help us hunt, to guard our homes, to look after our livestock and even our children and, over time, to do so many useful and wonderful things that it boggles the mind.

For all the talk about wheels and metal and gunpowder, we often overlook one very important tool that helped lead us out of the caves and into societies: our dogs.

We have dogs that serve in combat (famously assisting in the capture of Osama Bin Laden); dogs that detect bed bugs; dogs that defend sheep from wolves (and cattle from cheetahs), in the process protecting the wild animals too by keeping ranchers from shooting them; dog lifeguards; dogs that guide the blind and allow the disabled to live better lives; dogs that sniff out cancer and drugs and invasive species. And dogs that simply provide companionship, making millions of lives around the globe much, much happier.

There seems to be no job dogs were asked to do that they didn’t figure out how to do capably, and if only they had thumbs we’d probably have taught them to drive us around by now.

Every day our scientific knowledge about these amazing animals increases, enabling us to better understand the very special voodoo that dogs have over us. What exactly makes canines so malleable is not yet fully understood but the fact that the species was literally born at our side explains why they seem to understand us at a level that’s sometimes spooky (but always nice).

Recent research shows they can read our facial expressions and pick up subtle cues that even toddlers can’t, and any dog owner has experienced moments where it seems like there’s an almost extrasensory frequency by which our two species communicate. What owner hasn’t come home on a bad day to find his dog immediately understanding, and offering a little extra love as a result?

And the best part of this relationship is how simple it is. While we often ask so much of them, they require almost nothing in return. You can ask your dog to chase a Frisbee, take a nap on the couch, herd some sheep, or run around a show ring and he’ll do it, happily, for hours on end. He only wants to be fed, and told he’s good, and most of all loved. If a dog has love, he really needs nothing else.

Unlike your kids, who will bug you for money until the day you die.

Josh Dean is the author of "Show Dog: The Charmed Life and Trying Times of a Near-Perfect

I was recently listening to a TED talk by Rick Warren and he mentioned something I would like to share.

He was talking about the idea that he believes that we as human beings have some obligation to leave this planet better than we left it. He mentioned having a conversation with someone once and asking them if they believe that we have this obligation.

The person responded with something like "no more obligation than a duck or any other animal".

Rick’s response really stuck with me.

He said "You are not a duck".

Think about that for a second. If you believe that human beings are not ducks, but that we are something different and unique then we have the obligation of stewardship that Rick talks about.

We are all given something to be stewards over during our lives. At the very least, we are stewards of our own time and lives.

And since we are not ducks, we must use them wisely. How we spend our days and our lives does matter.

Make today count.

Jake

One last lesson I learned from the Steve Jobs biography.

He was mean.

High school bully mean. Three year old throwing a tantrum mean. Flat out mean.

He would yell and scream at employees, waiters and waitresses and pretty much anyone.

I cam to two conclusions after listening to some of the stories.

First, it is not my place to judge. I am not the decider of how “good” or “bad” of a person he was or whether or not he “deserved” any of the good things that happened in his life. In fact, it reminded me of a quote from Abraham Lincoln that says something to the effect of “I can’t judge another man because If I had his genetics and his experiences, I would act in the exact same way.”

Second, regret is a bitter pill to swallow. While he may never have admitted it in any meaningful way, I believe that he regretted treating people this way. Listening to the book, you could almost hear this through the stories and quotes from Steve.

Despite all of his success and money and fame, he had regrets. And not little ones like “I should have had the tuna for lunch”, but large, daunting regrets like “Maybe I shouldn’t have treated my daughter that way.”

I finished the book convinced that negativity is bad for the soul and that no amount of other success in life will fill the gaping holes left by treating others poorly.

My sincere hope is that we all look at things like this as a wake up call.

Who could you be nicer to today?

Who do you want to spend more quality time with today?

Who needs that call from you today to brighten up an otherwise dreary day?

Make that call. Smile and give that person a hug. Take the extra 5 minutes to read one more book to the little ones.

It makes a difference. For them certainly, but more importantly, for you.

Jake

One of the most remarkable abilities that Steve Jobs had was his ability to focus on the “why” at Apple.

His almost single minded focus on simplicity and design truly revolutionized Apple (and several other industries along the way).

The stories of Steve reminded me of stories you would also hear about Edison, Ford or other great entrepreneur/inventors.

Stories of the owner of a large, dispersed organization going down to the design area and playing around with or spitballing ideas about a new product in the works. All the way down to the details. Worrying about the weight, shape or longevity of a particular part or product.

Seems like they each had a gift for visualizing the future and then making it happen. Bending their will and the will of others towards making their vision of the future come true.

Think about the single mindedness of these great inventors. Have one of them pictured in your mind? Good. Now think about your goals. Think about the flimsy excuses you let pass for not meeting them.

Now, attack your goals in the same way Steve Jobs or Thomas Edison might. Focus your mind and your will towards making them a reality. Then get to work.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I recently listened to the biography of Steve Jobs. Since we are in the same industry, I thought I would share some of the lessons learned.

The lesson that has stuck with me the most actually has little to do with technology or even Steve Jobs in particular. Never take your health for granted and no one is guaranteed another day.

Steve had more money than anyone could ever need. He had power and prestige and was adored by many.

In the end, none of that mattered. Cancer took his life the same way it would with a homeless man.

We all must cherish our health, each and every day. We only have one body.

Take some kind of action today to improve your health.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Below is a good story about how the little things we do matter.

Your actions are being noticed every day. Let’s all use this as a reminder to make them count.

Make it a great day.

Jake

IT’S WHAT YOU SCATTER

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes… I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’

‘H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.’

‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?’

‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’

‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’

‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. ”Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller.

‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ’em with.’

‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’

‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’

‘Is that right? Let me see it’, said Miller.

‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.’

‘I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked.

‘Not zackley but almost.’

‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. Miller told the boy.

‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.’

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.

With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died.

They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size…..they came to pay their debt.’

‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..’

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband… Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral:

We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Make it count.

I was recently talking to someone and he said that was one of his favorite sayings.

What can you do today to make it count?

The sands of time are falling through the hour glass for each of us each and every day. We only get one chance to make it count.

Make it count today.

Jake

Not sure that it is official yet, but it sure feels like spring has sprung.

Yesterday, I thought of this Jim Rohn recording that I have sent out before.

http://youtu.be/xtglLqBiwGI

Spend the 2 minutes to listen to this and get fired up about taking advantage of this spring.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Stop and thank.

One of the members of the CBO 12 group that Erik and I attend mentioned this as an important thing to do in business.

I have thought about this frequently since then.

I have thought about how hard it is sometimes to just stop. And I don’t mean stop in the same sense that most of us do at a stop sign (the rolling stop), I am talking about a full blown stop. I have been working on finding a quiet time to just stop and it has been much more difficult that I thought it would be.

Zig Ziglar recommends 15 minutes every day in complete silence by yourself. I certainly haven’t found that yet, but can imagine the positive effects it would have.

And thank. We all have so much to be thankful for. Jim Rohn says that being thankful opens up life’s doors and windows allowing all the good stuff to flow in. I personally believe that the “good stuff” in life (however you define that for yourself) goes where it is appreciated.

Take a moment today to stop and thank.

Jake

Below is a short little story to start your week off.

This story reminded me that there are people out there that have it much harder than I do. I have yet to work at a job plucking chickens, and that was the least of the difficulties.

This story also reminded me of turning lemons into lemonade. We all have personality quirks, idiosyncrasies, and personal issues; and we all have the opportunity to turn these into something special. Something that only we can do.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A true short bio – A DREAMER AND HIS DREAM

Let me tell you, Jesse hated this job. And you would too I imagine, if you had to do it. Jesse was a chicken plucker. That’s right. He stood on a line in a chicken factory and spent his days pulling the feathers off dead chickens so the rest of us wouldn’t have to.

It wasn’t much of a job. But at the time, Jesse didn’t think he was much of a person. His father was a brute of a man. His dad was actually thought to be mentally ill and treated Jesse rough all of his life.

Jesse’s older brother wasn’t much better. He was always picking on Jesse and beating him up. Yes, Jesse grew up in a very rough home in West Virginia. Life was anything but easy.

And he thought life didn’t hold much hope for him. That’s why he was standing in this chicken line doing a job that very few people wanted.

In addition to all the rough treatment at home, it seems that Jesse was always sick. Sometimes it was real physical illness, but way too often it was all in his head. He was a small child, skinny and meek. That sure didn’t help the situation any.

When he started to school, he was the object of every bully on the playground.

He was a hypochondriac of the first order. For Jesse, tomorrow was not always something to be looked forward to. But, he had dreams. He wanted to be a ventriloquist. He found books on ventriloquism. He practiced with sock puppets and saved his hard earned dollars until he could get a real ventriloquist dummy.

When he got old enough, he joined the military. And even though many of his hypochondriac symptoms persisted, the military did recognize his talents and put him in the entertainment corp. That was when his world changed.

He gained confidence. He found that he had a talent for making people laugh, And laugh so hard they often had tears in their eyes.

Yes, little Jesse had found himself. You know, folks, the history books are full of people who overcame a handicap to go on and make a success of themselves, but Jesse is one of the few I know who didn’t overcome it. Instead he used his paranoia to make a million dollars, and become one of the best-loved characters of all time in doing it!

Yes, that little paranoid hypochondriac, who transferred his nervousness into a successful career, still holds the record for the most Emmy’s given in a single category.

The wonderful, gifted, talented, and nervous comedian who brought us Barney Fife was Jesse Don Knotts.

NOW YOU KNOW, "THE REST OF THE STORY"

There is a street named for him and his statue in Morgantown, West Virginia, his place of birth.