http://youtu.be/og_R1BqC-kA

Starts kind of slow, but it ends with lots of enthusiasm.

The lyrics to this one are so positive I thought I would just paste them below.

Make it a great Friday.

Jake

I Have Confidence in Me from The Sound of Music

What will this day be like, I wonder
What will my future be, I wonder
It could be so exciting
To be out to the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what’s the matter with me
I’ve always long for adventure
To do the things I’ve never dared
And here I’m pleasing adventure
Then why am I so scared??
A captain with seven children
What so fearsome about that
Oh, I must stop this doubts, all this worries
If I don’t I just know I’ll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack
The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I’m worthy
And while I show them, I’ll show me…….
So let them bring on all their problems
I’ll do better than my best
I have confidence they’ll put me to the test
But I’ll make them see I have confidence in me
Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children, heaven bless them
They will look up to me and mind me
With each step I’m almost certain
Everything will turn out find
I have confidence, the world can all be mine
They’ll have to agree I have confidence in me
I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me
Strength doesn’t lie in numbers
Strength doesn’t lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up, wake up!
It’s healthy
All I trust I leave my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence, in confidence alone
(Oh help……..)
I have confidence, in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

In honor of back to school time I searched for some good back to school songs.

For those that are a little darker this one came up:

http://youtu.be/YR5ApYxkU-U

Wow….had never seen that whole video before.

For those that are yearning for a simpler time:

http://youtu.be/DHG5-GxI_Es

And for those that just want something funny:

http://youtu.be/MoCD0zCHTL4

Make it a great Friday.

Jake

http://youtu.be/tR-qQcNT_fY

Only 100 years.

What a great reminder to use our time wisely.

Many of you have heard me say “we are all the same amount of busy”. Time flows past at the same rate for all of us.

The question is, what are you doing with the time as it passes?

Are you spending your time on frivolous and unimportant things? Filling your days with whatever “pops up”?

Or are you investing your time on important relationships? Investing in your self to build that better future? Investing in others to make this a better place someday?

Similar to the power of compound interest when investing your money over the long term, I believe investing our time presents the same possibilities. Small investments made consistently over time can grow into tremendous value.

Let’s all get started on our new investment plans today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/vfbsFEvauTI

This artist was part of the Willow Creek Leadership Summit yesterday.

Yet another example of how talented and creative a person can be.

Make it a great Friday.

Jake

http://youtu.be/lu3VTngm1F0

Faith. What a powerful part of creating the life we want.

Below is an excerpt from the book “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale. The first quote is something he quoted from a successful newspaper editor who attributed his success to this simple statement.

This is (so far) the best explanation of faith that I have seen in any of the books I have read.

“A man who is self-reliant, positive, optimistic, and undertakes his work with the assurance of success magnetizes his condition. He draws to himself the creative powers of the universe.”

It is indeed a fact that the person who thinks with positive self-reliance and optimism does magnetize his condition and releases power to attain his goal. So expect the best at all times. Never think of the worst. Drop it out of your thought, relegate it. Let there be no thought in your mind that the worst will happen. Avoid entertaining the concept of the worst, for whatever you take into your mind can grow there. Therefore take the best into your mind and only that. Nurture it, concentrate on it, emphasize it, visualize it, prayerize it, surround it with faith. Make it your obsession. Expect the best, and spiritually creative mind power aided by God will produce the best.

Make it a great Friday.

Jake

http://youtu.be/YLO7tCdBVrA

Wow. That is the first thing that came to mind after I watched this after someone posted it on the FaceBox.

At first I was ready for a good chuckle, but instead I ended up just a little inspired and ready to take on the day.

Some of my favorite lines:

If you believe, you can do it.

It is your world, you are the creator.

There is freedom on this canvas.

Relax. Let if flow.

There are no mistakes. Just happy accidents.

I remember watching Bob Ross on TV and being amazed as what seemed like scribbles and random brush marks turned into a beautiful landscape.

I am always amazed at those people that are creative with things like painting and music.

I am of the belief that we were created with this urge to create.

To create something beautiful.

To create something harmonious.

To create new life.

To create a better future.

To create businesses, social organizations and other mechanisms to allow our visions to come to fruition.

Bob Ross was a prolific creator and through that he appeared to find his purpose and happiness in life.

Let’s go create a great Friday.

Jake

http://youtu.be/L7BQRGXFLJs

I am sending this one out in honor of Maggie, my oldest daughter.

She turns 6 today and loves this song.

Sometimes in life we need something that is just plain silly and a little whimsical.

Maggie definitely fits that description.

And for those of you who want to skip past silly and whimsical and go straight for the funny:

http://youtu.be/Kmv3WlKa6U8 (excuse the language)

Make it a great Friday.

Jake

http://youtu.be/xox8OknBJQc

Since it has felt extra summery lately and I just went to this concert last week, this song felt appropriate.

One of the positive changes I am trying to make is learning to appreciate all the seasons of the year.

Appreciating each season for its unique role in the flow of time.

Even appreciating the heat in the summer and the cold in the winter for their balance.

Let’s all make it a point to enjoy the summer and to do all of those summertime activities that make summertime so special.

Jake

I couldn’t decide which of the songs they played during the fireworks that I wanted to send out so I am just sending a bunch of them. You pick your own.

America the Beautiful – Ray Charles

http://youtu.be/gOvA-Hn4_ZM

Firework – Katy Perry

http://youtu.be/gOvA-Hn4_ZM

God Bless the USA – Lee Greenwood

http://youtu.be/RINqibpWOzQ

Coming to America – Neil Diamond

http://youtu.be/cRTHdC7k4uY

Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen

http://youtu.be/lZD4ezDbbu4

I am sure I missed a bunch, feel free to find and listen to your own to get this Friday started off right.

Be thankful for everything this great nation affords all of us.

Jake

Our own Chris Nichols sent this one to me to send out to everyone.

http://youtu.be/bxV-OOIamyk

Definitely gets your toes tappin’.

I really liked all the clips of the athlete training and preparing for the Olympics.

One of my favorite things about the Olympics is the concept of being the best in the world at something, even if only for a brief fleeting moment.

I think of all the hard work, dedication, sacrifice, etc. that it would take to get there and usually end up simply amazed.

I came to the realization at some point that it wasn’t in the cards for me to become the best athlete in the world in any of the sports I liked, but that doesn’t change this piece deep inside me (and all of us) that desires greatness, excellence and doing my best.

Think about this summer as you watch the Olympics.

What do you want to be excellent at?

What area of your life do you want to win at? Maybe even dominate.

The “what” isn’t the important part.

The “why” is.

The kind of person you will have to become to achieve excellence is.

Make it a great Friday.

Jake

PS. Special thanks to Chris for sending me this song. My favorite part of his recommendation for this song was that it was “post 1980’s”.

Got any good toe tappers you would like to hear? Send them on….I am sure everyone would like to hear some more “post 1980’s” songs on Friday morning.