One of the big ideas when it comes to meeting goals and being successful is the idea of stewardship.

What we do with the money, time and other resources that come our way helps determine how happy we are.

When it comes to how we use the money that comes our way, a big idea that has been sticking in my head lately is to spend money on experiences and not stuff.

This article on Forbes explains better than I can:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2016/08/09/why-you-should-spend-your-money-on-experiences-not-things/#287846af1c08

My take on it is that the more stuff we accumulate the more it controls our lives.

We spend our time buying, maintaining, repairing, cleaning, moving, storing, sorting, taking it out, putting it away….you get the idea.

What if you spent all that time and money having fun with friends and family instead?

Make it a great day.

Jake

I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm. – Calvin Coolidge

Reminder – sometimes (most of the time?) it’s better to keep quiet.

Part of learning to better control our emotions is to not believe everything we think.

Even better is to not say everything we think.

Judge what you think – is it true, is it helpful?

Carefully choose what comes out.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Laughter is an instant vacation. – Milton Berle

Usually at some point during a vacation I realize that I should be doing more “vacation stuff” all the time.

This quote really sums it up well.

We can go on an instant vacation any time we want. Just laugh and have fun.

As we go about our typical work days we tend to allow ourselves to get stuck in the routine of it all.

Change it up.

Take a vacation from the routine.

Do something simple today to take a vacation from the normal.

Take a different route into work.

Order something you normally wouldn’t for lunch.

Spend a few extra minutes outside.

Stay up late.

Go to bed early.

Change it up.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/3YqPKLZF_WU

You. You are. My Universe.

Don’t we all just want to hear somebody sing that to us (preferably with a poppy upbeat song and some smooth dance moves).

Every time I hear a song or read something like this it reminds me of the quote – “babies are born with a need to be loved and never out grow it”.

We never outgrow our need to be loved.

I’m convinced that the proper response to this truth is to love others.

To have them feel that they are loved.

It can be small…..a kind, warm interaction with a service worker who’s stressed out.

Or it can be big….years of lovingly serving a loved one who has become ill.

Big or small, our job is to love somebody – today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them. – Franz Kafka

Thought this would be a good reminder to start the 4th quarter.

We need to do the work.

God takes care of the miracle part – but we need to do our part for the miracle to occur.

Get to work.

Take the next small step.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1282594747212647

What a great little story.

I love the mental picture of God doing something similar for all of us as we go about our day. Watching over us. Hoping for the best for us. Standing guard for us.

But I think the most impactful part of his little speech about this was the idea that God calls us to do this for others in our lives.

We may not have as dramatic of a situation as a wife who is blind.

But somebody in our life needs someone looking out for them. Praying for them. Rooting for them. Watching out for trouble.

You can’t do this for everybody, but you can do it for somebody.

And it will make a difference. Even if they never notice. Even if they fight you along the way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Major in the majors. Too many people major in minor things. – Jim Rohn (paraphrased)

I try to think about this quote often.

It’s too easy to get sucked into spending major time on minor things.

To let our life get chipped away at with little trivialities that distract and comfort us.

What makes the list of majors in your life?

What is on the minor list that gets too much time and attention?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Personally I’m always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. – Winston Churchill

An important step in moving towards growth and progress is admitting that there is room for growth.

To admit that we have something to learn.

Maybe to even admit that someone knows more than we do.

Humility is one of those habits of character that allow for so much good to flow in to our lives.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk?si=im8xX9hJKUmty3R0

I’m sure I’ve sent this song out for almost every September since I’ve been sending these emails.

It’s a great song and the video really puts it over the top.

Enjoy!

Make it a great day.

Jake

Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves — to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today. – Stewart B. Johnson

It’s so easy to fall into the comparison trap. Comparing ourselves to others on social media or the neighbor down the street.

We can spend our lives trying to outpace others.

Instead, maybe we focus on outpacing ourselves.

Focus on being the best version of ourselves.

For others. For service. For love.

Not for stuff or likes or shares.

Make it a great day.

Jake