I have come to believe that my capacity for joy in life is a function of my capacity to love imperfect people. And the most aggressive calisthenics of that capacity is practicing vulnerability at times of the most acute emotional risk. For example:

· Saying “I love you” with no expectation of reciprocity.

· Offering assistance at a time of crisis to those who have wronged me from a motive of guileless compassion.

· Expressing a desire to reconnect toward one who might see it as an opportunity to wound me.

· Fully admitting my errors in willing acceptance of others’ right to forever delay admitting theirs.

Joseph Grenny

I received the above as part of a regular email I receive from the Crucial Conversations people.

The level of maturity expressed above escapes me most days, but I sure would like to get there.

Each day is an opportunity to work on my capacity to love imperfect people.

Each day is an opportunity to experience real joy.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We first make our habits, and then our habits make us. – John Dryden

Our habits represent a large portion of our daily routines.

We spend a lot of time following our well established and comfortable routines.

Over time, this adds up.

Bad or good eating habits add up to good or bad health.

Bad or good exercise habits add up to good or bad health.

Bad or good money habits add up to good or bad financial health.

Bad or good relationships add up to good or bad relationships.

We reap what we sow.

I know….super obvious, right?

So, what do we do?

We carefully and purposefully sow in the directions of our goals and dreams.

And if you don’t know what that looks like?

Observe. Seek. Look. Explore.

Find and pay attention to good and bad examples.

Learn from others and history.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A week of neglect could cost you a year of repair. – Jim Rohn

Jim Rohn often talks about maintaining the important values in our lives. This short quote is an important reminder of what it could cost you.

A week of neglect of your marriage could cost you a year of repair.

A week of neglect of your integrity could cost you a year of repair.

A week of neglect of your attitude could cost you a year of repair.

The week equals one year part isn’t important. Five minutes of neglect could ruin a marriage.

This is why knowing your priorities and sticking to them is so important.

Imagine having a really nice car but a marriage that is falling apart.

Imagine being super fit but having no friends.

Imagine having millions of dollars but a poor attitude (not going to have any fun with that money).

Don’t neglect that which is most important to you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I came across this old daily attitude email and it reminded me of one of my goals the last few weeks – laugh more – have more fun.

Men, women, and children who cannot live on gravity alone need something to satisfy their gayer, lighter moods and hours, and he who ministers to this want is, in my opinion, in a business established by the Creator of our nature. If he worthily fulfills his mission and amuses without corrupting, he need never feel that he has lived in vain. – P. T. Barnum

We watched “The Greatest Showman” yesterday and this quote reminded me of one of the recurring themes – making others laugh and feel good is a worthy pursuit.

It’s too easy to fall into the trap of constant worry and stress.

We put pressure on ourselves to be perfect or to get it all done.

We lose sight of ourselves by allowing the unimportant and trivial of life dominate our thoughts.

We can let go of all that.

We can laugh.

We can play.

We can enjoy our work.

We don’t have to choose busy, worried and stressed life everyone else.

We can choose peace, joy and love instead.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/ffej15-Dgl0

Two good reminders here.

First – smile. A lot.

Smile all day long.

Smile so much people think you are weird.

Second – tell the people around you that make you smile that you are thankful for them.

We all have someone that makes us smile.

Say thank you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you. – Joyce Meyer

Giving ourselves through service is one of our highest callings in life.

In order to give and give freely, we must be full.

Full of love.

Full of life.

Full of energy.

We fill ourselves by putting in good stuff.

We read good books.

We exercise.

We eat good food.

We receive love from friends and family.

We should fill ourselves up in order to pour ourselves out.

That’s why all the hard work and discipline is worth it. Because there is more to pour out.

We have less to give when we spend all we make, eat too much, don’t have any energy, and spend all of our free time entertaining ourselves.

What do you have to give?

Do you want to give more?

Got any ideas on what you could do to fill yourself up more in order to pour out more?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Courage is knowing what not to fear. – Plato

2020 has included an abundance of things to afraid of.

COVID 19.

Economic disaster.

An election.

In the end, we have a choice of whether or not be afraid of faces these challenges with courage.

Some have looked at this year with fear while others have looked for the blessings.

My hope is that we can focus on the good.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident. – Francesco Guicciardini

The law of reaping and sowing falls into the category of “obvious but not quantifiable”.

Like a lot of the mysteries of life, it makes sense at a high level – we reap what we sow, but the amounts and timing don’t always seem so obvious.

The return for our investment of sowing generosity is not always self-evident or immediate.

The return is sometimes so mysterious that it creates doubt about the underlying truth. We can lose faith in the simple truth – we reap what we sow.

Time and time again it proves to be true.

What we spend our time and efforts on today will determine the future we experience.

I’m sure you are all smart enough to know this, I’m merely hoping to remind you.

Sow what? (See what I did there?)

Sow positivity instead of negativity.

Sow love instead of hate.

Sow forgiveness instead of bitterness.

Sow generously instead of miserly.

Sow virtue instead of vice.

Sow faith instead of doubt.

Sow exercise instead of cake.

Sow saving instead of spending.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Good is the enemy of great. – Jim Collins

One of the most difficult challenges of life (especially for those of us that are lucky enough to live in America) is that “good” is everywhere. It is easy to fall into the trap of settling for good instead of going for great.

Good is the enemy of great because good is so comfortable. Good lulls us into complacency. Good makes it easy not to go for our best.

And that is where the problem lies. Good means we miss out on great. They can’t coexist. it is one or the other.

Is there an area of your life where you are settling for good instead of great?

Are you avoiding facing the reality that you can be great?

In “Good to Great” Jim ends with a great conclusion.

Over time it is no more difficult (in fact he believes it is easier) to be great than it is to just achieve good results.

Up front it might seem a lot more difficult, but that is a false sense of security.

At Mavidea we are in the process of moving our organization from good to great and I am excited.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds as we become a great company.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of you as you become the great version of yourself.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"For you have been called to live in freedom. Use your freedom to serve one another in love." – Galatians 5:13

The freedom that we celebrate on the 4th of July is really just an opportunity.

An opportunity to do something with our freedoms.

An opportunity to make the world better.

An opportunity to serve one another in love.

Make it a great day.

Jake