Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill

Are you willing to fail?

Are you really stretching yourself enough to make failure possible?

Most of us don’t step far enough out of our comfort zone enough to make failure possible. We manage and mitigate our risk so that we don’t have to face failure.

We insulate ourselves from the uncomfortable feelings associated with failing.

Instead, let’s turn that idea upside down.

Let’s embrace failure with enthusiasm.

Let’s risk failure in order to achieve something worthwhile.

Step outside of your comfort zone. If failure isn’t a possibility, maybe you could aim a little higher.

I know you have heard this before and a lot of this is cliché. I know you already know all this.

Did something come to mind while you were reading this?

Is there a risk you should be taking?

Write it down. Right now. Put it somewhere you can see it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

What the hell did you do all day?

I imagine this being said on a sitcom. Husband comes home and says it to the wife. Hilarious fight and swapping of roles ensues and everyone gets a good laugh.

But what if someone really asked you this question?

Would you be happy with your response?

Really think about it. What the hell did you do all day?

Check your FaceBox feed?

Exercise?

Check your email?

Had a meaningful conversation with an important person in your life?

Putz around on the internet?

Slowed down and enjoyed the weather?

Watched TV?

When you really think about it, did you make progress on your goals? Did you spend your day in a way that is going to put you in a position to win long term?

Lots of questions today. Just trying to get you to think about how you are spending your time and challenge you a little.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The second day of school may be as important as the first.

Making the decision to keep going is as important as making the decision to get started.

Somehow we have to find it in ourselves to just keep going.

To keep ourselves moving towards our goals.

To make progress every day.

To enjoy the process.

Make it a great day.

Jake

First day of school again.

First day of school is another of life’s important sign posts along the way. An event that bears some remembering and paying a little extra attention.

I think the reason the first day of school sticks out in life is that is a good example of some of life’s bigger themes.

Meeting new friends.

Reuniting with old friends.

Learning new things and growing.

Challenging yourself.

Risking the bad stuff in order to get to the good.

As you see your friends and others post their first day of school pics on the FaceBox, think about the important lessons and themes from your first days of school from when you were younger.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/IGMabBGydC0

When looking for a song to send out this morning I found a blog that said this about this one:

Every time I listen to this song, I feel like I’m on my way to some sort of exotic, tropical destination.

Even if you aren’t headed for an exotic destination today, try to put some pep in your step and pretend like you are.

You are on your way.

Today is your day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves. – Dalai Lama

JW – The truth shall set you free. – John 8:32

EB – Every good thing that happened to me was a direct result of trying to help someone else. – Danny Trejo

MS – Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. – Ecclesiastes 7:9

https://youtu.be/veiSBJwyJuk

The quote from EB inspired me to find and watch the Danny Trejo video that was recently published (I think this is the one EB saw and heard the quote from).

It is a great story about how a change in outlook and a focus on others can lead to a turn around.

Good things come to those who seek to be of service.

Service to others is the beginning of great things.

The best part – everyone can serve.

We all have been endowed with a unique ability to be of service to others. We must seek it out and work it to the best of our abilities.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Last night Mavidea and Maxlider hosted a business after hours event with the chamber.

Each time we host an event like that, I am reminded of just how lucky we are.

We are lucky to have so much community support.

We are lucky to have each other.

We are lucky to have so many great clients.

We are lucky to have great wives, husbands and families to support us along the way.

As we move forward, it is a great reminder of the inspiring amount of responsibility that creates.

Let’s be inspired by all of these blessings to do more and better.

Let’s be inspired to do and be our best.

Let’s not let any day go by without being thankful.

Thank you to all of you for your support of us.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. – George Bernard Shaw

The Olympics have been a great reminder that it is fun to play.

We were designed to enjoy play and to have fun.

What could you do today to have fun?

What is something you could introduce into your life to get more playtime in?

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://www.facebook.com/sbnation/videos/10153187777826536/

This short video is a great example of sportsmanship and one of the great things about sports.

Sports and games allow us to test ourselves.

We test our physical abilities and our mental stamina.

But we also test our integrity and honor.

It may seem like a little thing to practice integrity in a game or sport, but it is a building block.

As we practice integrity in small things it becomes easier to do so in the more important moments of life.

Play more games. Play them with integrity.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. – Oscar Wilde

Goal for the week – be the first half of this quote.

Events and meetings are more fun whenever the goal is to make the others in the room happy.

If we can somehow find a way to align ourselves with the goal of making those around us smile, we will find ourselves smiling more often.

Look at your calendar for the week. Look for a time or meeting or event that needs a little pick me up. Then make it a point to bring it to that meeting.

Make it a great day.

Jake