For some reason, this movie has been coming up a lot in conversation lately. I think the whole Lebron vs MJ thing is what has caused.
Who is the best ever?
A question to be debated for the ages.
What can you be the best ever at?
Being a dad or mom?
Being a husband or wife?
Being a son or daughter?
Find something you can be really good at. It doesn’t have to be something that pays millions or that makes you famous. Just something important enough to you for you to put in the work to get good at it.
Take it seriously. Make it your life’s work. Become great at it.
I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. – Winston Churchill
It takes humility to open yourself up to being taught.
In order to learn, our mind has to be open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
If you find you are stuck on something and can’t seem to start that new habit, kick that old habit or move into a higher gear; maybe that you are stuck on your own pride.
Maybe pride is stopping you from seeing that piece of information or person who can help you through.
Next step you feel stuck, look to see if your pride is in the way. Then move right past it and ask for help.
The Nicest Place on the Internet – what a great title. And then it is basically just a site of one person after another hugging their web cam.
This reminds of that saying “A baby is born with a need to be loved and never outgrows it”.
We all need a hug and a kind word.
We all need someone who says “I love you”.
We all need to feel loved.
But love and appreciation are not to be pursued, they are to be attracted.
If you want more of either, start by becoming a more lovable and worthy of appreciation. They will come when you are ready.
Interestingly, I think one of the best ones to become more lovable and worth of appreciation is by sincerely showing your love for and appreciation for others.
JW – I’d much rather go to my grave never needing my gun, than go there wishing I’d had it. – Phil Dalmolin
MS – You know how it is. – Wally Cleaver
EB – Hey, Jamie. Why don’t you go dry out? – Mike Somers/Wally Cleaver
The Davis kids have been watching “Leave It To Beaver” on Netflix lately and that is one of Mike’s favorites too so we have been trading some of the classic lines around the office.
Watching an old show like that, you are immediately struck by all the things that have changed AND the things that haven’t changed at all.
You notice the old clothes, cars, bikes, mannerisms, etc.
You notice the fathers and sons, husbands and wives all working through a lot of the same problems and challenges we face still today.
It’s a great reminder of those things that really last; those things that really matter.
Who cares about the clothes and cars and stuff, focus on the relationships and integrity and honor.
Sometimes it’s easier to see the big picture through the lens of time like this.
If you are struggling with something or an area of your life, maybe it’s a good time to find something old on the subject and read it.
Success is looking for a good place to stay. – Jim Rohn
The Jim Rohn video from yesterday lead me to another and this little phrase from the next one caught my ear.
Imagine if you will “Success” as a person (I imagine someone walking around with a big “S” on a plain t-shirt) just walking around looking for a good place to stay.
It wonders around all day and night, but most people are too busy, too self-centered, too worried and preoccupied to even notice.
It moves along until it finds a good place to stay. Until it finds a home where it is comfortable.
I imagine the dramatic movie version to go kind of like this:
They start with someone working hard on self-improvement – exercising, reading, budgeting, serving, etc. Nobody really notices.
All the while “Success” is wandering the streets, getting turned away at every door.
Then finally, “Success” bumps into the hero of our story. He/she lets “Success” in. “Success” gets comfortable (I imagine scenes with “Success” in the bathtub, on the couch, napping, etc.) and things start happening.
That idea our hero had starts to take off.
The kids and wife come along and flourish.
The money and responsibility come in, but our hero doesn’t buckle under the pressure.
Some of the hero’s friends and family come over and run away immediately when they see “Success” has moved in.
Some of the hero’s friends and family come over and are fascinated with “Success” and begin to ask questions about why “Success” hasn’t come to their house. Some learn and get the visit. Some don’t and don’t.
Yesterday was the first official day of summer. It reminded me of this email I had sent out previously:
Today’s email is the third in the Jim Rohn season series:
Somehow a part of me was wishing the summer one was some version of “goof off all day and take it easy”, but apparently that wasn’t in the Jim Rohn philosophy anywhere.
First, Jim says you need to learn how to nourish and protect your crops all summer. The noxious weeds and bugs will take it, if you don’t prevent it.
Jim goes on to talk about how there are two major things to know:
All good will be attacked
All values must be defended
Every garden must be tended all summer.
Here are just a few of the things in my life that I think of when I hear Jim talk about protecting the garden:
· My marriage. I need to be diligent about making sure I give my marriage the attention and respect it deserves. I have a wonderful marriage to an unbelievable woman and that deserves constant vigilance to make sure it stays that way.
· My kids. I need to be aware of what I am doing every day that will have long term impacts on the two little ones that are looking up to their dad every day.
· My relationship with God. I need to spend time daily studying the Bible and praying.
· Mavidea. We have an awesome culture and have the best place to work in the entire world. And we need to keep it that way. Anything less is unacceptable.
· My attitude. I need to make sure that I don’t associate with negative people. I need to guard my words and deeds carefully so that I am being positive and being the example that I would like to be for others.
Jim ends by saying “If you never develop this skill you will never end up with anything of value.” I think this is the part that drives the point home. If you can’t figure out how to tend to the gardens in your life, you will end up with nothing.
You may have a great relationship in the short term.
You may have money for short periods.
You may find happiness in short intervals.
But in order to have all of those things (and more) in the long run, you must learn to protect and nurture that which is valuable to you. You must spend time cultivating those things of value.
Take a minute to think about what is valuable in your life and whether or not you are doing a good job of gardening. If not, get to work.
Faith is allowing ourselves to be seized by the things we do not see. – Martin Luther
In “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill he talked a lot about faith. He told the stories of Edison, Ford and others like them to illustrate that these success stories were born through extreme faith. They all latched on to a vision of the future and never lost faith that it would come to be reality.
The quote above reminded me of this because of his use of the word seized.
Many of the great success stories could be written using that description.
Henry Ford was seized by the idea of creating an affordable car.
Thomas Edison was seized by the idea of creating a light bulb.
The question for each of us is: What has seized me?
Are we seized by worry, jealousy, and fear?
Or are we seized by prosperity, contentment and joy?
We do not have to invent the next light bulb to be able to have faith in a big idea that will seize us and lead us to success and happiness.
JW: Fall seven times. Stand up eight. – Japanese Proverb
MS*: I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. – e. e. cummings
JD: Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again. – L. Frank Baum
EB: Blue eyes say, love me or I die: black eyes say, love me or I kill thee. – Spanish Proverb
JR: There is no blue without yellow and without orange. – Vincent Van Gogh
We went with a “blue” theme today.
One of my favorite things about summer is the blue skies (I know they are there other times too).
Something so amazing about the seemingly endless space.
Don’t forget to get out and enjoy the blue skies this summer.
The Daily Attitude Email 