People who think you are weak will offer you an excuse. People who think you are strong will offer you a challenge. – Eric Greitens

I have been listening to an audiobook about resilience and the above quote stuck out.

How many times do we let ourselves and those around us off with an excuse?

We buy into their mindset or they buy into our mindset of being weak. Of maybe it was a little too hard.

A lot of times we do this because we think it is the kind thing to do. We think it might be a little harsh to hold them to a higher standard and let them know they fell short of that higher standard.

The kinder way is actually to do just that.

To expect more from ourselves and others and to let them know when they have failed. Not that they are a failure, but that they have failed.

Two things to think about:

Where am I letting myself off the hook with excuses and building into the myth that I am weak?

Is there someone in my life that is offering me a challenge?

Make it a great day.

Jake

"You should never be proud of doing what’s right. You should just do what’s right." – Dean Smith, former University of North Carolina basketball coach

A long time ago I read a biography of Dean Smith. What has stuck with me from that book was that he had a few simple rules and stuck with them.

It seems to me that part of his success was built by having unwavering discipline on certain things but flexibility in others.

Think about your own life and what is most important.

Maybe you make a rule limiting the amount of work hours each week so you can spend more time with your family.

Maybe you make a rule around physical activity or diet.

Maybe you make a rule to never let a month go by without doing a budget.

Whatever your rules, stick with them. Pick just a few, but don’t let them slide.

If you are having a really hard time with discipline, pick just one. Make just one simple rule and stick to it. Just for a day to start. Then for two, then for a week. Just get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD* – Bust my knuckles in a junk yard scuffle…rhythm adversaries with a brass belt buckle – Sir mix a lot

EB – 30 days…wait…30 days, holy bologna!?!?!? – ErikB.

JW – The best armor is staying out of gun-shot. -Italian proverb

MS – Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one. -C.S. Lewis

BAD – It is easy to work when the soul is at play – Emily Dickinson

I really like the simple proverbs like the one that JW shared.

Just think about the piercing questions for our own lives.

Where are we getting “hit” that we need to stay out of gun shot? What temptations are we getting to close to?

And the opposite side is true.

If you want to get “hit” by something, how close are you getting to it? Are you hanging around others and environments rich with that which you desire?

Make it a great day.

Jake

I was in an interview the other day and the candidate asked me a somewhat typical question “What do you guys do to make sure you have such a great culture?”

I explained to him some of the structural things we do (Culture Club, meeting rhythms, themes, etc.), but after I got about halfway through that explanation I tried to think about it a little deeper and said something like “we just hire great people.”

The people here at what make it great.

As I reflected on this a little after the interview I had a thought.

Part of building a great life is making sure you have good people around you.

The quality of people you spend time with and the quantity of time you spend with them has a great influence on the person you become.

At Mavidea, we work hard to hire and grow the best people we can find.

What if you took the same approach in your life?

We all must be choosey about who we let in and around us.

Make it a great day.

Jake

What Is A Dad?

A dad is someone who

wants to catch you before you fall

but instead picks you up,

brushes you off,

and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who

wants to keep you from making mistakes

but instead lets you find your own way,

even though his heart breaks in silence

when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who

holds you when you cry,

scolds you when you break the rules,

shines with pride when you succeed,

and has faith in you even when you fail…

– Unknown

I found this short little bit about dad’s in my search of something to send out today for my dad’s birthday.

I have often wondered and thought about how it was that my dad had so much patience with me over the years. I imagine all the conversations and all of the dumb stuff I did and said (and still do and still say) that must have been hard to listen to without slapping me or something like that.

Now, with kids of my own, I can almost see it. But not completely. My kids are much better than I am sure I was.

So, Happy Birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything you have done and continue to do.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/u6zl5x8r9Bs

Each day we get choose our attitude and perspective.

We choose our “happy days”, one day at a time.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of the great things about writing this email every day is that I am forced to try and articulate my thoughts on some of the difficult areas of life.

Whether it be the balance between risk and reward or the balance between contentment and aspiration, the topics discussed are not easily defined and most days I’m not sure I understand what I am trying to write about.

But enough about the trials and tribulations of writing daily attitude emails, how is this applicable to others?

Forcing yourself to wade into and have the difficult philosophical discussions of life is an important part of understanding yourself and the world around you.

Stepping and leaning into the harder conversations is a big part of breaking through into deeper and stronger relationships with those around you.

Breaking old and established lines of thought by forcing them through the ringer of logic and language will also serve to grow us both in intelligence and maturity.

Are you having the difficult conversations?

Are you getting to the point of understanding those around you on a deeper level? Do they feel the same about you?

I know it can be hard, frustrating and maybe even make things worse for a short time, but it is worth it in the long run. One of the biggest benefits of having written these emails for so long is that others in my life have gotten insight into my thought processes.

I’m not suggesting you send out an email every day (only a crazy person would think they have something to say that often), but maybe some conversations could be had that aren’t happening right now. Maybe a meaningful email to someone on your team explaining your point of view would help bring closure to an outstanding issue.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today is little Oliver’s second birthday. Hard to believe our third child is already two.

There are so many thoughts and lessons little Oliver is teaching me that I could share, but one sticks out as I think about it.

Enthusiasm makes the difference.

Like his sisters, Oliver is full of enthusiasm.

Whether he is saying “Ay yike it” or “Ay love peas!”, he constantly is enthusiastic about whatever he and we have going on.

His enthusiasm is contagious. Many nights at dinner you can hear the rest of us repeating him and his excitement for whatever is going on.

Today, let’s all seek out some enthusiasm for whatever it is that we are doing. Whether it be eating peas or just spending time with our loved ones, let’s do it with enthusiasm.

Make it a great day.

Jake

BAD – What fills the eye fills the heart. – Irish Proverb

EB – Word. – Fresh Prince of Bel Air

JW – This is gonna take crackerjack timing, Wang. – Jack Burton

MS – [Faith] is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. -C.S. Lewis

JD – It’s easy to halve the potato where there’s love. – Irish Proverb

What fills your eye?

What a powerful and challenging question. Our eyes and what we see has such a powerful impact on us. One we likely don’t even understand completely.

What kinds of movies do you watch?

What kind of TV shows do you watch?

Magazines, books, etc.?

But this isn’t a guilt trip, it’s a reminder.

You control what gets put in front of you.

If you want different thoughts and actions moving forward, then maybe you could consider changing what fills your eyes.

There is so much wonder and beauty in the world, make it a point to take it in.

And spring time is a great time to get outside and take it in. Enjoy the change in colors and all the growth around us.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day is a great example of one of the best things about the Irish – their hospitality.

On St. Patrick’s Day, everyone gets to be Irish. Everyone can participate in celebrating their heritage.

Hospitality is so wonderful because it starts from being unselfish and thinking of others first.

Remember today to celebrate and show some Irish hospitality to those around you.

Make it a great day.

Jake