"Without momentum, even the smallest obstacle can prevent you from moving forward. But with it you can plow through anything." – John Maxwell

In the article where John Maxwell talks about momentum, he uses the example of a train. When just getting started, a train can actually be stopped by a one inch block on the track. When moving at full speed, a train will smash through almost anything.

Think about the areas in your life where you are struggling to get started. Maybe you just need to remove the small obstacle to get going.

Focus on a really small, really short term goal.

Once you do that, pick another one.

Keep up this process until you have some momentum. And then you will be unstoppable.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The only way to have a friend is to be one. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote is a great reminder of a simple truth of relationships – they are reciprocal.

In order to have a great relationship of any kind, the best thing we can do is to focus on our part.

By improving ourselves, disciplining ourselves, and create a better version of ourselves we can become better friends, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers or whatever role we play in the important relationships of our lives.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/mk48xRzuNvA

My favorite lines from this one are all the “you could be a …….”

If you could fill in the blank at the end of that, what would you put in there?

What do you want to be?

We all have the miracle inside us that allows us to become whatever we can picture for ourselves.

We just need to get started, never quit and enjoy the journey.

Make it a great day.

Jake

To love is to act. – Victor Hugo

We frequently hear and extol the virtues of love. There are so many good things that come from love.

I liked this quote because it pull all of those virtues and benefits into perspective.

To love is to act.

It is not to think or to feel. It is in action that love is activated and can work magic.

It is through action that love can change the world.

It is through action that love can change us.

Take action today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius

I saw this quote and thought it was a great time of year to send it out.

As we all think about new goals and stretching ourselves further, we typically fall short at some point or don’t make the progress we wanted as quickly as we would have liked.

The important part is to stick with it.

Focus on the progress you are making, enjoy the journey along the way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – You are The Special.

EB* – People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. – Isaac Asimov

JW -Any day that you can stay home and play Legos all day is a good day. – Ethan Warmbir

MS – Prudence means practical common sense. Taking the trouble to think about what you are doing and what is likely to come of it. – CS Lewis

BAD – Form your purpose by asking for council, then carry it out using all the help you can get. – Proverbs 20:18

BethAnne’s sharing of a Proverb from the Bible is a great example of what I have seen consistently from her (and Mike, too) over time.

She consistently has some wise words to share from this portion of the Bible.

The lesson I have learned from her is that “seek and you shall find” is actually true. She purposefully sits down and reads (and rereads) the Proverbs.

Because of this she has a lot of wisdom to share with our leadership team and is wise beyond her years.

I share this story not to convince everyone how cool BethAnne is. I share it to show that if you go out looking for wisdom, you will find it.

If you go out looking for positive and uplifting, you will find it.

If you go out looking for hope and love, you will find them.

What are you out looking for?

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther King Jr.

One of the persistent themes that flows throughout speeches and quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. was that of service.

He seemed to understand that service to others was part of the path to prosperity that he and the people he led were seeking.

Think about the situation though.

They were persecuted, belittled, beaten and mistreated in every way possible. It would have been difficult to live in that environment and have your thoughts be focused on serving others.

But he knew that love and service would win out. He knew that the only way to rise above it all was to be better than their oppressors.

As we think about Martin Luther King Jr. let’s remember to focus on service to others regardless of our current circumstances. It is the sure path to victory and happiness in the long run.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The Birthday Book by Dr. Seuss is one of my favorites.

In it, Dr. Seuss takes us through a special birthday day, Dr. Seuss style. He describes a special day as only Dr. Seuss can.

Along the way, in typical Dr. Seuss style, he weaves in an important message: your birthday is special because you are special.

Today is Meaghan’s birthday. Today I am reminded of all the things that are special about her.

But instead of embarrassing her with a long list of all that is special about Meaghan (she is pretty great though), I wanted to remind everyone that you are special.

Dr. Seuss says “no one is youer than you”.

And our birthdays are a great day to remember that truth.

Happy Birthday, Meaghan. No one is youer than you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/bW0PLT120yY

In “The Greatest Miracle in the World” Og Mandino proclaims that the greatest miracle in the world is……YOU.

You are uniquely gifted.

You were uniquely made.

As Dr. Seuss says, “No is youer than you”.

We are all uniquely equipped to be of service to others.

Embrace the miracle that Is you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Stewardship is one of the Mavidea values.

It’s one of those concepts that is not the easiest to nail down.

An example of stewardship that I think of frequently is the lotto winner.

I have seen statistics about how money lotto winners lose all the money or end up really unhappy.

And I think it begins with stewardship.

If the lotto winner wasn’t already a good steward of their money, it all goes away, just like their money did before they won the lottery. Winning changed their circumstance, but it doesn’t automatically change the person.

Winning the lottery doesn’t create a millionaire, being a good steward of money does.

This is why stewardship is so important. We must learn to be good stewards when the amounts are small.

Whether it is our money, our time or our relationships, we must manage what we have now well if we wish to have and be more.

Challenge yourself. Think of a resource that you steward. Pick something small.

Now think of something you could do to steward that resource more wisely.

Do it. Start now.

Make it a great day.

Jake