There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. Booker T. Washington

All of us possess strength in one way or another.

We must find ways to use this strength to pull others up.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Order and simplification are the first steps toward the mastery of a subject. – Thomas Mann

It seems to me that a lot of the brilliant minds of the past have mastered their respective field to such a level that they were able to organize it into ordered and simplified parts.

The chances of me mastering physics to the same degree as Einstein are pretty much zero.

But my (and your) possibilities for doing this in the major areas of life seems possible.

Not in a “figured it out for good” kind of way, but in a “I’m pretty sure I know what I should do today” kind of way.

Simplified and ordering our priorities in life can provide a much needed path towards better.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We aim above the mark to hit the mark. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last day of the first half of the year. Time to check in on those goals.

Where are you at?

Ahead of pace or behind the pace.

Time to adjust or to pour it on?

The key is spending the few minutes to honestly review where you are.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – How can I help?

https://youtu.be/5YgevxRGXIU?si=zpW2AzKp1ca-eeSB

Summer time. The days have been long and hot this week.

The weather is a great reminder of (at least) two things.

First – we are not in control. We don’t get to pick warm or cold, rainy or sunny.

Second – we get to choose our attitude. Is it too hot to do anything. Too rainy to go outside. Or is it a great day to go the pool or stay inside and read a book.

Make it a great day.

Jake

In Earl Nightingale’s “Direct Line” he explains how to increase our income.

He explains that other people are in possession of all the income we want, we must simply find a way to earn it.

After listening to this for the 10th+ time, a light bulb went off for me (I’m a little slow). The same rule applies to a lot of the other areas of life where we are looking for something that others have.

Whether it be love, friendship, knowledge, companionship, respect….we must earn it.

And like money, when we don’t first earn it, it doesn’t stay around long.

We have all heard the stories of the lottery winner or professional athlete that has lost their millions and now is filing bankruptcy.

The same is true elsewhere. If we want something of value, we must earn it. Otherwise it probably won’t be around for long.

Is there something in your life you have been looking for that you haven’t earned yet?

What step can you take today to start earning that which you desire?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas A. Edison

This sentiment runs throughout history. Stories of people who gave up when success was just around the corner. Times when everything seemed the darkest but the light was right around the corner.

It’s always darkest right before the dawn.

I’m guessing most of us having something like this in our lives right now.

We are starting an exercise regimen, but it just seems like too much time to keep going.

We have been saving and sticking to a budget but then a big expense comes up.

We have been working hard and making progress but then our biggest client leaves.

There are these points in life when we have to decide to bear down and make it through it. Success lies on the other side of these moments.

Take courage in this thought this morning. Success lies on the other side of whatever difficulty you are now facing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

People only see what they are prepared to see. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our perspective matters.

Most of us have a heightened awareness when it comes to the negative.

We’re quick to notice when things don’t go our way.

To notice the areas of life where we fall short.

Thank God that we are capable of reprogramming that kind of thinking.

Try it out today.

If you’re already good at it, take it up a notch.

Notice all the good around you.

Take note of the wonder all around you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A man is what he thinks about all day long. – Ralph Waldo Emerson    
Monday morning reminder – watch your thoughts.
Just because you think it – doesn’t mean it’s true.
We become what we think about. Fill your thoughts with good.
Make it a great day.
Jake

https://youtu.be/nJq7J2uzSlc?si=cARvO7SVKmp4u4AK

Annie has spent the last couple of week practicing and performing her flute in the local production of Guys and Dolls.

We’re often admonished on both sides for “rocking the boat”.

We’re encouraged to break from the status quo and change things up.

We’re encouraged to not change things that have always been and to stick with what works.

Life is full of choices like this. To rock the boat or not.

Andy Stanley suggests asking yourself “What would a wise man do?” in response to these situations.

Wisdom can be sought after and used to know when to change things up and when to stick with it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. – Lao Tzu

Reading this quote I imagined a meandering creek or river, lazily taking its time moving water from one place to another.

This week, work to hurry less.

Take a deep breath.

Relax your body.

Take the time to do it right the first time.

Make it a great day.

Jake