Organization removes obstacles.

Listening to the podcast about the lady who lost her sight and this point from her really struck me.

She explained how she realized this after being blind. Everything having (and being in) its place becomes very important when you can’t see while you are walking around the house.

If it wasn’t, you would spend all your time carefully bumping into things and adjusting back to where you were trying to go.

I think this is how our brains work with all the clutter, stuff and to dos that are unorganized in our lives.

Without a place for everything and everything in its place we stumble from thing to thing, never picking up the head of steam we need to break through those barriers in our lives.

Is there an area of your life where more organization could make the difference?

All the stuff of life getting in the way of your life?

Email running your day for you?

Is today the day you are going to start the change that gets you over the hump?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches is a favorite of ours.

The story is about two different kinds of Sneetches. One with stars on their bellies and sneetches with none upon thars.

They are bamboozled (don’t get to break that one out much) into getting stars added and removed from their stomachs in a race to see which kind of Sneetches are the best.

Like all my favorite Dr. Seuss books, this story illustrates an important life lesson while being silly and whimsical (bamboozled and whimsical in the same email, wow).

At first blush, I thought the lesson was about not looking down on others because they are different than you.

And while I think that lesson can be gathered from this story, there is a potentially more important one.

Don’t let someone else tell you that because you don’t have a “star” that you are anything less.

The really sad part of the story was that each group in turn accepted the other group’s labeling of them as “less than” or some version of that.

When we accept those thoughts and labels that others place on us we actually do become “less than” we are capable of being.

I think Thomas Jefferson said it best:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Remember today to not accept the limitations any else places on you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

For those of you fellow Dr. Seuss lovers, here is the full Sneetches video from YouTuber:

http://youtu.be/v3yJomUhs0g

Below is a short article I came across about intake and output.

I thought it was very insightful and wanted to share with the group.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Yesterday was mother’s day, and I was reminded once again how lucky I am to have such great mothers in my life.

In doing some reading on legacy once I came across the letter below that someone had written his mother.

It served as a great reminder of the legacy my mother has given me and the legacy my wife is giving our children.

If you haven’t already, thank the mothers in your life for the legacy they are passing on.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A Letter to My Mom on Her 80th Birthday

Obviously, I could talk today about the many different areas my mom has excelled in over the years and

made a positive difference in other people’s lives. Whether it’s been through her ministry, her catering

business, her creative touch or her friendships, she has exemplified the principle of being faithful despite

what you have and letting God promote you. Consistently, it seems her gift has always made room for

itself and propelled her into a big place.

But more important to me than any of that is the legacy she has been able to leave me and my family.

Almost on a daily basis I’m reminded of how blessed I am and have been. I have a wonderful wife and

two wonderful kids. We are all healthy and blessed. I have really never known tragedy in my life. I live in

America and am blessed by all the freedom and richness that it represents. I drive on roads I didn’t build,

have daily conveniences I never invented and enjoy freedoms for which I was never asked to fight. And

as incredible as that is to me, equally as important, I was given an upbringing by my parents that has

made me very blessed indeed.

First and foremost, I was given the gift of faith. I was raised in a house and environment where my

parents in both word and deed made sure God was first in our home. I always had an example of my

mom giving her time to the church and love toward its people—from the perceived least to the greatest,

she always was an example of giving to her faith.

I was given the gift of respecting other people. I don’t recall my parents ever exemplifying or showing

prejudice toward others. I know they grew up in a different generation where prejudice was more

common, but that was not something I ever saw.

I was given the gift of a strong work ethic. Laziness was never part of the scenery in my childhood. My

mom worked two jobs: her day job at the bank and her night and weekend job raising four kids. Only a

parent with kids can fully appreciate the sacrifice and persistence that required.

I was given the gift of persistence and ingenuity. My mom has always found a way to just get it done, and

usually in her own way and with her own style. She’s never been a clone. Her persistence, creativeness and

ingenuity have always been a great example to me of life’s infinite possibilities.

And I was given the gift of love. I’ve met people who have not felt loved by God or loveable by man. I

can honestly say that I have always known I’m loved by God and have never once doubted my parents’

love for me. Our home was a safe environment to be who you are and to be accepted as you are.

Mother, beyond just my love and appreciation for you, I want to thank you again today, on your 80th

birthday, for your gifts and legacy to me.

Your son,

Kyle

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

JM – I find your lack of faith disturbing. – D.V.

EB* – Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

JW – The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. — Robert Frost

Since EB was out today, I got to go out and search for a quote for him.

This quote from Emerson struck me.

Every day is the best day of the year. Every day is your birthday, Christmas, your anniversary, the day you found $5 dollars; all wrapped up in one.

What a great and positive way to look at a day.

Sure made me smile a little wider.

Make it a great end of the week and weekend.

Jake

http://youtu.be/Slpz0D35oRI

The Lorax is one of the favorite Dr. Seuss stories at our house.

My favorite quote from it is:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

What a great reminder that we do, in fact, make a difference.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“There is a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” – Kenneth Blanchard

As you think about that smaller goal you are focusing on this week, you may be at the point of seeing if you are really committed or just interested.

A consistent theme around goal achievement and success is discipline.

At some point we have to accept no excuses, only results.

Not feeling it today, do it anyway.

Didn’t get enough sleep last night, do it anyway.

All your friends aren’t doing it that way, do it anyway.

Are you really committed to your goal?

You don’t get to answer that question, the results will answer it for you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal. – Henry Ford

Sticking with the theme of trying to help everyone accomplish that small win they are looking for this week, today’s quote talks about something that comes up with nearly 100% of all goal achievement: obstacles.

We are all going to be presented with obstacles and excuses.

We will all the opportunity to quit or give up.

But keeps your eyes on the prize.

Don’t let the obstacles and excuses distract you this week.

Let your creative juices flow and figure out a way around them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

If you chase after two rabbits, both will get away. – Proverb

Yesterday, I hopefully got you thinking a little bit about some small way to get started towards a goal of yours.

Today, I am hoping to help you keep your focus on it.

As the Proverb above illustrates, it is by dividing our attention that we lower our chances of successfully accomplishing our goals.

This week, intently focus on meeting that short term, small objective you thought of yesterday.

Don’t let anything get in your way.

Sign out of FaceBox and Pinetrust.

Unplug the TV.

Put down that comic book.

(Unless these were part of your goal.)

All of life’s little distractions will still be there after you meet your goal (they might actually end up being less attractive).

What is distracting you from getting that quick win?

Make it a great day.

Jake

You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. – Zig Ziglar

I thought I would start this week off with something to hopefully get you started.

One of the best ways to get started is with something (seemingly) small.

A phrase that has been stuck in my head lately is “I have everything I need in order to succeed.” And starting small is a great way to realize this. You don’t have to wait for that big raise, that big move or some other major life event.

Starting small also gives you a chance to build your willpower and discipline muscles. If you were lifting weights, you wouldn’t start by loading up the bar with every weight in the place.

So, what’s your small start for the week?

Reading 50 pages?

Exercising for 30 minutes?

Putting that first $10 in your “I’m super rich” gar?

Eating a salad for lunch?

Whatever it might be for you, pick something small and get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake