Stress is a choice.

Below is an excerpt from a book titled “Stress is a Choice.”

What a powerful concept. We have chosen our current level of stress. And we can choose a life of less stress.

Any time you experience stress today ask yourself why. Think about what choices you have made that led to that moment.

And if you need to, make a change. Begin the process of stress removal.

Make it a great day.

Jake

An excerpt from

Stress is a Choice

by David Zerfoss

Several years ago while listening to my pastor give a Sunday sermon, he spoke about how life is made up of a series of choices. It made me realize that my hectic professional and personal life was of my choosing. Therefore, a life of stress had become my choice.

Many of us hurry through life going from one place to the next, focused on conquering the next mountain, making the next deal, running the next errand, and believing we will never have enough time to do all the things we need to get done. Yet, there is all the time in the world if we just realize that we are the creators of this life we choose to live. That’s right. Life is a series of choices and being free from stress is one of those choices.

Whether your business life is overly complicated or your personal life (or both), you have chosen this current system of chaos. The world is a tantalizing swirl of getting the next "fix," tempting us to fit more and more things, people and processes into our lives, personally and professionally. And because we are so busy being busy, it’s easy to be lured into the fray, with our lengthy to-do lists. Yet, the greatest achievements have often come from the simplest of ideas and in the simplest forms.

To experience a simplified life, we first have to learn to slow down long enough to see through all the clutter. We need to realize that we are powerful magnets that attracted this life to ourselves—no matter what—good or bad.

After you read through the 10 Rules to Simplify Your Life, my wish for you is that you commit to simplify and enroll others for support. Take out a blank sheet of paper and create the life you truly want to live—with less stress and complexity—one that is anchored by a clear sense of your unique and simple purpose.

JD – I am doing a great work and cannot come down. – Nehemiah 6:3

JW – The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret. – Sara Bombell

JM – Star Wars episode 7 in 2015.

JS – Make your 2013 a fantastic year.

EB* – Yesterday ended last night. Today is a brand new day and it’s yours. – Zig Ziglar

KJ – Marketing is not a campaign. It’s a commitment.

On a podcast I am listening to he was telling the story of the bible verse above.

Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem and was constantly asked to come down to work on other things.

His answer was always the same “I am doing great work and cannot come down.”

The point of the story is that he didn’t allow any distractions from his goal. He knew that rebuilding the wall would be a symbol to the people and lead to bigger and better things and that is should be his priority.

As you look at your goals and resolutions for this year, think about what/which one should be your priority.

Some things in life are worth focusing on to the exclusion of others.

Figure out what your great work is for this year and don’t lose focus on it.

Be tenacious in pursuing it.

Don’t let anything distract you.

Make it a great weekend.

Jake

http://youtu.be/MMR5JVo21wQ

We watched this movie on New Years Eve and I thought this song was kind of appropriate for the new year.

Moving right along. Time and life keeps moving right along.

The calendar made it’s official change over into a new year on Tuesday.

We all got a fresh start and a chance to move on to something bigger and better.

Let’s capitalize on this opportunity.

Make it a great day.

Jake

For most of you, this will most likely be your favorite song from that movie:

http://youtu.be/jSFLZ-MzIhM

Complacency is the last hurdle standing between any team and its potential greatness. – Pat Riley

Complacency – self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

As we turn over the calendars and begin to face a new year, we must all own up to this. Are we being complacent in certain areas of our life?

Are you being complacent with your finances and letting things continue the way they are?

Are you being complacent about your weight and ignoring the signs that it is time for a change?

Are you being complacent in general, avoiding change and growth?

The new year is such a great time to break through some of those mental barriers while you have the natural push that comes with the start of a new year.

And at Mavidea, breaking through areas of complacency will be part of the process of moving our company from good to great. We need to look for them, root them out and get rid of all areas of complacency.

Make it a great day.

Jake

2013 is almost here. Time for new resolutions, goals, and dreams. We can wipe the slate clean and focus on the new year.

Have you ever achieved a goal, but not felt fulfilled? I think goals are great, but without passion and purpose behind them, they can often lead to disappointment.

“If I could just make more money this year, I will be happy”

“If I could just get that new house this year, I will be happy”

“If I could just get that promotion this year, I will be happy”

“If I can just lose 20 pounds this year, I will be happy”

There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these goals, but there needs to be passion and purpose behind them.

Before you list your goals and resolutions for 2013, do you have your “why?”

For example, Why do you want to make more money? To better provide for your family? To take your wife on a special anniversary trip? To save for your kid’s college?

The same is true for losing weight. Why? To feel better? To run a 5k? To be healthier for your kids?

Everyone has their own unique why. We can always figure out the what and how as we determine our goals, but don’t forget the why. The why is the magic.

If you haven’t watched Simon Sinek’s TED talk on the golden circle, I would recommend watching it. If you have already seen it, watch it againJ

All the best in 2013.

Brent Kelly, CIC

Clemens & Associates, Inc.

2806 E. Empire St.

Bloomington, IL 61704

Check out my blog, "The Insurance Coach" and "The Insurance Professional"

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Linkedin.

ph-309-662-2100

fax-309-665-4157

www.brentkelly.net

www.clemensinsurance.com

(Wow—the responsibility of picking the final Toe Tapper of the year is intense!)

The new year is upon us. As always, it seems to have come so much more quickly than its predecessors.

We work hard, we play hard, but we forget that we need to rest hard, too. This year, think about putting some time into your weekly schedule when you can unplug, sit on your front porch, and watch the clouds roll by (either literally or figuratively). You’ll be amazed at what you begin seeing when you actually take the time to observe.

Happy New Year!

Peace,

Jeff

When I volunteered to fill in for Jake, I expected that it would be easy to have an inspiring message on the day after Christmas.

Of course, I can comment about being lucky to have a healthy family, or lucky to be surrounded by people who love and care about me.
I could tell a story about the laughing that ensued while playing xbox with my three sons until my fingers were sore.
I could touch on my appreciation for our military. It would be easy to reflect on how safe and cozy my Christmas was; knowing that the wish of nearly every deployed person was just to be home.

As soon as those ideas entered my head, they were scrapped…. Too cliché, I need something good.

So I thought about the three people who are my heroes.
I’d tell a story about how Mickey Mantle had me in tears as I watched a man dying from alcohol-induced liver damage say “This is a role model. Don’t be like me”.
Or maybe share a story about Robin Yount and consistently playing at a high level. I’d use my favorite Robin Yount statistic… When timed by an Oakland scout for over a dozen years, Yount’s fastest time from home plate to first base was 4.1 seconds. His slowest was 4.2.
It would be easy to write a couple paragraphs about why Jackie Robinson was my single greatest hero. His courage still makes me shake my head.

But before I started writing, I remembered… Why would Jake’s followers be interested in my heroes?

Instead, I’ve decided to take the lazy route.
As I’ve come across a noteworthy quote in the past year, I’ve started saving them in one place. Here is my list, maybe one of these items will inspire you like they do me. Have a great day.
Brian

“There are two kinds of pains in life. The pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Take your pick.”

– Coach Don Meyer

“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.”

– J.C. Watts

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

– Diana Spencer

“Complacency is the last hurdle standing between any team and its potential greatness.”

– Pat Riley

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

– Albert Schweitzer

“Character isn’t inherited. One builds it daily by the way one thinks and acts, thought by thought, action by action.”

– Helen Gahagan Douglas

“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.”

– George S. Patton,

US Army General

“I learned that if you want to make it bad enough, no matter how bad it is, you can make it.”

– Gale Sayers

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

– Lou Holtz

Brian O’Shaughnessy
CEO
ITConnexx, Inc.
205 Doty St.
Suite 102
Green Bay, WI 54301
(800) 797-0345 ext. 11

Website – http://www.itconnexx.com
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/oshaughnessyb Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/boshaughnessy Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/itconnexx

JD – I would rather be ashes than dust. I would rather that my spark would burn out in a brilliant blaze than be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in a magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. – Jack London

KJ – Merry Christmas.

JS – Ditto.

JW – Clear your mind of can’t. Samuel Johnson

JM – Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not, or that you feel this is a good morning, or that is a morning to be good on? – Gandalf the Grey

EB – Khaaan!

I have still been reading “Enthusiasm Makes the Difference” at home and came across the above quote from Jack London.

What a great way to paint the picture of the difference enthusiasm can make.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

PS. – I still need a volunteer to send out the Friday Morning Toe Tapper and/or The Phrase That Pays next Friday.

http://youtu.be/zmcSfVeDKww

Last’s nights snow inspired me to start today off with this one.

Merry Christmas.

Jake