http://youtu.be/zmcSfVeDKww

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

Merry Christmas.

Jake

Behind every small business, there’s a story worth knowing. All the corner shops in our towns and cities, the restaurants, cleaners, gyms, hair salons, hardware stores – these didn’t come out of nowhere. – Paul Ryan

For those of you who don’t know, last night Mavidea hosted the McLean County Chamber of Commerce after hours.

Thank you to everyone who made this event a great success. We have an unbelievable team.

Part of the plan for the night was to send everyone around to different stations so that elves (Mavideans) could tell the story of how we helped a particular customer grow.

Having such a great event reminded me that we have a pretty special story too.

As another year comes to a close I have tried to make a few quick moments the last couple days to remind myself of just how blessed we are and how much we have accomplished this year.

We grew the team and our client base significantly.

We made significant progress on understanding the process for becoming the organization we want to be in the future.

It has been a great privilege to come alongside all of you on this journey.

And the best is yet to come.

Next year will bring more of the same.

More clients to serve, more Mavideans to add to the team, and a better company to work for and with.

I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds, thank you for being a part of it.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

PS – Still need volunteers to send out Daily Attitude Emails next week while I am out.

Behind every small business, there’s a story worth knowing. All the corner shops in our towns and cities, the restaurants, cleaners, gyms, hair salons, hardware stores – these didn’t come out of nowhere. – Paul Ryan

For those of you who don’t know, last night Mavidea hosted the McLean County Chamber of Commerce after hours.

Thank you to everyone who made this event a great success. We have an unbelievable team.

Part of the plan for the night was to send everyone around to different stations so that elves (Mavideans) could tell the story of how we helped a particular customer grow.

Having such a great event reminded me that we have a pretty special story too.

As another year comes to a close I have tried to make a few quick moments the last couple days to remind myself of just how blessed we are and how much we have accomplished this year.

We grew the team and our client base significantly.

We made significant progress on understanding the process for becoming the organization we want to be in the future.

It has been a great privilege to come alongside all of you on this journey.

And the best is yet to come.

Next year will bring more of the same.

More clients to serve, more Mavideans to add to the team, and a better company to work for and with.

I can’t wait to see how this story unfolds, thank you for being a part of it.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

PS – Still need volunteers to send out Daily Attitude Emails next week while I am out.

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” – Dwight Eisenhower

Here at Mavidea (and a lot of other places) the end of the year is planning time.

The planning process isn’t an easy one and it takes quite a bit of time.

And then, by the end of the first quarter, some important part of the plan has been altered in a major way.

In the end, it is all about the process. It is about stepping back, deciding what is important and clarifying what you plan to do.

The end of the year is a great time to do this personally as well.

Sit down over the holidays and sketch out a plan for 2013.

Decide what is important.

Decide what you are going to do.

Decide what you are not going to do.

And then write it down somewhere and revisit it over the course of the year.

(Don’t forget to get your spouse involved if you are married.)

Merry Christmas.

Jake

PS – Looking for volunteers to send out the daily attitude email next week on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and again on the 31st. Just send me a note with what day you would like to send. Thanks in advance.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. – Norman Vincent Peale

Officially one week to Christmas and counting.

Things really are more beautiful and softer this time of year. Everyone has their decorations up and people are beginning to wear warmer clothing to fend off the cold.

My sincere wish for everyone this Christmas is a few moments of peace and quiet to enjoy it.

Schedules are usually hectic this time of year and it is easy to miss out on the beauty and softness of it all.

Steal away for a moment (if only in your mind) and step back to take in the sights and sounds of Christmas. Capture that in your memory.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

I am struck by something that seems to be ever-present and never-ending wherever and whenever the human race is faced with tragedy. I think it can be summed up in a single, simple phrase… ‘Hope springs eternal.’ — Jim Rohn

As I thought about what to write in the wake of the tragedy in CT, I kept coming back to an email I sent earlier explaining my 51% rule.

I have included the email below.

Even in the wake of such a horrible tragedy, good is still winning. We must never forget that.

Make it a great day.

Jake

This week I am going to write about some “Jakeisms” that I try to use to keep a positive attitude.

The first one is one that I think about a lot but probably haven’t said to all of you.

I call it the 51% Rule. It is one my core beliefs that at any given point in time the world is more good than bad (51%).

For every person that cuts you off in traffic and flips you the bird, there are 10 jamming out to their favorite song, signing loud and smiling from ear to ear.

For every malnourished and under appreciated child, there are thousands whose parents love them more than anything in the world.

For every company that is ripping off customers or treating employees badly, there are thousands of Mavidea’s making a positive impact in their community every day.

For every abused or belittled child, there are thousands of dads and moms squeezing their little one a little tighter today, tucking them in at night and signing one extra song before bed.

For every rape or murder, there are thousands of policemen, firefighters and soldiers giving their lives to protect others.

For every Adolf Hitler, there are millions of Allied troops who left their loved ones at home and bravely fought against evil to ensure the freedom of all.

When I think of anything bad that has or will happen, I think of the 51% rule and how AT THE VERY LEAST the world is more good than bad and that I need to focus on the good.

The best part of the 51% rule….good has already won. All we have to do is determine the margin of victory. No pressure, no need to be perfect, just try and run up the score.

So, as you are going about your day today, think of something good to do for someone else and chalk up another win for the good guys.

Jake

EB Politics is when people choose their words and actions based on how they want others to react rather than based on what they really think. Patrick Lencioni

JW – Push harder, you won’t die. And if you do? Who cares, you’ll be dead.

JM – In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit. JRR Tolkien

JS Twas the twelve days of Christmas.now it is only eleven.

KJ* – ‎Walk away from the 97% crowd. Don’t use their excuses. Take charge of your own life. — Jim Rohn

JD Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the problem. Jim Rohn

http://youtu.be/9Fjik78LapA

All I have to say is wow.

Merry Christmas.

Jake

"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I sent this quote out earlier but searched it out again as I thought about today’s daily attitude email.

I am just beginning the third of Norman Vincent Peale’s books in the collection I am reading.

The title says a lot "Enthusiasm Make the Difference."

I am learned many lessons from my children but this has to be one of the biggest ones – enthusiasm makes the difference.

Our two girls have been gifted with abounding enthusiasm. (Must have got it from their mom.)

Observing them and their enthusiasm has shown me just how great life can be when filled with enthusiasm.

If we could all find a way to infuse enthusiasm into our day our lives would be so much better.

Take a minute to think about your level of enthusiasm today.

How do you start the day?

How do you approach the next phone call, task or meeting?

How about breakfast, lunch and dinner times?

How about your exercise program?

How about that book that you are reading?

Look for you enthusiasm for these things and focus on it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

It is feeling a lot more wintery lately and I have been thinking about Jim Rohn’s talk about the seasons.

Below is the email I sent about his explanation on winter.

The thought that pops into my head all the time is “get stronger, get wiser, get better.”

Make it a great (winter) day.

Jake