Resending this email from a few years ago…

This video is one I think about a lot. I know it is a little longer than usual, but it is worth watching.

https://youtu.be/pyHMRwrS1pc

This video is Les Brown’s story of getting into the radio business. Through telling this story, Les make’s one of my favorite points. “You’ve got to be hungry” is something that goes through my head at least a couple of times a week.

Think about your life and what you really want to accomplish. Are you hungry to accomplish your goals? Do you take no for answer? Would you work at a job for no pay just to get to your long term goal?

Want to make more money this year…..You’ve Got to Be Hungry!

Want to become a better father/spouse/friend……You’ve Got to Be Hungry!

Want to learn more…..You’ve Got to Be Hungry!

Want to lose weight…..You’ve Got to Be Hungry! (Sorry about the bad pun on that one, couldn’t resist).

When you are needing a little pick me up, just think of Les’s booming voice in your head.

Want to just watch TV instead of picking up a book? Hear Les….You’ve Got to Be Hungry!

Want to eat a bowl of ice cream before bed? Les booms…..You’ve Got to Be Hungry!

Want to take it easy today instead of giving your best? Focus on his voice….You’ve Got to Be Hungry!

Think about your goals and what you are hungry to accomplish. Get started on them today. If you are hungry, then it can’t wait until tomorrow.

Jake

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The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more. – Kin Hubbard

This reminds me of two sayings that often go through my mind –

Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.

A gentleman never takes an advantage.

We must actively work to curb our appetites. To work against our natural tendencies toward greed and gluttony.

Not in a “rich people and business are bad” kind of way, but in a way that allows us to minimize the distractions from life’s more important elements.

The opportunity to have and be more is an opportunity to give and serve more, not a chance to consume everything in an endless chase of temporary pleasures.

I’ve had the good fortune to have had generous and kind parents who (despite my best efforts) instilled some of these same values into me. We’ve worked to consistently tithe as a family and the lesson I’ve learned from doing so is that we are better off for having given away those tithes.

Our lives are better when we give and serve more.

Find a way to give today. Not out of guilt or shame, but from a desire to honor our role in this world.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Bonus point/reminder – it’s not about you (or me)! It’s about others. Every single time.

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https://youtu.be/QUQsqBqxoR4?si=RRX9uMB2uUUWiDzu

Be brave and speak your truth.

Something society seems to have embraced more than ever.

In response to a time when it was expected that differing views be kept to ourselves and not voiced the norm now seems to have shifted the other way.

Now that I’m old I’m hoping that we can find a way to hold on to the openness and acceptance of today while adding in some of the accountability and responsibility that seems to be missing.

It’s ok to speak your mind and share without fear of retribution. Unless you are a big giant jerk, then there should probably be some accountability.

It’s ok to make choices in your life that other’s might not agree with. As long as you take responsibility for the results and don’t place the burden on your neighbor.

It’s ok to disagree strongly with others and even work to convince them there is a better alternative. As long as you actually love them and want the best for them.

My sincere hope is that we’ll find a way to bring the best of the past with us as we embrace all the new possibilities that change and growth present.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

So much of our experience is born out of our perspective and attitudes.

Two people can look at the same sunset but have a different experience.

Resetting our perspectives to create more joy and happiness is a lifelong pursuit.

Where might a resetting of perspective serve you well?

Do you struggle with contentment and need to change that perspective?

Do you struggle with selfishness and need to change that perspective?

Do you struggle with….?

We can change our perspective by experiencing new things and being thoughtful about the world around us.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Something to get you started….switch from thinking of things happening to you and start thinking of things happening for you.

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Annie turns 15 today! It really feels like we now have another young woman in the house.

Annie is the middle child in the Davis family, so she gets all the good and all the bad parenting.

I’ve told her from the beginning that she has a special role in the family – she’s the only one that gets to be a little sister AND a big sister.

I’m sure there are times when that perspective isn’t her favorite and it’s easy to get frustrated about being stuck in the middle.

But for the most part, I think she’s doing pretty well at it.

One more life lesson courtesy of Annie.

If you stick with it – you can get better at something.

When Annie started playing the flute…not so great….

Now, real music comes from her room all the time. I’m sure there is some talent in there but it’s mostly been her sticking with it. Playing it again and again until music came out.

So many times in life I’ve given up on something during the part where I’m not so great at it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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The present time has one advantage over every other – it is our own. – Charles Caleb Colton

I like the corny saying of – the present is a gift.

To this quote I might add – it is our own to steward.

I like the idea of stewardship when we think about the time of our lives.

Our lives aren’t ours to be hoarded and turned into comforting and selfish experiences.

It’s meant to be managed and spent in service to others with love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love. – Reinhold Niebuhr

Reminder to start the week off right.

We’re in this together.

Working as a team is the best way to accomplish anything worthwhile.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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https://youtu.be/sIaT8Jl2zpI?si=xQ3OC_GhpuYhrIMl

This was on the radio on the way to church on Sunday.

I’ve always liked the message on this one.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. – Leo Buscaglia

Life goal – worry less!

You should try it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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We have all the light we need, we just need to put it in practice. – Albert Pike

Much of what we want to change or do or be in life is actually relatively straightforward.

Want to lose weight? Eat less and exercise.

Want to be build wealth? Invest your money and spend what’s left.

Want to be fit? Move your body.

Want to be wise? Spend time learning from wise people.

Easy, right?

Not easy for most of us though.

For me, the trouble comes on two fronts.

First – I let myself get distracted by all the little distractions. I let the sands of the hourglass slip through while I do the less important things and ignore the most important.

Second – I talk myself into making more complicated. A workout program needs to be devised. A complicated savings plan put in place. An extreme diet change is required. Before I know it, another week, month, year has gone by with little to no progress.

Probably time to give up….

OR….I could pick something simple and get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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