Life ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility will fertilize the soul. – Rebecca West

Our goals and direction need to be towards something of value – I like the word nobility here. They must be noble in purpose and value.

How might you add some nobility and purpose to your goals?

Getting healthy to be a good example and around longer for your kids is better than trying to look good in a swimsuit.

Managing your money well goes better when it’s wrapped up in responsibility and stewardship thoughts.

Client and sales goals have more meaning when done from a place of service and love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Monday morning reminder – half the year is almost over.

Time to revisit all those goals and plans for the year.

Check in and see how you are doing.

Are you halfway there?

How much weight have you lost so far?

How much money have you saved?

How many books have you read?

How many sales have you made?

How is the exercise program going?

How’s it going?

If you’re doing well, keep going.

If you’re falling behind, reassess and adjust.

If you haven’t started – should it be on your list in the first place? What would it take to get started by the end of today?

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

https://youtu.be/dTAAsCNK7RA

I’m not sure I really like the song, but the video was mesmerizing.

I’m always impressed with choregraphed creativity. That a group of people took the time to do the hard work to practice and get all the details just right.

What in your life are worth getting right?

What’s worth putting in the extra time and effort and care?

What are you currently putting the extra time, effort and care into?

Is that what you really want to spend your life on?

Make it a great day.

Jake

If you don’t think every day is a good day, just try missing one. – Cavett Robert

Good reminder for today – if you’re here you have something to be thankful for.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“You can’t talk your way out of problems you behave yourself into.” – Stephen Covey

There is no substitute for action.

We can’t positive think ourselves into success, it requires action.

We can’t talk our way into a better relationship, it requires action.

We can’t read ourselves into solved problems, it requires action.

Be honest with yourself, are you waiting on something when you should be acting on something?

Do you need to put aside the excuses and get to work?

Make it a great day.

Jake

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. – Herman Melville

We were not meant to seek only our own self-interest, but we are tempted to try it. Or at least to see how much we can get away with.

Each day is an opportunity to give up our selfishness and self-centeredness in exchange for putting others first – for realizing and playing our part in the thousand fibers that connect us with our fellow men.

What we do with that opportunity determines in part how well things go for those thousand fibers.

Our hearts break at school shootings, racial unrest, social injustice, fatherless children, and the many other social ills facing our modern world.

I’m convinced the answer lies in the relationships each of us form with those in our lives. When we die to our selfishness, we beat back the evils of this world – a little bit at a time.

One person isn’t enough, but that’s where it starts. With you. And me. Every. Day.

It doesn’t get better if we don’t.

It can and will get better if we do.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Some genius at the USGA decided a long time ago that the US Open golf tournament would end on Father’s Day each year.

This means that almost every year there is a scene on the final green where the winner is embraced by his father, usually accompanied by tears.

It’s a great moment to watch and a great reminder of all the great fathers out there.

The bond between father and son is such that even amongst the turmoil and celebration that is winning a major championship – the winner chooses to embrace his father.

I imagine the winner thinking about all the practices, tournaments, etc. and how they wouldn’t be where they are without the loving influence of their father.

I didn’t win a major championship yesterday, but I was thinking about the same things.

The world sure has it’s problems and imperfections. But it also has a whole lot of good fathers, doing the right thing, putting their family first, and being selfless (most of the time).

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/BWSn0JFRiPI

A classic summer time anthem.

This one reminds me of the fact that we are the same but different.

We all love summertime. But we all don’t love country music.

I am not a country music fan, but my wife is. She loves this song. Me, not so much.

And yet, despite (or maybe because of) these differences we are perfect for each other.

In life we will constantly be meeting people that are different than us. We can choose to embrace it and find the best in each other or we can judge and condemn.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“The first step to getting what you want is to have the courage to get rid of what you don’t.” —Zig Ziglar

Part of moving forward towards our goals involves moving away from something else.

We must choose.

We can’t sit on the fence.

It involves risk and takes real courage.

So many live life trying to hold on to all the possibilities, playing it safe.

Spend a few minutes today dreaming about what you want. What you really want.

What you want so badly and clearly that you are willing to give something else up for it.

And then get after it. Get started. Today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Choose your love, Love your choice. – Thomas S. Monson

A marriage podcast I listened to once said that marriage is a continual grinding off of the rough edges of our personalities and idiosyncrasies.

Two imperfect people interacting with each other each day in close proximity leads can sometimes (all the time?) lead to conflict.

At some point we choose to love our choice.

It’s not easy.

It’s not for everybody.

It’s a choice I’m happy with for me.

What choices in your life are worth sticking with and loving in spite of some hard work and difficulty?

What might you do differently today knowing that you are committed to loving that choice?

Make it a great day.

Jake