“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I’d also like to add the quote of “The Lord loves a cheerful giver.”

For some reason, the way things work on this planet is that the more you give, the better off you are.

To me, this falls into the “gravity” category – it just is.

We could think really hard about why or how it might be different, but that doesn’t do us any good.

Giving does us good.

Choosing to ignore this or to try and put your needs first, just doesn’t work.

There’s no way around it.

So, what to do?

Get on with the giving.

The more the better.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Happiness is the natural flower of duty. – Phillips Brooks

One of life’s many two sided coins is that happiness depends on discipline.

We can’t flourish and succeed without striving and effort.

We can’t make progress without continual difficulty.

Finding joy and contentment in the difficulties of life isn’t the norm.

Most of us spend much of our time working towards our own comfort.

We take the easy route – with our money, exercise, relationships, etc.

Only we work diligently to discharge our duties do we actually succeed.

What in your life requires more discipline?

How could you get started on something small?

How could take on something big?

Make it a great day.

Jake

You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. – Jack London

Jim Rohn talks about discipline being the ultimate virtue, as it unlocks so many other opportunities.

This quote is a reminder that we can’t wait around for life to come and inspire and motivate us. We can’t wait for the brilliant idea or perfect opportunity.

I think Jim Rohn was talking about this very idea when he described discipline as the most important virtue.

Only when we have the discipline to continually pursue growth and change do we get the inspiration we desired at the beginning.

We fall into the trap of thinking that when the inspiration comes along we will have the motivation to develop the discipline.

It’s just not true.

The time to start developing discipline is today.

Begin with something small.

Drink water instead of something sugary.

Skip the drive through for coffee and save the money and brew your own.

Pick up the dirty clothes on the floor instead of waiting for your spouse to do it.

Make the bed.

Come into Jake’s office and do a few push ups.

Get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/jdiB3cISeBk

I asked Maggie for a toe tapper and she suggested this one.

Not sure what or who the rubber band man is, but this song always makes me smile.

Music is a great mood changer.

If you need a pick me up today, pick out a favorite and crank it up.

If you don’t need a pick me up, play something inspiring and fun to keep things headed in the right direction.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." – Joshua Marine

Often a change in perspective can make a huge difference.

The way we view challenges is a great example.

We can choose to become the victim.

We can choose to complain.

We can feel like life is unfair.

Or we can find them interesting and the path to meaning in our lives.

We choose.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. – Mother Teresa

I like smiling, smiling’s my favorite. – Buddy the Elf

I’ve been asked a few times to speak to the young kids over at ISU about interviewing. Every time I introduce them to my number 1, topic secret, ultra-sophisticated interviewing tip – smile, a lot.

Whether it’s an interview with a perspective employer or a waitress taking your order – if you smile more, it will go better.

The quote above gives a good hint as to why.

If smiling is the beginning of showing someone love, we will get a lot further in life by smiling.

Human beings were made to feel and be their best when they feel loved.

If we want the best from ourselves and those around us it makes sense to work to make them feel loved.

And a smile is a great way to start.

Smile more today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Clover turns two today. I’ve been lucky enough to have had a dog (or two) around most of my life.

Dog’s teach us a lot about ourselves. This email I received (below) is one of the most important of them.

We all need to be loved and flourish when we feel loved.

Today marks ten years that I’ve been sending out the “Daily Attitude Email”.

A lot has happened at Mavidea since I started sending these.

Staff have come and gone (customers too).

Annie and Oliver were born (and Maggie became a teenager).

Some things went our way and some didn’t.

Life happened.

Through it all though the exercise of trying to write about a positive attitude daily in order to be of service to others has been a big help to me.

My brother asked me the other day “why daily and why keep going?” I didn’t really have a good answer (and still don’t).

I think the momentum got started and I think it’s helped a few people along the way.

Sending a daily email might not be your thing, but there’s probably some small discipline you could add to make the world a little better.

Volunteering?

Phone calls to old friends?

Giving money to charity?

Fixing a friend’s car/house/computer.

We all have the capacity to contribute.

Thanks for letting me try to contribute.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk

Remember.

Remember all that you have to be thankful for.

Remember that you are loved.

Remember that life is short.

Remember that God loves you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I went in search of this prayer through the old daily attitude emails and thought I might not be the only one that needed to hear it today.

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi

Meaghan has this hanging in the office at home where I was working yesterday.

I had the thought, “What if I could really keep this thought in my heart? What if I could actually make this my priority each day?”

It’s easier to spend the day thinking about yourself.

Our own needs and desires are so close and powerful, they are hard to ignore.

This prayer reminds me that true peace, joy, love and happiness happens when I can retrain myself to focus instead on others.

Our opportunities for greatness lie in our ability to serve and love others.

I believe this more and more every day.

I fail at this every day as well, but I’m getting better.

My challenge for you today is to read this prayer out loud to yourself. Then to move on to your day with as much of a focus on others as you can muster. Then try to do better tomorrow.

Make it a great day.

Jake