Daily Attitude Email 09 17 20

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

Daily Attitude Email 09 16 20

If you’re going through hell, keep going. – Winston Churchill

2020 hasn’t been the year many of us had planned.

For some, it has been a truly bad year. Lots of people are suffering.

A brighter future awaits. Our ancestors have been through more and we’re all better off because of it.

I’m not making light of the suffering. It’s real. The stress and anxiety are real. Hunger and disease are real. Evil is real.

We must keep going. Moving forward together. Building a future that leaves things better than we found.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 09 15 20

A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day. – Andre Maurois

This is a great way to look at the important relationships in our lives.

Whether it be a marriage, friendship, customer, vendor or coworker – we must work at the relationship every day.

Meaningful relationships are built over time.

Investing in these relationships means putting the other person above ourselves – every day.

The best relationships are built through this mutual “after you” mindset.

How can you best serve today?

What can you do today to build the edifice?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 09 14 20

https://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/do-your-worst-well-do-our-best.html

This is a Winston Churchill speech that is particularly poignant on the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Two quotes in particular stood out to me:

“But there was one thing about which there was never any doubt. The courage, the unconquerable grit and stamina of our people, showed itself from the very outset. Without that all would have failed. Upon that rock, all stood unshakable.”

In the face of all the evils of the world we must have faith and belief that courage, grit and stamina from those on the side of good will win out. No matter the test, no matter the difficulty, that which is good and worthy will prevail.

“You do your worst – and we will do our best.”

When faced with the evils of the world it can be tempting to lower ourselves to those standards. Instead we need to raise ours.

The best way for us to honor those who have fallen and those who have sacrificed is to do and be our best. Others have given up their lives that we may have the opportunity to exercise this freedom. Don’t let it slip by.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 09 10 20

Found this email I sent last year. Watching Bagger Vance again the last few days reminded me of it….

Rannulph Junuh: You really love this game, don’t you?

Hardy Greaves: It’s the greatest game there is.

Rannulph Junuh: You really think so?

Hardy Greaves: Ask anybody. It’s fun. It’s hard and you stand out there on that green, green grass, and it’s just you and the ball and there ain’t nobody to beat up on but yourself; just like Mister Newnan keeps hittin’ himself with the golf club every time he gets angry. He’s broken his toe three times on account of it. It’s the only game I know that you can call a penalty on yourself, if you’re honest, which most people are. There just ain’t no other game like it.

This back and forth from “The Legend of Bagger Vance” is one of my favorites.

I’ve tried to play a little more golf this summer and it’s been a great reminder of the value of doing something fun (and difficult).

Golf is a great place to practice and live out some great life lessons….

You can hit a great shot, but end up in a poor spot – life’s not fair.

Your score and your integrity matter.

Green grass, fresh air and trees blowing in the wind are good for the soul.

Life is best when done with good friends.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 09 09 20

You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way. – Walter Hagen

This is a great quote from a golfer.

Golf is a game of short bursts of intense concentration followed by lots of opportunities to complain or worry about the shot or enjoy the scenery.

In my old age I appreciate more and more the shortness of life.

We really aren’t here that long. We must choose wisely how we spend each day.

We must make the most of it – without hurrying or worrying.

Not easy, but worth it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 09 08 20

Two short phrases were stuck in my head as I thought about Labor Day – “labor of love” and “labor as if you were doing it for the Lord”.

Both were a reminder about how our attitude towards something can really make the difference.

It’s easy to see work and labor as negatives.

It’s easy to do our work as if it didn’t matter and was merely something we had to do.

But it can be more than that.

We can labor as if we were doing it for the Lord.

We can labor out of love.

As we all get back to work today, let’s do our best to work with a different attitude. Let’s work for and towards something higher and more noble.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 09 03 20

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