“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.” – Winston Churchill

Distractions. They are a fact of life.

How many times in a day do you catch yourself thinking "what was I doing?"

Like most things in life, learning how to focus your efforts is a discipline, learned over time.

Decide to work on that discipline today.

Pick a period of time and focus on the most important to do on your list.

It might be 5 minutes or it might be 5 hours, but pick a time and stick with it.

And then do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And I think you get the idea after that.

Make it a great day.

Jake ​

https://youtu.be/Mr2ptPJrLNw

Not exactly your “normal” toe tapper, but this gave me an idea.

Pick your favorite theme song/pump yourself up jam.

Then just let it play in the background while you do your thing.

Something to keep you pumped up and moving forward.

Also, I would like to hear from you about what your favorite one might be…there were some interesting other suggestions on YouTube (AirWolf, MacGyver, Indiana Jones, etc.)

Make it a great day.

Jake

We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone. – Ronald Reagan

This quote is such a great reminder.

Sometimes it is overwhelming to look at the world and all those that are in need of help. We just can’t help everyone.

But we can help someone.

And I would suggest we start with those closest to us: friends, family, coworkers, etc.

The key is to just get started. To begin the process of training ourselves to become more service centric instead of self-centered.

If we go out into the world each day looking for opportunities to serve we will meet a world full of opportunity.

Find a way to serve someone today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I ran across this blog post the other day and the title got me – “Stop Being a Butthole Wife”.

http://herviewfromhome.com/stop-being-a-butthole-wife/

In the post, the author tells the story of how she let little things (dirty laundry on the floor) get in the way of her having a great marriage.

When her husband passed away, her perspective changed.

Her story is a great reminder for all of us.

We could change the word “wife” in the title to any of the roles we play: husband, father, son, daughter, mother, friend, coworker, etc.

Each day there are plenty of things to pick at or on in our relationships.

We can choose to focus on the little negatives, using them to create separation between us and our relationships; or we can focus on growing our relationships.

We can choose kindness in our relationships.

I encourage you to read the post and think about whether or not you are being the butthole in any of your relationships.

If you are, start working on changing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – My wife is the best and is in no way a “Butthole Wife”.

“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

"Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure." – Piero Ferrucci

What came to mind when you read this quote?

Is there something superfluous in your life?

A habit you need to break?

An area where you need to step into feeling insecure?

The opportunity for change and for a better life lies on the other side of questions like these.

In order to get to where we want to go we must look in the mirror and answer the hard questions.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/cy46iOwWQiE

Sorry, couldn’t resist sending this one out just because of the video….

Good message too, though.

Ain’t nothing gonna break your stide,

You gotta keep on movin’

Stick with it.

It will all work out in the end.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"You will never find time for anything. If you want the time, you must make it." – Charles Buxton

How many times have you heard someone say “I can never find the time….”?

According to Mr. Buxton, it’s because it isn’t possible.

Next time you find yourself looking to “find some time” think about making some instead.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. – Ferdinand Foch

Can you remember a time when you were on fire about someone or something?

Did you let small things get you down or did you press forward?

Did you wake up and drearily start your day?

Did you wait for things to come to you (impatiently)?

Probably not.

You moved right past the small stuff, not even noticing because you were so focused.

You woke up on fire and started thinking immediately about your goal.

You moved toward your desire relentlessly.

If you don’t have something you are on fire about right now, seek it out. Begin looking. Make finding that something your goal for now.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Below is an excerpt from an email I received recently.

The mental image suggested conveys feelings that many would identify with.

A weary traveler, tired from carrying too much baggage for too long.

Only when we are able to put down our baggage and move forward with a better understanding of what (and whose) we really are.

We are wonderfully made.

We are made for greatness.

To hold ourselves up against any other standards is a mistake.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:14

I f I (JCD) were to draw a caricature of an adult experiencing a lifelong crisis of confidence, I would depict a bowed, weary traveler. Over his shoulder, I would place the end of a mile‐long chain attached to tons of garbage. Inscribed on each piece of junk would be the details of some humiliation–a failure, a rejection, an embarrassment from the past. The traveler could let go of the chain, but he is convinced that he must drag that heavy load throughout life.

If this describes your own self‐concept, realize that you can free yourself from the weight of your chain. You have judged yourself inferior based on shifting standards. In the 1920s, women asked plastic surgeons to reduce their breast size–now many women undergo surgery to do just the opposite. In King Solomon’s biblical love song, the bride asked her groom to overlook her dark, well‐tanned skin–but in our country today, she’d be the pride of the beach. Rembrandt painted overweight ladies, but now, “thin is in.”

To be content with who we are as God’s creations, we must base our self‐image on His values, not on the fickle notions of human worth.