Friday Morning Toe Tapper

https://youtu.be/c6rP-YP4c5I

I wanna try even though I could fail

I won’t give up, no I won’t give in

Till I reach the end

And then I’ll start again

No I won’t leave

I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail

I don’t know about you, but I fail. A lot.

In my old age, I am trying hard to see this as a positive.

It’s only when we let comfort and the status quo take over that we really fail.

We can’t experience the great things in life without trying new things and putting ourselves out there.

Sure, it can be painful. And nobody likes to fail.

But it’s worth it.

Growth and positive momentum requires failure.

What’s something new you could try this weekend?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Looking for something to try….how about dancing?

https://youtu.be/ru0K8uYEZWw

Daily Attitude Email 03 30 17

If you wish to be loved, show more of your faults than your virtues. – Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton

After listening to Brene Brown’s books on the virtue of vulnerability, this quote rings particularly true.

We are all born with a desire to be loved.

We are also born with an instinct to protect ourselves from harm.

Somehow we need to strike the balance between these two as we can only be loved if we admit our vulnerabilities, but admitting our vulnerabilities sets up the possibility of hurt.

Only when we can risk putting down our protective armor can we let in the love we so desire.

What are you holding back?

Who are you keeping out?

Take a chance. Let someone in.

Let your faults and your virtues show.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 03 29 17

"If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old." – Peter F. Drucker

Moving forward into growth requires building new habits and letting old habits go.

What is on your stop doing list?

This is an easy to forget area that can drive major change if we are willing to take a hard look at ourselves and how we spend our time.

If we can have the courage to look at everything on our current to do list as a possibility for something to let go of, we will be surprised at what we might see.

Take a moment today to make a list of your regular to-dos.

Get everything down.

Now be ruthless and get of everything except the essentials.

Narrow the list.

Focus.

If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 03 28 17

"A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms." – Zen Shin

It’s so easy to get caught in the trap of comparing ourselves to others.

Somehow we need to find a way through all of the comparisons and see ourselves for what we really are.

I believe we are God’s children.

Wonderfully and individually made.

With a set of inherent possibilities and futures unique to us.

Whether or not we make the most of those opportunities is a matter of embracing who we are capable of being.

Forget about comparing yourself to others.

Forget about what they are doing.

Figure out how you can serve and love the way you were born to and then get after it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Daily Attitude Email 03 27 17

“We are all a great deal luckier that we realize, we usually get what we want – or near enough.”

― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

A great reminder to start off the week.

We all have quite a bit to be thankful for.

Maybe not everything has worked out the way we wanted, but it really isn’t too bad.

I would wager to say that if you are receiving this email you have at least one thing in your life that is going well.

Focus on something to be thankful for as you start this week.

And tell someone else about it.

Spread it around.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Friday Morning Toe Tapper

When Meaghan showed me this the other day, I knew it would be the Friday Morning Toe Tapper….

https://youtu.be/cyVzjoj96vs

Seriously, spend the 1:52 to listen to this, if it doesn’t make you smile you might want to crawl back into bed. I listened to it like 4 times…

What I Am.

Think about that. Part of being happy is realizing who you are and what you are capable of becoming.

Think about yourself while he sings the song, do any of the below fit you? I guarantee at least one does.

What I am is musical.

What I am is thoughtful.

What I am is friendly.

What I am is super.

What I am is magical.

What I am is smart.

And those are just the ones I caught…

There is only one you. It is up to you to try. It is up to you to reach high. You can do it. You can get stronger, smarter, faster, better; whatever you want.

Be the best you you can be.

Make it a great Friday and have a great weekend.

Jake

Originally sent a long time ago….

Daily Attitude Email 03 23 17

What Is A Dad?

A dad is someone who

wants to catch you before you fall

but instead picks you up,

brushes you off,

and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who

wants to keep you from making mistakes

but instead lets you find your own way,

even though his heart breaks in silence

when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who

holds you when you cry,

scolds you when you break the rules,

shines with pride when you succeed,

and has faith in you even when you fail…

– Unknown

I found this short little bit about dad’s in my search of something to send out today for my dad’s birthday.

I have often wondered and thought about how it was that my dad had so much patience with me over the years. I imagine all the conversations and all of the dumb stuff I did and said (and still do and still say) that must have been hard to listen to without slapping me or something like that.

Now, with kids of my own, I can almost see it. But not completely. My kids are much better than I am sure I was.

So, Happy Birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything you have done and continue to do.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Originally sent on 03 23 2015.

Daily Attitude Email 03 22 17

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

Originally sent 03 04 15

Daily Attitude Email 03 21 17

"Without momentum, even the smallest obstacle can prevent you from moving forward. But with it you can plow through anything." – John Maxwell

In the article where John Maxwell talks about momentum, he uses the example of a train. When just getting started, a train can actually be stopped by a one inch block on the track. When moving at full speed, a train will smash through almost anything.

Think about the areas in your life where you are struggling to get started. Maybe you just need to remove the small obstacle to get going.

Focus on a really small, really short term goal.

Once you do that, pick another one.

Keep up this process until you have some momentum. And then you will be unstoppable.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Originally published on 1 27 15

Daily Attitude Email 03 20 17

Success is looking for a good place to stay. – Jim Rohn

The Jim Rohn video from yesterday lead me to another and this little phrase from the next one caught my ear.

Imagine if you will “Success” as a person (I imagine someone walking around with a big “S” on a plain t-shirt) just walking around looking for a good place to stay.

It wonders around all day and night, but most people are too busy, too self-centered, too worried and preoccupied to even notice.

It moves along until it finds a good place to stay. Until it finds a home where it is comfortable.

I imagine the dramatic movie version to go kind of like this:

They start with someone working hard on self-improvement – exercising, reading, budgeting, serving, etc. Nobody really notices.

All the while “Success” is wandering the streets, getting turned away at every door.

Then finally, “Success” bumps into the hero of our story. He/she lets “Success” in. “Success” gets comfortable (I imagine scenes with “Success” in the bathtub, on the couch, napping, etc.) and things start happening.

That idea our hero had starts to take off.

The kids and wife come along and flourish.

The money and responsibility come in, but our hero doesn’t buckle under the pressure.

Some of the hero’s friends and family come over and run away immediately when they see “Success” has moved in.

Some of the hero’s friends and family come over and are fascinated with “Success” and begin to ask questions about why “Success” hasn’t come to their house. Some learn and get the visit. Some don’t and don’t.

Imagine yourself in this movie.

First, who plays you?

Second, which part do you play?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Originally posted on 06 23 15.