"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

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.

https://youtu.be/Jj4nJ1YEAp4

Lots of good life advice in this one.

Gotta know when to hold ‘em.

Gotta know when to fold ‘em.

You know the rest.

It all requires wisdom.

And wisdom is available to those who seek it.

Need the answer to an important life question. Listen to this song look for the answer to this question:

What would a wise person do?

Make it a great day.

Jake

"The first step toward the solution of any problem is optimism." – John Baines

As we face the obstacles and challenges on the way to our goals our approach to them can make all the difference.

Approaching each problem with optimism makes finding the solutions and developing better plans much easier.

We must develop a sincere faith that it will all work out in the end.

Every missed exercise, impulse buy and bad meal choice becomes an opportunity for better planning and problem solving.

Our mistakes become problems to be solved, not confirmations of our failure.

Renew your faith and optimism about your plans and goals. It will work out for the best.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Do the things you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know. – Louisa May Alcott

Get started.

Sometimes we let “not knowing everything yet” be our excuse to not moving forward toward our goals.

Instead, we need to get started based on what we know and then learn and grow from there.

Get started moving more and eating less and worry about the details of dieting and exercise plans come later.

Get started on spending less and saving more and let the details of budgeting, retirement plans and investment ideas come later.

Get started organizing the mess in your bed room and worry about the details of cleaning up and organizing the whole house later.

Just get started and do what you know.

You will change plans and learn more and grow along the way, but only if you get started with what you know.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Love consists in this, that two solitudes protect and touch and greet each other. – Rainer Maria Rilke

Any time we connect with someone we are showing them love.

I believe we were all born with a need to be connected to others (to love and be loved).

Each day and each interaction with someone else provides an opportunity for authentic and meaningful connection (love).

Whether it be connecting with the waitress over lunch or with our kids over dinner doesn’t matter. Each interaction is an opportunity for connection.

The connections differ, to be sure, but they are meaningful just the same.

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to connect.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be." – Maya Angelou

Stop trying to be normal.

You were not made to be normal.

It’s not about fitting in. It’s about becoming the best version of yourself possible.

Lean in to your own peculiarities.

Lean in to your own weirdness.

Lean in to your own way of doing things.

We were all built to love and to serve others. Each of us with our own unique contribution to the bigger picture.

Embrace your unique contribution. Don’t let yourself shrink back to what you think is normal.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/u3AXKjlH4rQ

Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own. H. Jackson Brown, Jr

Make someone else’s happiness more important than your own today.

Show them you appreciate them.

Forget about what you want.

Do something special.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Laughter is the closest distance between two people. – Victor Borge

You probably already knew this.

Consider this a reminder to laugh more and to make others laugh.

What can you do today to laugh more?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Once every two weeks I have the good fortune of eating lunch with a few other small business owners at Bandana’s.

One of the people in our meeting is the owner, Anthony.

Yesterday he told the story of a family whose son had recently passed away. He told of how they came in all the time and he had gotten to know them. The boy had requested Bandana’s garlic bread after his chemo treatments.

It was a great reminder to cherish every day and to not miss a moment with our loved ones.

It was also a great reminder of the power of service to others.

I’m guessing that buttering and toasting the bread is pretty low on the “desirable jobs to do at Bandana’s” list.

But it was the most important job in the place on those days when that young boy got his bread.

The person making the bread most likely had no idea. The bread just got made as usual. Another task on a long list of seemingly unimportant to dos in a busy day.

Imagine the difference between making bread to cheer up a sick and dying child and making bread to just get through the day and get a paycheck.

We each have the opportunity to choose our attitudes as we go about our day and our service to others.

We never truly know the impact of our interactions with and service to others. We don’t get to see or hear the whole story.

All we get is the opportunity. The opportunity to serve with love. To do our best with whatever is in front of us. No matter how big or how small.

Seize your opportunities today. Do your best with everything in front of you.

Make it a great day.

Jake