https://www.facebook.com/sbnation/videos/10153187777826536/

This short video is a great example of sportsmanship and one of the great things about sports.

Sports and games allow us to test ourselves.

We test our physical abilities and our mental stamina.

But we also test our integrity and honor.

It may seem like a little thing to practice integrity in a game or sport, but it is a building block.

As we practice integrity in small things it becomes easier to do so in the more important moments of life.

Play more games. Play them with integrity.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. – Oscar Wilde

Goal for the week – be the first half of this quote.

Events and meetings are more fun whenever the goal is to make the others in the room happy.

If we can somehow find a way to align ourselves with the goal of making those around us smile, we will find ourselves smiling more often.

Look at your calendar for the week. Look for a time or meeting or event that needs a little pick me up. Then make it a point to bring it to that meeting.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/ekgHI7JVSTg

Music plays an important role in the Olympics.

It inspires athletes to do their best.

It is used by some to remind themselves that it is time to compete.

It brings many to tears as their national anthem is played.

It is reminds us that we are all human.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today. – Elbert Hubbard

Much of life is an iterative process of continual improvement day to day.

The best way to prepare for a better tomorrow is to have a good day today.

This goes for our work, our relationships, our bodies, etc.

The best choice we can make each day is to do our best with the day we have been given.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – It’s easier to be brave when you are protected. – Amy Poehler

JR – Just because Erik took too long, that doesn’t mean I don’t get what I want. – Jake Davis

MS – All these people are asking me to do FaceBook live….there’s like 3 people. – Erik Barnlund

EB – Screw you guys.

JW – I’m on vacation.

One of the many blessings in my life is getting to work with a great group of people. A group I call my friends.

CS Lewis writes a lot about friendship in “The Four Loves”. Below is one of my favorite quotes:

A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

The instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.

In our silliness and goofy meetings. Our jokes and awkward hugs, we are shown the beauty in God’s creation of another person who is on our side.

We stand side by side and look out at the world and work to make it better. We work to show the beauty of those special relationships in a way that brings light and crowds out the darkness.

Make it a great day.

Jake

To forget oneself is to be happy. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Goal for the day – forget about me and all my stuff. Focus on others and all their stuff.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Another one of my favorite themes from the Olympics is the idea of “regular people” striving for excellence in their particular sport.

You hear stories about how a kayaker bags groceries to make ends meet or how the 10m air pistol guy sells insurance.

So many of the stories in the Olympics prove the kind of greatness someone can achieve when they really want something.

The Olympic stories show that hard work and perseverance can create excellence.

Maybe we all aren’t going to be Olympic athletes, but we can accomplish something amazing.

We can produce greatness.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/t2G8KVzTwfw

Every time the Olympics comes around I am reminded of this moving story.

The Olympics are such a unique event in that they are every 4 years and include athletes from all over the world.

Just making it to the Olympics is an achievement in its own right.

Regardless of that achievement there is only one gold medal winner. And sometimes it just isn’t their day.

In this video, Derek Redmond tears his hamstring halfway through the race. It just happened. No one’s fault. It wasn’t fair. In fact, it was supremely unfair.

But he chose to finish. He chose a path that has probably inspired millions since.

This unique sports event created a unique event that allowed all of us to be inspired.

Watch the Olympics this week and next. Look for that inspiration. And never give up.

Make it a great day.

Jake

(The author of this post was in no way compensated by NBC or the Olympics, but that would have been nice.)

https://youtu.be/Xn676-fLq7I

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

After reading several books about the Navy SEALs and other special forces one of my biggest take aways was the idea of adversity being a good thing.

They go through elaborate training scenarios that are designed to purposefully create adversity for the trainees.

This process creates stronger graduates from the training programs.

The graduates end up with an attitude of “Well, if I made it through that, I can do this next thing too.”

It’s really not that hard to set up a comfortable life.

But in the end, we must not seek comfort. We were built to grow and change and love. In order to grow and change and love we are going to be faced with adversity.

And in the end we will be better off for it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn’t read all the time—none… ZERO." — Charlie Munger

Some ideas and plans for success fall into the optional category.

Some fall into the balance category.

Some fall into the requirement category.

This quote reminded me that growing and learning is one of them.

I am sure there are others.

The main idea I wanted to pass along was to not fight it.

There are some things everybody just has to do if they want to get anywhere near something that looks like success.

Don’t fight it. Lean into it.

Lean into growth and learning.

Lean into love.

Lean into taking care of your body.

Make it a great day.

Jake