“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” — Erma Bombeck

Last day in the office before the 4th of July holiday and so I went in search of quotes about the 4th.

This one stuck out to me because it was a great reminder of just how lucky we are.

Most of us get to celebrate this holiday in peace.

At home with family and friends.

Living under the protective blanket of freedom.

So, for this 4th of July I suggest we all do our best to write the word “thankful” on our hearts. To let it infuse all that we do.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he thought he could only do a little. – Edmund Burke

Take action.

Get started.

Even if you can only do a little today.

Today marks the beginning of the second half of the year.

Don’t let it slip by. Do the little bit that you can right now.

One foot in front of the other, day after day.

You can do it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – The extra mile is a vast, unpopulated wasteland.

MS – We should guard sacredly [our children’s] privilege of personal choice; … The final responsibility of a choice and of its consequences rests with the child, and not with the parent. – H Clay Trumbull

JW – War is hell. Hollywood fantasizes about it and makes it look good….war sucks. – Chris Kyle

EB – I’m rough like a freight train, smooth like ice and yo, Jeff, I really think I can beat Mike Tyson. – Fresh Prince

The quote from me above came from a list I saw posted on FaceBox the other day.

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/14-powerful-motivational-quotes-you-have-never-heard-but-should.html?cid=sf01002

The author shares quotes that others have said to him over his life that have really stuck with him.

I’m sure we all have some of these rattling around in our brains.

Words make an impact. They shape our view of the world and our role in it.

Think about the quotes that have stuck with you.

Which ones have had a positive impact?

Which ones have had a negative impact?

Drop the negative and embrace the positive.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/XpaOjMXyJGk

Take the time to watch this video.

It does a great job of showing how often we have a flawed view of ourselves.

In my experience, most of us struggle with some version of this.

We think and act as if we aren’t funny, smart, or beautiful enough to try that new thing or take that chance.

We choose activities, friends, and relationships that we think fit our view of how things should be for us.

If we only knew….

What we are capable of.

What our creator thinks of us.

What our friends think of us.

What our loved ones think of us.

Today’s challenge for you: be that positive mirror for someone else. Give them a compliment. Tell them that great thing about them that they might not even know. Show them the second picture.

Make it a great day.

Jake

There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew. – Marshall McLuhan

We all have our part to play.

Whether it is a small part or a big part.

There are no passengers. No free loaders. No one gets to do nothing.

Embrace your crew membership. Take pride in the roles you play, however small.

Do your best with whatever role you are playing today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/J9FImc2LOr8

For some reason, this movie has been coming up a lot in conversation lately. I think the whole Lebron vs MJ thing is what has caused.

Who is the best ever?

A question to be debated for the ages.

What can you be the best ever at?

Being a dad or mom?

Being a husband or wife?

Being a son or daughter?

Find something you can be really good at. It doesn’t have to be something that pays millions or that makes you famous. Just something important enough to you for you to put in the work to get good at it.

Take it seriously. Make it your life’s work. Become great at it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. – Winston Churchill

It takes humility to open yourself up to being taught.

In order to learn, our mind has to be open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

If you find you are stuck on something and can’t seem to start that new habit, kick that old habit or move into a higher gear; maybe that you are stuck on your own pride.

Maybe pride is stopping you from seeing that piece of information or person who can help you through.

Next step you feel stuck, look to see if your pride is in the way. Then move right past it and ask for help.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://TheNicestPlaceOnTheInter.net

The Nicest Place on the Internet – what a great title. And then it is basically just a site of one person after another hugging their web cam.

This reminds of that saying “A baby is born with a need to be loved and never outgrows it”.

We all need a hug and a kind word.

We all need someone who says “I love you”.

We all need to feel loved.

But love and appreciation are not to be pursued, they are to be attracted.

If you want more of either, start by becoming a more lovable and worthy of appreciation. They will come when you are ready.

Interestingly, I think one of the best ones to become more lovable and worth of appreciation is by sincerely showing your love for and appreciation for others.

Give a hug today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – Gee whiz, dad. – Wally and Beaver Cleaver

JW – I’d much rather go to my grave never needing my gun, than go there wishing I’d had it. – Phil Dalmolin

MS – You know how it is. – Wally Cleaver

EB – Hey, Jamie. Why don’t you go dry out? – Mike Somers/Wally Cleaver

The Davis kids have been watching “Leave It To Beaver” on Netflix lately and that is one of Mike’s favorites too so we have been trading some of the classic lines around the office.

Watching an old show like that, you are immediately struck by all the things that have changed AND the things that haven’t changed at all.

You notice the old clothes, cars, bikes, mannerisms, etc.

You notice the fathers and sons, husbands and wives all working through a lot of the same problems and challenges we face still today.

It’s a great reminder of those things that really last; those things that really matter.

Who cares about the clothes and cars and stuff, focus on the relationships and integrity and honor.

Sometimes it’s easier to see the big picture through the lens of time like this.

If you are struggling with something or an area of your life, maybe it’s a good time to find something old on the subject and read it.

Or maybe an old TV show….

Make it a great day.

Jake

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