Mavidea officially is turned 18!

Here’s a daily attitude email I sent out on our 15th anniversary – still holds true today.

Today is the day we recognize Mavidea’s 15th anniversary (I think we figured out one time it was technically the 4th or something).

Maybe I’m just getting old and nostalgic but I’ve had the opportunity to share a few of the Mavidea stories from over the years in the last few months.

All the stories have something in common – they were moments when we decided the kind of company we were going to be.

We were going to make sure the employees got paid even if the owners didn’t.

We were going to drop everything and drive a hurting employee to the emergency room.

We were going to keep pushing even though it all seems dark, we were out of money and it sure didn’t feel like things were going to change.

We were going to be transparent with staff and share our plans, financials and other business details so that we could all be in it together.

We were going to put people first.

Over time we became Mavidea (and now Maxlider, Technocentra, etc.). We turned into a company that made it to 15 years. We survived the Great Recession, COVID and Erik in a too tight bunny suit. We survived losing our biggest client, losing staff and partners that left.

All through God’s grace and mercy. As the years rack up, I’m more and more thankful for God’s blessings. I feel lucky to be a part of the story that He is telling through our business. ALL of the stories point to Him. Not to the owners, the staff, our brilliant decisions, the technology, the strategy, or any of the other important pieces to the puzzle.

Thanks to all of you who receive this email – even if you don’t work at Mavidea – you’ve been a part of the story. You’ll be part of the future story. The part where it gets really good. The part where we change and grow into something even more amazing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/dTYOkcRH220?si=MIe-Fa9PTLHjESbc

Searching for a higher love.

Everyone is looking to be full known and still loved.

To have our faults and idiosyncrasies known and accepted.

A good starting point is giving that kind of love to another.

To find it in your heart to love them in spite of all the reasons to hold back.

Choose carefully, but give it all you’ve got.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – for those of us who are Chrisitans we know that only God is capable of the highest form of this kind of love. He knows everything about us and chooses to love us in a way that is uncompromising and is perfect in every way.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

I saw a pastor speaking on this the other day and he made the point "the fruit is not for the tree".

I liked the new perspective on this verse.

We work together with the Holy Spirit to produce fruit – for others to enjoy.

So that we can be of service to those around us in an exceptional way.

It’s not about us.

It’s about others.

Make it a great day.

Jake

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have. – Jeremy Renner

I’ve been listening to the interview with Jeremy on Joe Rogan. In the interview he tells about the accident he was in and his recovery since then.

He was faced with some very serious injuries and seems to have recovered well and has a great attitude about it all.

We will all face difficulties in life. Some big and some small.

Strength can be found in these difficulties.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – the Bible talks about finding joy in the strength of the Lord. No difficulty is too big for God. His strength can get you through anything.

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. —Arthur Ashe

To serve others at whatever the cost.

What a great description of Memorial Day.

A day where we celebrate those who paid the ultimate price.

For us.

Because they believed we were worth it. Worth the sacrifice, no matter how great.

Humbling.

Grateful.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/7rAV5OzYO14?si=Z_jVQTRN7cNfGAgt

Come on – get happy.

When we are down or frustrated – hard to hear.

It’s hard to think that we just need to get happy. As if a switch can be flipped.

Life doesn’t appear to work that way.

But there is a way to get happy – it takes small steps continued over a period of time.

Our job is to take the small steps. Again and again.

Towards joy. As a journey, not a destination.

Listen to a song that makes you happy. Take a small step today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. – Saint Augustine

Miracles are all around us.

We are so spoiled in our day and age that we ignore the magnificence of the technology and lives we lead.

We complain about slow planes, slow internet connections, clothes that take more than 2 days to show up, access to thousands of hours of millions of dollars of entertainment that is just so boring…..the list goes on.

We miss the miracle that we were ever born to begin with.

That we have loved ones and friends that ignore the long list of shortcomings and spend time with and love us anyway.

I am so very grateful for all the miracles in my life.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Last new a few of us were lucky enough to attend a dinner for Lifesong for Orphans.

We got to hear some amazing (and heartbreaking) stories about the difference they make in the lives of orphans.

I was so thankful for our team at Mavidea in that moment. Thankful that we have been blessed with the opportunity to be of service to an organization like that (and all of our other clients).

Sure, we “just” work on IT and websites and marketing for our clients.

But what we do enables the good work they do.

Not just in helping orphans in difficult situations, but also in running their small business in a way that honors their employees and their customers.

It may seem small, but we do make a difference. Our service makes things better. How we treat them and how we serve them has meaning. How we treat each other matters.

It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s stressful. Sometimes it’s behind the scenes and unappreciated. But it means something to do it well and do it right.

Thank you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all. – Alexander the Great

So many of society’s ills could be solved if we could remember this simple idea.

If we could be nice to one another.

If we could reach out a hand to someone in need.

If we could be a friend to the lonely.

If we could be wise with the resources given us, whether a lot or a little.

The Bible talks about “the kingdom” and “heaven” a lot.

It also talks a lot about all of us serving as the “hands and feet” of Jesus.

If we could be His hands and feet then the kingdom will be where we are. The conduct of each creates the fate of all.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Nothing can be done except little by little. – Charles Baudelaire

Monday morning reminder – progress is mostly made little by little.

Moments of big process and life change do happen, but most of the time it’s repeated disciplines over a long period of time.

Make some small progress today.

Make it a great day.

Jake