Once again I got to experience the miracle of a new life coming into this world when Oliver was born last week.

Reminded me of the email below that I sent out previously:

Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.

CS Lewis

When I think of babies, miracle is the first word that pops into my head. For those of you who haven’t experienced it, being there for the birth of a child is the most amazing thing in the world (at the least the most amazing thing I have been a part of yet).

It is a moment where you can’t help but realize why it is called the "miracle of life".

And I think the CS Lewis quote is particularly applicable in this case. Every child born is a retelling in small letters of several stories written in letters too large for some of us to see.

It is the story of the love between two parents that is made deeper and even more unbreakable through the birth of their child.

It is the story of parents and their love for their children and their deep desire for a better life/world for the next generation.

It is the story of the inherent goodness that God places inside of each and every one of us.

It is the story of the uniqueness that each of us has, even at birth. They take finger prints and foot prints right away that prove it.

It is the story of the miracle of medicine and all the staff at the hospital that are selfless in their efforts to make sure that everything goes well.

Remember today all of those little miracles (and the many more) and think of the even bigger stories being told throughout our lives.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Wasn’t in the office today to get everyone’s phrase that pays so instead you get a list of quotes about babies.

A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on. -Carl Sandburg

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. -Elizabeth Stone

Every baby begins the world again. -David Thoreau

Babies are always more trouble than you thought – and more wonderful. -Charles Osgood

It was the tiniest thing I ever decided to put my whole life into. -Terri Guillemets

A baby is born with a need to be loved – and never outgrows it. – Frank A. Clark

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle. – Vincent van Gogh

It is not a slight thing when those so fresh from God love us. – Charles Dickens

Babies are such a nice way to start people. – Don Herrold

Make it a great weekend.

Jake

http://youtu.be/r28mcaJLUV4

Kept hearing this song from the Lowe’s commercial while we were in the hospital.

Definitely some of the best days of my life.

Make it the best day of your life.

Jake

Today’s daily attitude email is brought to you by Brent Kelly.

Thanks to Brent for sending.

I don’t know about you, but I am impatient. I want success now. I want results now. I want to make a huge difference today.

Whether it be sales, fitness, or other personal goals; most of crave immediate results.

The reality is that big results come from making simple decisions every day. These small choices aren’t noticeable, but they are vital to our long-term success.

Be a crock pot, not a microwave.

I am currently reading "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson and this is at the core of the book. While reading it I can think from my own personal experience of how true this concept has been in my life and the life of others.

This principle holds true for just about anything in life.

For example, if you don’t brush your teeth tonight or tomorrow morning, other than some bad breath, you won’t notice a huge difference in the health of your teeth and gums. Now multiply that over several weeks, months, or even years. Can you say tooth decay?

This is also true in fitness or business.

We love to see the 90 day before and after pictures of someone who worked out 5 days a week and started to eat healthier. Often times, we are amazed. "Wow, look at that transformation." Do you think they saw results on day 3, day 6, or even day 10? Except for some soreness, probably not. They made the daily commitment and over the course of time saw the results they were looking for.

In business, especially sales, we want to land the big account, the new client, or make the huge connection. Rarely does that happen with a simple phone call or drop-in. It takes time. Time to build credibility, time to build relationships, and time to build trust.

I always chuckle when people mock successful people. I often hear things like, "that must be nice," "an overnight success," or "how did they get so lucky?"

Here is a fact, although there may be a few exceptions, successful people work hard and make consistent SMALL smart decisions every day. They make choices that seem irrelevant at the time, but over the course of months and years add up to huge benefits.

Here are some small choices I see successful people make.

• They read a personal development book for thirty minutes vs. reading the paper
• They get up a half hour earlier to write vs. staying in bed
• They take the time to greet someone with a smile vs. putting their head down and walking past
• They spend 30-60 minutes working out vs. watching the latest sitcom
• They take time to learn from others vs. gossiping with their friends

None of these choices will make you an overnight success. In fact, most people won’t notice anything right way.

Over time though, these actions can transform lives.

We all have to make choices every single day. Some are more important than others. Big or small, every choice can and will make a difference in our lives.

The choice is up to you.

I’m sorry I forgot to send this out yesterday – I done goofed.

Attitude is often something that causes me to think about myself. My attitude. It’s natural I suppose. Maybe it’s because I know I am ultimately in control of my attitude. Still yet I wonder what if I thought of others first when I thought of attitude?

How can I help someone else have a positive attitude? Maybe just be a little more cheerful, have positive things to say, or just smile a little more.

It’s true each individual controls and is ultimately responsible for their own attitude, but maybe just maybe we can help each other out along the way.

Give it a try today.

Maybe it’s the person on the other end of the phone that you may never talk to again. Perhaps, in a pleasant way, you say hi by name, tell them your name and ask them how their doing – taking just a minute to connect and care. Maybe you’ll brighten the rest of their day. Maybe you’ll help them pass along a good attitude. Maybe it will come all the way back around to you.

Make it a great day.

Michael Somers

Mavidea Technology Group

Putting Smiles on Faces

www.mavidea.com

mike.somers

Office: 309-829-2000 x112

Toll Free: 888-898-8960

JD – But if we learn to think of it as anticipation, as learning, as growing, if we think of the time we spend waiting for the big things of life as an opportunity instead of a passing of time, what wonderful horizons open out! – Anna Neagle EB – Sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot.
JW – I became insane with long intervals of sanity. – Edgar Allen Poe
JM – We’re all very different people, we are not Watusi. We are not Spartans. We are Americans, with a capital A. That means our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country on the planet. We are the wretched refuse. We are the under dogs. – Bill Murray – Stripes

As you can imagine, there is a lot of anticipation going on at the Davis house.

I liked the quote above. Anticipation of the big events is a great opportunity to be thankful and thoughtful about what we already have and what the possibilities are.

My favorite thing about babies is the inherent possibilities that come to life at that moment they are born.

They can be and create anything they want. It is all a blank slate for them to write their future on.

As a parent it is both an overwhelming feeling of responsibility and joy, all at the same time.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned at Mavidea is that the inherent possibilities and capabilities are still there no matter how old you are. No matter how much life has beat you up. No matter how much you weigh. No matter how much money you owe. No matter how many times your heart has been broken.

I love working here because I see that in each and every one of you (and even in myself sometimes) every day.

Thanks for the opportunity of anticipation of watching the greatness inside you grow and come to fruition.

Make it a great weekend.

Jake

http://youtu.be/uq-gYOrU8bA

This video made me smile, laugh and tap my toes, all at the same time.

Hope it gets all of you off to a great start today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“It is not a math problem, it is a you problem.” – Dave Ramsey

Dave said this last week in Financial Peace University.

He was talking about paying down debt and how it was a behavioral change and not a math problem.

This applies in so many other areas of our lives as well. Even when the goal or problem doesn’t involve numbers.

We tend to overcomplicate things. We set a big goal and then begin over-analyzing things and never quite get started on making progress.

Instead, we could focus on making small changes in behavior that lead us down the path. Then build these small victories into bigger changes and meeting our goals.

Want to become financially wealthy? Start by building a budget every month.

Want to lose weight? Start by walking around the block every day for a week.

Want to quit smoking? Start by quitting for an hour.

Whatever your goals are, they aren’t a math problem. They are a behaviors problem. Find a small behavior change you can make and get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Still need another 7-8 volunteers to write emails while I am out. Just send me a note if you are interested.

Neil Armstrong once said, ‘You only have to solve two problems when going to the moon: first, how to get there; and second, how to get back. The key is don’t leave until you have solved both problems.’" — Jim Rohn

Saw this quote on FaceBox and thought it was good enough to share.

Jim Rohn also talks about the concept of not starting the day until it is finished.

This is definitely an area of struggle for me.

The day seems to get away from me sometimes.

But I have planned at least one day well, one time. And it works.

Want to have a great day? Plan it.

Want to have a great week? Plan it.

Want to have a great year? Plan it.

Want to have a great life? Plan it.

And whether we accept it or not, how our day goes is our choice. How well we plan is our choice.

What do you have planned for today?

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – For those that don’t know yet, we are scheduled to have the baby on Monday.

I am looking for volunteers to send the daily attitude email next week while I am out. Just email me and let me know if you are interested.