Mikes Blog

Slight improvement
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There’s a way you can make a slight improvement to something today. Then tomorrow, you can make a further slight improvement to the improvement you’ve already made.

A slight improvement is easy to make, so easy you can do it every day. And that’s where its great power comes from.

When you build just a little bit each day on top of what you’ve already built, you can build truly great and valuable things. By disciplining yourself to consistently make slight improvements, you end up with major, life-changing achievements.

Too often we strive for sudden, dramatic changes, and almost as often are disappointed when they are beyond our reach. Yet the little improvements, the ones no one notices, are the most reliable and consistent way to move ahead.

To reach the big dreams, find ways each day to take small steps. A slight improvement here, a little progress there, a little more progress on top of that, and soon you have achieved a great deal.

Today is filled with opportunities to make those slight improvements, so seize those opportunities. And have fun knowing that you’re headed steadily and reliably in the direction of your dreams.

— Ralph Marston

The brightest part
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Make it your purpose to be the brightest part of someone’s day today. Make it your business to be in the business of spreading good cheer to anyone you come in contact with.

Every person’s life in this fast-paced world is filled with too many passionless transactions and not enough genuine interactions. So take each opportunity to be truly human to other humans.

Life is more than some bland spreadsheet where success is defined as just more of the same standard stuff. Life is the chance to be joyful in a million more ways than anyone has yet thought of.

Discover again and again how good a smile feels to give. You’ll probably even experience how nice a smile feels to receive.

Make someone’s day and it will make your day in a way that cannot be denied. Let go of the silly pretenses and let yourself be actually silly, in a way that is good and fun.

The world desperately needs what you can find real delight in giving. Shine a bright and positive light, and enjoy in the warm feeling as it reflects back on you.

— Ralph Marston

Big deal
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Most of the things you make a big deal about won’t be a big deal for long. Many of the things that consume your attention, you won’t even remember in a couple of weeks.

Life sends a whole lot of seemingly urgent matters your way. The majority of those matters don’t really matter.

Before you get all caught up in the crisis of the moment, step back. Look at it from the perspective of your entire life.

If it really does matter in the big picture of things, then plunge yourself fully into doing something positive and useful about it. If it really doesn’t matter, then move yourself on to whatever does.

Make all the time you spend with life, quality time. Invest that time in the service of what you care about.

There is plenty of time to do what matters, if you will simply stay away from what doesn’t. Give your moments the respect they deserve, and from them you’ll create rich fulfillment.

— Ralph Marston