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Today, April 22, is Earth Day. We have a unique opportunity to reflect on what we can do to make our community and world a better place. What can you do?

Personally, my wife and I have taken some efforts to be more green. There are the little things we do that we hope will make a difference in the long run - riding our bikes to work instead of driving, using our own canteens instead of plastic water bottles, recycling all that we can. However, our biggest (and, strangely, most rewarding) lifestyle change is our vermiculture compost bin.

You might be wondering what "vermiculture" means...simply put, it means "worm farm". These little critters, whom we bought from a fellow worm farmer, love eating organic waste and break it down much faster and cleaner than a non-worm compost. Later on, when they've broken down the banana peels, carrot tops, and cardboard boxes into nutrient-rich soil, we'll use the soil to feed our window sill tomato and basil plants.

Like I said, it's strangely rewarding to have these worms. They've become like pets to us: we feed them, care for their well being, and proudly share them with friends and family. As much as we feel good about giving them a home and food, we know that they're providing us with natural fertilizer and a bit of companionship. Something that started as a side project has turned into a labor of love!

To celebrate Earth Day, here's a movie to encourage you:

What can you do to make a difference in your community? How have you changed your habits recently?

No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. ~Author Unknown

As you may know, I normally write my usual "Mondays with Mac" on Mondays. Today, though, I wanted to send out a special blog post to the support staff here at our offices at Simple Truths. It's Administrative Professionals Day...and when I sit back and think about where we would be without our administrative assistants, I realize how much they contribute to the success of our company!

There's a saying that goes, "The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was." Well, I think that saying especially applies to my personal assistant, Darci. Sometimes, we misunderstand how much work she puts into her projects, because she makes it look so easy. Our company meeting always go off without a hitch, our mail is always organized and delivered promptly, and no birthday is ever forgotten. She even sweats the small stuff...the offices are always well stocked with snacks! Therefore, I'm happy to acknowledge her behind-the-scenes work that is just as important as our marketing crew, technical department, accounting, and more.

I wish I could point out all the ways others in our building keep the wheels turning...but this blog post would be more like a novel. So, I'd like to hear from you: Who do you have to be thankful for where you work? Why are they so crucial to your success?

To Life,

Mac Anderson

I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. -Michael Jordan

Here's our newest movie from Simple Truths! Bob Kelly and Mac Anderson took the best quotes and stories about success and inspiration and compiled them into one coffee table book. We're proud to show you this movie based on it:

Enjoy!

Have you ever been in such a hurry to be done with something, and when it's finally over you miss it? That happened to me with my last year of college... I was in such a hurry to get out that I didn't realize how much fun I was having! I was talking with Michael McMillan, author of Pink Bat and Paper Airplane the other day about this phenomenon. It's like that saying that goes, "The days are long, but the years are short" (if you know the origin, leave a comment...I've been trying to figure out the author for quite some time!). He just wrote a blog piece that I'd like to share with you on this subject titled, "Being Present":

A mother and her two children were seated a few tables away from my wife and me last night at dinner. The mom looked to be in her late 30s, her son around 14, and her daughter a few years younger than him. Perhaps it was because we were sitting in the corner or maybe it was just an acoustical phenomenon of sorts, but despite the relatively loud music, we could hear their conversation-perfectly.

The mom's remarks were short, but she seemed very focused on proper protocol… sit up straight, shut your mouth, sit still, leave your sister alone, use your fork, be quiet, ignore him, don't speak that way… and so on. Then I glanced over to discover her real focus—a mobile phone. She was texting and didn't want to be disturbed. Sadly, she continued doing so throughout the entire dinner. Try as they might, neither kid could get her to join them in their world—the real world. Both were vying (unsuccessfully) for her attention.

I tried ignoring them, but it was difficult. She was oblivious… unaware that some day she would look up and they'd be gone. I felt compelled to go over and explain to her that whatever it was she was texting about would almost certainly pale in comparison to spending this special time with her two offspring. But I didn't. "Maybe it takes grown children to be aware of these things," Anne suggested. She's probably right.

Even so, this mom seemed blind to the fact that precious moments only appear once-then they're gone-forever. That's how moments work. Each one is uniquely special… and then it's gone. Life happens with or without us. Our kids grow up, our peers and loved ones move on and eventually we all die… that's reality. Life exists within each moment… and when we aren't present, we miss it.

We can't travel back in time and do it again. In life there are no "do-overs"… this is it. The past and future exist only in our minds… the present is our only reality. Whether it's business, family or a random encounter with a stranger… don't waste your precious moments not being present. Reality is right now… this moment. For both the giver and receiver, being present is the greatest present of all… a real gift.

What are some times that you wish had lasted longer? What do you look forward to in the future? How do you stay in the moment?

At your local mall, you might be lucky enough to have a Mrs. Fields Cookies store in the food court. I know that we have one at the mall by my house, and the other day I stopped by for the first time. Not only were the cookies delicious (yes, I had more than one!), but the clerk was friendly enough to make me want to come back.

You might be wondering why I'm bringing up cookies on our blog (other than the obvious reason: making you hungry). It just so happens that Mrs. Fields Cookies is one of eleven companies featured in What's the Big Idea. Debbi Fields' idea to make soft, chewy cookies was very rare around the time when she decided to start her business. In fact, she and her husband's friends, very wise investors, recommended against it, despite loving the cookies she baked. Rather than tell you the whole story, here's a video of Debbi Fields:

Small Business Stories - Mrs. Fields Cookies

So, what are some of your ideas have turned out to be much better than expected? When have you persevered despite naysayers? What advice do you have for folks who might be struggling to break the mold?