The Daily Meaning

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“Your daily blog posts have become a great part of my morning routine, waking up and reading your posts challenge me to reflect on something that matters in my life or view something from a different perspective.”
"Love starting my morning with a daily dose of positivity or perspective!"

Daily Meaning Reader

Travis Shelton 9/2/24 Travis Shelton 9/2/24

Resetting the Reset

So today, I want to share some real-world examples of how clients are creating resets in their own journey. My hope is that one of these stories will resonate with you, and perhaps trigger your creativity.

Travis Shelton 9/1/24 Travis Shelton 9/1/24

Sometimes, We Need a Reset

Travis Shelton 8/31/24 Travis Shelton 8/31/24

A Silent Echo

That's the thing about generosity; it's a silent echo. Whether we see it or not, its impact reverberates through people's lives long after it occurs.

Travis Shelton 8/30/24 Travis Shelton 8/30/24

You Don’t Have to Justify Fun

She doesn't need to justify fun, and neither do you! Do you ever find yourself trying to justify a purchase you "don't need?" We play this little mind game with ourselves constantly. At the heart of this toxic practice is guilt. Deeply ingrained, culturally driven, self-deprecating guilt. Therefore, we play mental gymnastics with ourselves in order to remove or lessen the guilt.

Travis Shelton 8/29/24 Travis Shelton 8/29/24

Uncle Joe Wants to Know the Alternative

That brings us to our quandary. If it's possibly true that people prematurely passing away is, in part, caused by a loss of meaning upon retirement, we're kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Travis Shelton 8/28/24 Travis Shelton 8/28/24

Racing Toward (Untimely) Death?

Everyone has an "Uncle Joe" in their life. Uncle Joe worked his entire adult life. Eventually, Joe was finally able to retire so he could "actually enjoy life." Then, 12 months later, he died.

Travis Shelton 8/27/24 Travis Shelton 8/27/24

The Poison Looks Tasty

It's like your friend who goes to the casino. Notice how you only hear about it when they win big? We all know they are probably getting crushed most nights, but if we only hear about those huge payouts, we might start to believe going to the casino is a reliable path to riches.

Travis Shelton 8/26/24 Travis Shelton 8/26/24

But Not Too Much Success

Travis Shelton 8/25/24 Travis Shelton 8/25/24

Encountering the Fork

This is a test, a turning point, a fork in the road. If he ultimately chooses to walk away from something because it's difficult, that could easily become his mode of operation. If something gets hard, quit. If the next thing gets hard, quit.

Travis Shelton 8/24/24 Travis Shelton 8/24/24

We’re Nobodies

This is how business should be done. It's not about supporting them. It's about them earning the right to serve someone (through some form of marketing), re-earning the right to do it again (through excellence), and, if they are excellent enough, having those customers tell the others (word of mouth).

Travis Shelton 8/23/24 Travis Shelton 8/23/24

K.I.S.S.

We recorded an episode reacting to ChatGPT's criticisms of our show. It was a great time! One of the criticisms stood out: "Simplified Solutions: Complex financial problems are sometimes presented with overly simplified solutions, which might not address the nuances of individual financial situations."

Travis Shelton 8/22/24 Travis Shelton 8/22/24

Being Responsibly Irresponsible

On the one hand, I repeatedly beat on the drum of values-based spending, investing in memories, and finding meaning in our finances. Then yesterday, I leaned into this idea that we shouldn't impulsively spend "extra" money that comes into our lives. Instead, we should apply all extra income to wherever we are in our plan. See the possible incongruency here?

Travis Shelton 8/21/24 Travis Shelton 8/21/24

It’s a Slippery Slope

See the problem here? Whenever we treat something as "extra" or "different," we undermine our finances and marriage. We go from "ours" to "mine." From "being responsible" to "screw it." It gets muddy.

Travis Shelton 8/20/24 Travis Shelton 8/20/24

Let Blessings Remain Blessings

What do you typically do if you receive unexpected extra money? If you're a human (and I suspect you are), there are two typical outcomes.

Travis Shelton 8/19/24 Travis Shelton 8/19/24

The Irony of Sudden Wealth

I've had the privilege of spending time with a few dozen people who became very rich, very quickly. I'm talking rich rich. Buy anything you want rich. Never worry about money again rich. Each person's story varies, but there are a few common triggers for the sudden wealth: professional athletes, lottery winners, inheritors, and founders.

Travis Shelton 8/18/24 Travis Shelton 8/18/24

“Throwing Away” a Career, Revisited

I'm grateful for my friend Anna, and I deeply admire how she took the path less traveled. It's not been an easy journey, but so many people have been blessed by her contributions to their lives.

Travis Shelton 8/17/24 Travis Shelton 8/17/24

Your Pain Has Purpose

For two straight hours, Tyler Joseph ripped his heart out of his chest and splayed it out before a crowd of 21,000 rabid fans. I've seen him do it before, but it never ceases to amaze me. This man, like all of us, has his demons. Pain, suffering, tragedy, and ongoing anguish. He's broken, just like you and I. However, what sets Tyler apart is the fact he takes the darkest and most embarrassing pieces of his being and uses them to impact the world.

Travis Shelton 8/16/24 Travis Shelton 8/16/24

The Verdict Is In

"How's the midlife crisis treating you?" asked my friend Emma as I was getting out of my new (to me) 2006 Nissan 350Z. "It's going fantastic! Thanks for asking," I responded.

Travis Shelton 8/15/24 Travis Shelton 8/15/24

An Avalanche of Circumstance

Recently, I received a text from Jeff; he wanted to meet for coffee. When I walked into the mostly empty shop, I saw him sitting in the corner. His shoulders were uncharacteristically slumped, and his face was expressionless.

Travis Shelton 8/14/24 Travis Shelton 8/14/24

Blood Points

According to the most recent data released for the second quarter of 2024, 50% of credit card holders in the U.S. now carry a balance from month to month (i.e. they don't pay them off every month like everyone says they do).

The Daily Meaning

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“Your daily blog posts have become a great part of my morning routine, waking up and reading your posts challenge me to reflect on something that matters in my life or view something from a different perspective.”

"Love starting my morning with a daily dose of positivity or perspective!"