The Daily Meaning

Take your mornings to the next level with a daily dose of perspective and encouragement to start your day off right. Sign-up for a free, short-form blog delivered to your inbox each morning, 7 days per week. Some days we talk about money, but usually not. We believe you’ll take away something valuable to help you on your journey. Sign up to join the hundreds of people who read Travis’s blog each morning.

“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 9/22/24 Travis Shelton 9/22/24

Pushing Boundaries

Things are scary....until they aren't.

Things are new.....until they become normal.

We don't know how to do something.....until we've done it.

Travis Shelton 9/21/24 Travis Shelton 9/21/24

Hop Into My DeLorean

Not long ago, I was having lunch with a former youth group kid. He's nearly 30 years old now, diving head-first into life. Career, marriage, ministry, babies....all the good stuff. Amidst that conversation, I uttered the words, "Man, what I would give to go back to being 30!!!!"

Travis Shelton 9/20/24 Travis Shelton 9/20/24

The Competitor In the Mirror

My business partner TJ received a phone call from the Des Moines Register a few days ago. The reporter wanted to know what he thought about Caribou Coffee opening a new location right next door to our Northern Vessel shop. First, that was the first time either of us had heard about Caribou's plans. Second, we did have thoughts!

Travis Shelton 9/19/24 Travis Shelton 9/19/24

You May Only Get One Chance

Most of you probably aren't giving a talk next week, but you are doing something that will provide you with rare access to someone. For 5, 15, 30, or even 60 minutes, you might have a brief but powerful window to move the needle in someone's life.

Travis Shelton 9/18/24 Travis Shelton 9/18/24

I Guess I’ll Go There

Today's post will be a bit different than most. It's a post I never intended to write, but I feel an unshakable nudge to do it. I'm not sure what the impact could or should be, but I pray whatever impact it has, it outweighs the discomfort and possible consequences of writing it. I'm also willfully exceeding my self-imposed 500-word limit, but I hope it's worth it!

Travis Shelton 9/17/24 Travis Shelton 9/17/24

Kicking In the Door

If there's one thing that never ceases to amazing me, it's our human instinct to justify our desires. We'll use just about anything to squint, twist, and sell ourselves into a decision we probably shouldn't make.

Travis Shelton 9/16/24 Travis Shelton 9/16/24

Scare Yourself Today

Travis Shelton 9/15/24 Travis Shelton 9/15/24

Get On the Stage

In the traditional model, you would practice, practice, and practice, hoping to eventually be good enough to perform on stage. Conversely, in this model, the stage performance is the practice.

Travis Shelton 9/14/24 Travis Shelton 9/14/24

When NOT to Push the Button

Travis Shelton 9/13/24 Travis Shelton 9/13/24

To Press or Not to Press (the Button)

They aren't alone in this sentiment; it's all too common! The perceived sense of security always emotionally outweighs the benefit of actual relief.

Travis Shelton 9/12/24 Travis Shelton 9/12/24

This May Only Make Half Sense

Travis Shelton 9/11/24 Travis Shelton 9/11/24

Closing the Loop

This is where so many of us whiff. Whether it's ourselves or in our parenting, we don't close loops with finances. We take shortcuts, stop short of fully completing goals, and inadvertently rob ourselves (and our kids) of the tangibility.

Travis Shelton 9/10/24 Travis Shelton 9/10/24

More Expensive, But Cheaper

My friend Ryan swears by Helm Boots. Whenever he talks about them, or I see him wearing them, I want to buy a pair.....until I see the $300 price tag. Ouch!

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

Heartbreak. Joy. Impact.

What makes you angry? What breaks your heart? What makes you sad? What puts a knot in your stomach? What gets you fired up?These are some of the questions I ask people when they are interested in giving, but don't know where to start.

Travis Shelton 9/8/24 Travis Shelton 9/8/24

A Different Kind of Structure

While I'll die on the hill of getting our financial structure in order, I have a similar feeling about our geographical and logistical structure of life. To me, no amount of money can compensate for having a life structure that entails endless commutes and 24/7 to-and-froms.

Travis Shelton 9/7/24 Travis Shelton 9/7/24

She Completely Blanked

I ran into a former client at a coffee shop recently. I haven't seen her or her husband in upwards of three years. As we exchanged pleasantries, she exclaimed, "We did it!!!" To be honest, I had no idea what she was talking about.....so I asked for clarification. "The trip!!!" Ah, yes, the trip! I knew exactly what she was talking about!

Travis Shelton 9/6/24 Travis Shelton 9/6/24

It’s Hard to Overcome Our Structure

Unfortunately, it's hard to overcome our structure. This family had created a really expensivefinancial structure for their household. Based on THEIR choices, more than 70% of their income was already spoken for before it hits their bank account. No amount of trimming or cutbacks can help this family remedy what ails them.

Travis Shelton 9/5/24 Travis Shelton 9/5/24

The Destinationless Journey

Nobody said, "Wow, I'm just really looking forward to packing it in and riding off into the sunset." It was quite the opposite, actually. It was about finding new ways of making an impact, investing in their families, volunteering, and pursuing new types of work. Meaning, meaning, meaning, and meaning.

Travis Shelton 9/4/24 Travis Shelton 9/4/24

A December to Remember

It has everything! Financial self-sabotage, unilateral decisions, financial illiteracy, status-seeking behaviors, out-of-whack priorities, marital strife, buyer's remorse, and a hint of adultery.

Travis Shelton 9/3/24 Travis Shelton 9/3/24

Quality is Quality

By nearly every measure, we have a higher standard of living today than at any time in the history of our civilized world. More people have access to medical care, internet, cars, cell phones, internet, air conditioning, and indoor heating than ever. Houses are bigger, transportation more prominent, technology progressively better and cheaper. Our standard of living continues to skyrocket.

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!"