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.”
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Travis Shelton 10/15/24 Travis Shelton 10/15/24

Owning Non-Excellence

Then mere hours later, I performed a masterclass in non-excellence by letting three separate people down: a client, a blog reader, and a fellow board member. Three whiffs, three embarrassments, three regrets. Several factors played into my mistakes, including my new agonizing back injury and technical issues. However, while it would be easy for me to make excuses for these mistakes, there was one common theme in each of them: Me!

Travis Shelton 10/14/24 Travis Shelton 10/14/24

The Bar Has Never Been Lower

I dealt with many businesses during my Minneapolis trip this weekend. Retailers, restaurants, hotels, and venues. The majority. Poor quality. Inconsistent, Terrible service. Practically no hospitality. I repeatedly watched businesses treat people like dirt and sell them inferior products. The bar has never been lower.

Travis Shelton 10/13/24 Travis Shelton 10/13/24

Ouch and Joy

Travis Shelton 10/12/24 Travis Shelton 10/12/24

The Memory Paradox

There's a paradox with memories, though. Memories don't actually cost anything. Spending money isn't a prerequisite for creating memories. Now, if you want to create memories at an amusement park or concert, then yes, it will cost something. But spending money isn't what makes a memory.

Travis Shelton 10/11/24 Travis Shelton 10/11/24

All Shapes and Sizes

Right on cue! I received an extremely harsh message from an acquaintance after yesterday's post. For context, I shared a short but powerful testimonial from a friend who decided to pursue work that matters. In her particular situation, that work involved starting her own small business. I won't reveal all the expletive details from yesterday's criticism, but here's one sentence that sums up their perspective of yesterday's post: "Not everyone can just quit their job and start a business."

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

She’s Far-Fetched, Too

"After I was laid off, I chose to walk away from misery and do something really scary. I walked away from a comfortable 6 figure salary to maybe try to find some happiness. I knew in my head and heart that it could be out there somewhere - I just had to do really hard things to find it. Do I wish I had a bigger bank account? Sure. And maybe someday this business will allow a bit more flexibility and perhaps a vacation out of state (ha), but I'm not willing to give up the freedom and happiness I have every single day for more money in my pocket. I was miserable back then and I refuse to do that again."

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

I’m No Swiftie, But…

I'm no Swiftie, but I watched ESPN's Monday Night Football pre-game show last night with great anticipation. I was dying for the moment when they would show Taylor Swift walking into Arrowhead Stadium to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. It was so worth the wait when the payoff finally happened. That moment made my entire night!

Travis Shelton 10/8/24 Travis Shelton 10/8/24

Broken Bones and Torn ACLs

I began a seemingly innocent client relationship about a year ago. It was a young couple making good money and generally having much success. They brought me into their lives to shift them into an entirely new gear. The goal was to go from good to great. Then, life happened. Within a short time span, this couple experienced significant turmoil. Pain and suffering, followed by pain and suffering, followed by more pain and suffering. It was almost laughable how brutally life crushed them.

Travis Shelton 10/7/24 Travis Shelton 10/7/24

More Begets More

More begets more. More is the gateway drug to more. The moment we pursue more, we encounter the slippery slope of materialism. It's intoxicating; it's alluring.

Travis Shelton 10/6/24 Travis Shelton 10/6/24

Right Thing, Right Reasons

When I left my prior career and started my coaching business, I promised myself I would always be honest with people. If I could serve them well, I’d tell them. But if I wasn’t the right person for the job, I also needed to share that.

Travis Shelton 10/5/24 Travis Shelton 10/5/24

Ruin vs. Waste

"Most of us aren't at risk of ruining our life. Most of us are at risk of wasting it."

Travis Shelton 10/4/24 Travis Shelton 10/4/24

Looking In the Mirror

Travis Shelton 10/3/24 Travis Shelton 10/3/24

Reflections…..In a Ger

Travis Shelton 10/2/24 Travis Shelton 10/2/24

I Just Wanna Play Football

I often reflect on a particular conversation I had years ago with a bunch of my high school youth group kids. I don't remember the overarching topic of the conversation, but I pulled out a normal-to-me question: "What do you want to do when you're an adult?"

Travis Shelton 10/1/24 Travis Shelton 10/1/24

Yes

We just wrapped up two days of amazing meetings at a rustic lodge about two hours outside Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. My head is spnning. As I attempt to write today's piece, all I can think about is the word "yes."

Travis Shelton 9/30/24 Travis Shelton 9/30/24

Be the Worst Person In the Room

I intentionally chose a provocative title for today's piece, but it's sincerely how I feel. It's an alternative way to view the old moniker: "You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with." These last few days, I've spent time with countless people who have made far more impact, have a much grander vision, and have made much deeper sacrifices in their journeys than I can ever imagine.

Travis Shelton 9/29/24 Travis Shelton 9/29/24

Nobody Wants to Work: 1800s Edition

Question: In your opinion, when was peak music? What decade or period do you believe was the best? I know your answer, and you're right. My answer is probably different than yours, but I'm probably right, too. Let me guess. Your answer probably correlates with your mid-to-late teen years. Am I right?

Travis Shelton 9/28/24 Travis Shelton 9/28/24

Slivers of Light in the Darkness

It's been 24 hours since I wrote yesterday's blog, meaning I should be enjoying the sights and sounds of Mongolia by now. That's not my reality, though. Instead, I'm sitting at the same table in the Chicago airport where I wrote yesterday's piece.

Travis Shelton 9/27/24 Travis Shelton 9/27/24

When In Rome

I love the expression "When in Rome." It encapsulates my perspective of and approach to travel. The moment I depart Chicago, I will set my Midwest American culture, norms, and preferences aside and embrace the culture I'm entering.

Travis Shelton 9/26/24 Travis Shelton 9/26/24

Be Wary of Self-Titled “Experts”

I recently had a conversation that's stuck with me like a never-ending cold. One of my friends showed me her family's recent monthly statement from their financial advisor. This financial advisor works for one of the most respected companies in the industry. That, combined with the fact my friend (and her spouse) don't know a ton about investing, blindly trusted the "expert."

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!"