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 10/26/24 Travis Shelton 10/26/24

First, Do It Poorly

Here's a concept that applies to all areas of life: First, we must do it poorly. Then, we get to do it ok. Later, we get to become good. Eventually, we have the opportunity to be great. But it all starts with our willingness to be terrible.

Travis Shelton 10/25/24 Travis Shelton 10/25/24

You’ll Still Be You

Have you heard there's an election coming up? Surprise, surprise, I know! I don't have a magic eight-ball to predict the winner, but I do know one thing for sure: 45% of this country will be elated, and 45% will be devastated. One group optimistic about our future, and another terrified. One faction will celebrate wildly and rub it in the other side's faces, while the other faction will cry foul.

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

Always Be Unreasonable

Regardless of your vocation or industry, whether an employee or an owner, unreasonable hospitality is always the right approach. Generosity always wins.

Travis Shelton 10/23/24 Travis Shelton 10/23/24

Opening Eyes, Escaping Traps

On the heels of yesterday's post, I received some expected pushback. Specifically, I was accused of exaggerating the monthly car payment this couple would need if they decided to buy a new car. The exact words were, "A $580 car payment seems over the top. That doesn't even seem like a realistic number. Car payments aren't that high."

Travis Shelton 10/22/24 Travis Shelton 10/22/24

They Ate the Elephant

Don't fall for the trap. There are better ways to live out our finances. Harder ways, but better ways. Patience. Delayed gratification. Humility. This young couple is so glad they took the path less traveled. They are living for meaning first, and it's a joy to watch. You deserve the same!

Travis Shelton 10/21/24 Travis Shelton 10/21/24

Parsing Needs Wisely

I was chatting with a friend about the upcoming football game, which was supposed to be a blackout (all-black uniforms and fans also wearing black). Amidst our conversation, my friend lamented, "Ugh, we need to buy black ISU gear for the game. That's gonna cost at least a few hundred dollars."

Travis Shelton 10/20/24 Travis Shelton 10/20/24

Sear It In

Amidst the pandamonium, I leaned over to TJ and suggested that this might be Finn and Pax's first seared-in sports moment. A moment they might someday tell their own kids about. The type of moment that will ultimately get stored away in their core memories.

Travis Shelton 10/19/24 Travis Shelton 10/19/24

Exposing the Secrets

As I was chatting with a friend yesterday, I noticed, in real-time, that the stock market hit a new all-time 155-year high (since 1870). Curious, my friend asked me a few questions.

Travis Shelton 10/18/24 Travis Shelton 10/18/24

What if It Were Life or Death?

Many people struggle to save. There are many contributing factors to this type of wiring, spanning from nature to nurture.

Travis Shelton 10/17/24 Travis Shelton 10/17/24

The Awakening

Ultimately, upon reflecting on his own life and the decisions he made, here's where he landed: "I got everything I ever thought I wanted, then realized it's all crap."

Travis Shelton 10/16/24 Travis Shelton 10/16/24

Beware the Shadow Side

After discussing the mechanics of how it would work and whether it could be a viable option for them, he asked the question I was dying to answer: "What's the shadow side of using a HELOC?" He knows me well, and he knows I'm constantly thinking about the behavioral science of things. In short, there are three psychological traps to using a HELOC.

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.

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!"