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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Parenting, Meaning, Impact Travis Shelton Parenting, Meaning, Impact Travis Shelton

Childlike Wonder

I often wonder at what age most of us lose that zest, that imagination, and that wonder. There's a moment in life where we go from having that childlike wonder to getting hit with a blast of reality. It's like our dreams, creativity, and imagination were robbed from under our noses without us even knowing it.

Sarah and I took the boys to a dinner theater show last night. It was a phenomenal experience. I wondered how much they would enjoy it, but to my surprise, they came alive and soaked in every second of it. My favorite part was watching the kids yell, scream, cheer, and boo as the action was playing out. They were all in!

I often wonder at what age most of us lose that zest, that imagination, and that wonder. There's a moment in life where we go from having that childlike wonder to getting hit with a blast of reality. It's like our dreams, creativity, and imagination were robbed from under our noses without us even knowing it.

One of my commitments over the past decade has been to live with more childlike wonder. I crave to see things differently and be crazy enough to ask, "Why not?" Every ounce of me wants to revolt against what's normal and expected, instead sharing my version of creativity with the world.

Truthfully, I feel younger now than 15 years ago. While my body certainly isn't, my mind, soul, and imagination are. It's so easy to lose sight of those things in life. After all, life can be brutal. It can often feel like we're repeatedly getting punched by circumstances. It's no wonder we often abandon our childlike wonder, and grasp survival instead.

Watching my kids last night was yet another reminder of how important our imagination, creativity, curiosity, and wonder really are. There's nothing more joyful than living life with that zest that only small children seem to possess.

I have some absolutely insane ideas that have been fighting to come out for a while now. Outside of my assistant and a few close friends, very few people know about some of these ridiculous ideas. Watching my kids over the last few days has been all the affirmation I need to pull the trigger and just say "yes" to some of these quirky inspirations.

As for you, I hope you find a way to keep hold of that childlike wonder that once fueled you. Some of it is still there, even if placed deep on the back burner. Perhaps today is the day to dust it back off.

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Budgeting, Meaning Travis Shelton Budgeting, Meaning Travis Shelton

A Little Discretion Goes a Long Way

If you know me, you know I LOVE food! I have a soft spot in my heart for unique and memorable dining experiences. I deeply treasure the financial investment in a good meal at a restaurant.

At the same time, I feel like so much of my coaching work is spent trying to encourage families to tone down their dining out spending. It's not that I'm against dining out (obviously), but sometimes a family's dining out spending is actually detrimental to their broader objectives.

For example, let's say a family is trying to pay off a bunch of debt or commit to investing. For multiple reasons, there's just not enough margin in the budget to make meaningful progress in these goals. Therefore, we scan their budget to find ways to free up margin. Here's how one of those recent conversations played out. About three-quarters of the way down the budget, we find this: "Dining Out: $800." This is a single-month number for two parents and two under-10 kids.

This is the moment where I point out that perhaps $800 is a bit heavy.

"But we hardly even go out to eat. We maybe go out once per week. I don't think we can cut this category."

**This is me doing my best to keep a straight face**

I happen to live in a family with two parents and two under-10 kids, and live in the same town they do.

I didn't do a good job of keeping my straight face, and they could see my skepticism. "It costs at least $120 just to go to xyz restaurant. Going out to eat is ridiculously expensive these days!"

It was ironic they used xyz restaurant as an example, as my family just visited xyz restaurant the prior week.

"Well, I took my family to xyz restaurant last week, and our total bill was $45."

"That's impossible!"

We compared notes. When my family goes to this restaurant, we order three entrees and eat family style; plenty of food! We also get water. No appetizers, no desserts. When they go to this restaurant, they each order a full adult entree.....which is beyond overkill for their family. But first, they start with an appetizer or two. Everyone also gets a "fun drink," as my kids call them. Lastly, they might get some desserts to polish off the night.

A little discretion goes a long way. Please don't hear me condemning their dining experience. I'm all for going all-in on dining. However, it's a party foul to use no discretion, spend $120 for what could have been accomplished with $45, call it a need, and subsequently whiff on your goals. Sometimes, we need to have boundaries.

For those of you interested, my family's monthly dining out budget averages $250 these days. It's rarely glamorous, but it does provide a margin for multiple outings with my family each month, plus a date night. We could definitely push this number higher, but for now, it allows us to knock out some other goals. There's a season for everything.

A little discretion goes a long way. Please don't allow "normal" to sweep you away and rob you of your goals that matter most.

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Budgeting, Travel Travis Shelton Budgeting, Travel Travis Shelton

Our Eyes Deceive Us

"Travis, I can't believe you and Sarah spent $1,000/month on travel! That seems like a lot. An irresponsible a lot."

One of my favorite parts about creating content is the fact it will, in theory, live forever. Every once in a while, I'll receive an e-mail, DM, or text from someone who recently stumbled upon something I published years ago. Those are always fun days for me. A few days ago, I had a similar experience when I ran into a close friend at an event.

"Travis, I can't believe you and Sarah spent $1,000/month on travel! That seems like a lot. An irresponsible a lot."

He was referring to episode 240 of our Meaning Over Money Podcast, which was published two years ago. His wife recently listened to the episode and now thinks they should budget $1,000/month for travel. Translation: He's semi-angry at me for causing his wife to want more travel money.

"And you think $1,000 is too much?" I asked him.

He confirmed that, yes, $1,000 is a stupid and reckless amount to spend on travel.

"It's funny you would say that, considering you and your wife easily spend 2-3x that amount."

He was confused. I could tell he wanted to be defensive, but he was waiting for what I had to say next.

"You just went to Disney, right? Let's do some mental math and figure out how much that trip cost."

About 90 seconds later, we landed on a total rough number: $13,000.

"And you and your wife went to a resort a few months ago, right?"

We did some more quick math: $5,000.

"What other trips have you taken in the last 12 months?"

He comes up with a handful of other trips, some small and some medium-ish.

It was a fun exercise. After about 10 minutes, we tallied what felt like a complete prior-12-month travel number: $41,000.

His eyes got pretty big. $41,000 on travel over a 12-month period! Put into monthly terms, that's about $3,400/month, every month, for the entire year. Remember, this conversation started with him believing my family's $1,000/month travel budget was irresponsible.

No, he wasn't trying to be a hypocrite. No, he wasn't trying to be a jerk to me. The truth is, our eyes deceive us. Our brains are wired in such a way that we easily lose context depending on how something is framed. In his financial life, things are framed through the lens of no budgeting, impulsive trips, and rampant credit card use. Therefore, no thought goes into their travel. They decide they want to go, they just go, they spend whatever they spend, then they pay it off upon returning.

$1,000/month feels like a lot of money because it happens every month. In his world, it looks more like $0, $0, $0, an unknown trip cost, $0, another unknown trip cost, $0, $0, yet another unknown trip cost, etc. It's a lot of zeroes and a lot of unknowns, which add up to $41,000 in no time.

Two key takeaways today: 1) We must continually strive to view things through a proper lens. Context always matters. 2) We need to be intentional, thoughtful, and disciplined with our finances. The absence of either creates chaos and leakage, but the presence of both leads to less stress, more peace, and a greater sense of meaning. Happy travels!

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Parenting, Meaning Travis Shelton Parenting, Meaning Travis Shelton

Finn’s Reminder

I had a killer idea for today's post, but one moment knocked it right out of me. Last night, shortly after bedtime, I was getting some work done on the couch when out of the blue, Finn came walking out. He approached me, gave me a big hug, and said, "You're the best dad ever. I'm so glad you're my dad." Then, as quickly as he arrived, he scurried back to bed.

Dang, that was unexpected. There are lots of days when I feel like I whiffed, screwed up, or wasn't present enough. Then, there was last night. Between you and me, I really needed that.

These last few days have been a lot of fun in our house. Yeah, there have been lots of sibling fighting, arguing, and tormenting. Yeah, it's been stressful at times. Yeah, I've thought about drop-kicking a little man. But we've had so many small, special moments together. It's been a special run in our house, and for that, I'm so grateful.

Truthfully, the special moments haven't been some profound event. Rather, it's more so a matter of seizing those small little moments. Watching fireworks, sharing snacks, running around in the rain, watching new movies, going on walks, quick trips to the store, and cruising around town. These things seem so innocent and pedestrian, but to our children, they can significantly move the needle.

This is my semi-regular reminder that we don't need to spend a ton of money to create memories. Blowing the bank, taking a bunch of PTO, and racking up the credit card is not a prerequisite to creating memories and sharing experiences with our kids. Usually, it just requires us to slow down, be present, and live in the moment.

I'm sharing this reminder with you today, but in all seriousness, I'll probably set a reminder to have this post shared with me periodically so I don't forget, either. It's so easy to get swept up by life. Let's endeavor to fight that current.

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Careers, Meaning Travis Shelton Careers, Meaning Travis Shelton

Freedom Has a Catch

Social media was ablaze yesterday, filled with people lamenting about how we're not actually free. There was anger, embarrassment, resentment, and condemnation. Do we live in a perfect country? No way! Is it a free country? I've traveled to approximately forty countries over the years, all wonderful in their own ways, and have yet to find one that offers the same level of freedom and opportunity as America. Traveling abroad is one of my favorite things in life, and I always find nuances and dynamics in each country that I deeply admire (perhaps enough to move there at some point in my life), but I always return to America with a sense of gratitude for what it is. Again, we're not perfect....not even close.

When I look around and see what people around me are doing with their lives, I'm humbled. I have countless examples, but here’s one. I know a guy who immigrated to this country when he was 17. He didn't know a single word of English, and as he puts it, he was "poor poor." It was a struggle for him, to say the least. Fast forward a few decades, and he's created a beautiful career and life for his family. He, too, would acknowledge this country isn't perfect. On the flip side, when asked about his decision to move to America, he had this to say: "There's nowhere else in the world where a man like me could move to and have the opportunity to do what I've done. I owe a debt of gratitude to this country, as does everyone who comes after me. I love this place so much. I'm proud to be an American."

Whenever I talk to people who feel stuck in their work and believe they have no options, I think of my friends like the man above. Each of us has the freedom and power to choose our work. There are millions of jobs out there, each with its own positives and negatives. None of them are perfect, but some would be perfect fits for each of us.

It always feels ironic to me that 70% of Americans dislike or hate their jobs, yet we all live in a country that allows us the opportunity to shift our work at any time. Countless people in my life walk this ironic path. They are miserable, yet don't feel compelled to do anything about it.

That's the catch with freedom. Yes, we're free. Yes, opportunity is abound. Yes, we have countless options. However, the catch is that we each must raise our hand, say "yes," step forward, and take action to harness that freedom. No matter how good or how bad you have it right now, better is on the other side of stepping into the freedom.

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Meaning Travis Shelton Meaning Travis Shelton

Freedoms

On July 4th, 2009, I didn't exactly feel free. I had recently moved to Iowa in what can only be described as an involuntary relocation. My company in Kansas City had been shut down, everyone fired, and I had a gut-wrenching decision in front of me.

Every July 4th, I find myself dwelling on the word "freedom." Yes, of course, the freedoms we celebrate in America as a result of the events that transpired nearly 250 years ago. However, this day also makes me reflect on other types of freedom. So many freedoms to be thankful for!

On July 4th, 2009, I didn't exactly feel free. I had recently moved to Iowa in what can only be described as an involuntary relocation. My company in Kansas City had been shut down, everyone fired, and I had a gut-wrenching decision in front of me: Join my newly unemployed friends in one of the worst job markets of our lifetime, or pick up my entire life, leave everything I loved, relocate to a different state, and keep my job. Oh yeah, did I mention I had been engaged for three days? Wonderful times!

There was an elephant in the room that seemed to have more decision-making power than me: the $236,000 of debt hanging around my neck. For several years, I had made some questionable choices that didn't seem like a big deal.......until they became my worst nightmare. So there I was, on July 4th, 2009, reflecting on how I didn't exactly feel free. I felt enslaved to my debt, my job, and my past choices.

Luckily, that wasn't the end of the story, but rather just the beginning. Sarah and I married later that year, began building a life together in Iowa, and eventually paid off the $236,000 in debt. Month by month, win by win, our lives slowly began to shift. Getting out of that debt was one of the most freeing experiences I've ever had.

Fast forward more than a decade, and I get to dedicate my life to helping other people achieve freedom.

The freedom from debt.

The freedom from living other people's values.

The freedom to aggressively pursue work that matters.

The freedom to be outrageously generous.

The freedom to live counter to the prevailing culture.

The freedom to build that business they had always dreamed of.

The freedom from money being a tension point in their marriages.

The freedom to live for the meaning, not the money.

Whether you're celebrating a freedom today, or in the midst of pursuing one, I hope you take a few minutes to reflect on your journey with a spirit of gratitude, dedication, and aspiration. The best is yet to come. Happy 4th of July, everyone!

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Meaning, Impact Travis Shelton Meaning, Impact Travis Shelton

The Wrong Scorecard

I just had a heartbreaking conversation with an acquaintance. He's in his mid-50s, married, with two children who are about to graduate from high school. He confidentially shared this with me, but also asked me to anonymously write and podcast about it.

I just had a heartbreaking conversation with an acquaintance. He's in his mid-50s, married, with two children who are about to graduate from high school. He confidentially shared this with me, but also asked me to anonymously write and podcast about it.

Here's the context. This man can no doubt be considered successful. He has a prominent position in a prominent company. He's played the game, worked hard, navigated his way up the corporate ladder, and consequently, has reaped many financial rewards. He and his wife live in a large, beautiful suburban home, drive luxury cars, send their kids to a prestigious school, and live a VERY comfortable life. He aggressively and diligently invested throughout his career, leading him to a point where he has more than enough to retire right now (let's call it +/- $5 million). In his mid-50s, he could easily walk away from his job today and never worry about money again.

You're probably reading this and thinking to yourself, "Yeah, what's the problem? I'd love to be in his shoes!"

What he said next is where the story takes a dark turn. "If I could do it all over again, I'd do everything differently. I think I was using the wrong scorecard."

His work pursuits and the demands of his job required him to be away from his family on an almost weekly basis. As he framed it, his kids are about ready to leave the house, and he doesn't even feel like he knows them. Now that he has this pot of wealth and the ability to hit the career eject button, he feels this massive void and missed opportunity. His kids are about ready to leave the house, he finds little to no meaning in his work (other than the money it produces), and he has no passions, hobbies, or interests outside of making more money. "Now that I look back, it all feels kind of worthless."

He confided in me because it's deeply embarrassing. He feels pretty guilty about having this level of regret and shame when most people would give their left thumb to be in his shoes. "It doesn't feel as good as I thought it would."

For decades, he believed the appropriate scorecard to measure his success was his bank account and the freedom it provided him. Today, though, he's seeing things through a different lens. Now that he has the financial freedom to walk away from work, retire into the sunset, and live a blessed financial life, he realizes there might have been a different (and better) scorecard to use for this journey called life.

He and I spent many hours talking about meaning, impact, generosity, and contentment. The importance of being a father and husband. The need to disconnect our identity from our money, stuff, and status. The deep, inherent, God-given hunger to be productive and add value to other people's lives. The realization that no amount of money will truly make us happy. The soul-filling, life-giving power of generosity. It was a beautiful conversation.

Bad news: This man has been using the wrong scorecard for decades.

Good news: He can change the scorecard today!

What scorecard are you using?

____

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Investing Travis Shelton Investing Travis Shelton

What’s Under the Hood?

"If the stock market is at an all-time high, shouldn't my retirement account also be at an all-time high?"

After my recent post titled "Well, Well, Well," I received a sharp but appropriate question from a handful of readers. Here's how one reader phrased it: "If the stock market is at an all-time high, shouldn't my retirement account also be at an all-time high?"

Yes, yes it should. As of this moment, the U.S. stock market is still hovering around its new all-time high. Even if you haven't contributed any money in the last few years, your investment portfolio should be at an all-time high. However, if you've been consistently investing through the recent market turmoil, you should be crushing your previous all-time high,without question.

If you're one of the many people who are still not at all-time highs, there are a few reasons this could be (none of them good):

  • You're paying ridiculous, unnecessary, and possibly invisible fees.

  • You're implementing a sub-par strategy. I say "sub-par" through the lens that no strategy exists that will reliably match the returns of the overall stock market over the long run.

  • You're investing in the wrong funds. There's a LOT of trash out there, and most people (probably 90%) are invested in trash. Nearly every investing platform has a great S&P 500 index or total U.S. stock market index. These are broad, beautiful, and simple options.

  • You (or someone managing your money) is trying to time or game the market. This is a losing strategy.....period.

If you're interested in one additional piece of information to compare your portfolio to, here you go. Here is the annual return of the entire U.S. stock market over varying periods of time, as of 6/30/2025:

To put this into context, the annual return over 15 years was 14.43%. That means, over a 15-year period of time, the market increased an average of 14.43% every year. A $1,000 investment would have turned into $7,500. That’s huge! And it was right there for each one of us.

Those are some pretty ridiculous numbers. I encourage you to open your most recent statement and compare your portfolio's performance with these. If they are close, excellent! If they deviate from what you see here, please know a few things:

  • You are leaving tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions of dollars on the table.

  • You deserve better.

  • Having better is as easy as a few clicks on a screen. In today's financial system, nearly all investment platforms (including your company's 401(k)/403(b) offer at least one solid broad index option.

In my opinion, this is the simplest and biggest needle-mover most families have at their disposal. Money isn't always an easy topic, but in the case of investing, this is actually the easiest component to get right. Please don't let paralysis prevent you from maximizing your opportunity with the resources you've worked so hard save.

Perhaps it's time to log into that investment account and see what's under the hood.

For those who have asked, I only have one thing under the hood of my portfolio. VTSAX, which is Vanguard’s total U.S. stock market index (3,600 different companies). 100% of my family’s retirement resources are in this, and have have been for many years. Before that, my 401(k) lived in an S&P 500 index fund. As simple as it gets!

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Budgeting Travis Shelton Budgeting Travis Shelton

Just Until You Die

Truthfully, once budgeting becomes a steadying force in our financial lives, it's impossible to envision life without it. I can't even fathom going a single month without a planned and executed budget. That would feel weirder than wearing only a Speedo to work. It's unconscionable!

One of my clients is absolutely crushing it! Husband and wife, mid-30s, two small children. They got on the same page, started budgeting, paid off a ton of debt, unlocked generosity, pursued work that matters, and are aggressively living their values. They are in a position to fire me at any time! Mission accomplished.

During a recent meeting, they asked me a curious question: "When did you and Sarah decide you were good enough at your finances to quit budgeting?"

I just stared at them; I was floored. Part of me was trying to figure out if they were joking, but once I realized they were serious, I composed myself before mustering a response: "Budgeting isn't something you have to do forever......just until you die."

Truthfully, once budgeting becomes a steadying force in our financial lives, it's impossible to envision life without it. I can't even fathom going a single month without a planned and executed budget. That would feel weirder than wearing only a Speedo to work. It's unconscionable! There's no reality, no wealth, no income, and no situation that would prevent Sarah and me from budgeting. It doesn't matter if I make $10 or $10M this month, there will be a budget.

Out of curiosity, I asked several of my clients for their perspectives on this topic. For people who have been budgeting for six months or less, they were 50/50. About half said they couldn't imagine not budgeting, while the other half said they could stop tomorrow. I expected this answer, as these habits aren't yet fully engrained, nor are the results obvious. For people who have been budgeting for at least one year, 100% of them said it's an absolute non-negotiable in their life and marriage. There WILL be a budget, and life is better for it.

Budgeting is one of those weird things that feels weird and foreign if you've never done one, but once it's fully integrated into your life, it would feel weird and foreign to not have one. If you're someone who feels like budgeting would be weird or foreign......or lame, restricting, fun-killing, soul-sucking, boring, tedious, or difficult, perhaps today is the day to give it a shot.

If it feels too intimidating or you don't know where to start, hit reply to this e-mail, drop a comment below, or e-mail me at thedailymeaning@gmail.com. I'd love to answer your questions or provide you with some additional resources. It's not nearly as hard as you might think, and it's most definitely more powerful than you'd ever believe.

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Parenting, Careers Travis Shelton Parenting, Careers Travis Shelton

We Indoctrinate ‘Em Young

After months of the kids asking, I finally pulled the trigger and opened bank accounts for them. There's a particular app that's perfect for this endeavor, which includes a checking account, savings accounts, a debit card, and even investing. From what I can tell, the mechanical execution of this platform is pretty solid. I'll share more about this little adventure at a future date, but for reasons you'll soon see, I'm not going to reveal the name of this platform today.

One of the features of this app is an education catalog. There are videos, games, and quizzes that help teach children about financial literacy. Pax quickly found this section and began watching some of the videos. He learned about needs vs.wants, living below his means, and the basics of inflation. Yes, it was weird to have an almost nine-year-old bring up the fundamentals of inflation at the dinner table

Generally, the financial literacy pieces were solid and well-executed at an age-specific level. But then, as he began working through the saving lessons, this happened:

Which would you choose?

  • Retire from working early.

  • Live in a more expensive house.

  • Travel for vacations often.

This is financial literacy for CHILDREN, and we're already glorifying the race to stop working. When I say that our culture glorifies retirement and demonizes work, this is exactly what I'm talking about. It's not hyperbole.

Every single aspect of our lives pushes the narrative that work sucks and not working is awesome. No wonder so many people are perfectly content working at jobs they despise. 7 out of 10 Americans dislike or hate their jobs, yet nothing ever changes. Why? First, we're told our entire lives that work sucks......so we go into it thinking it's supposed to suck. Second, we tell ourselves that the suckiness doesn't have to last forever. If we just run the race faster and hoard more money, we can quit this stupid working stuff, get to the good part of life, and finally enjoy ourselves.

I know people who are so miserable at work that their hair is literally falling out. I know someone who is so stressed at their job that migraines have become a daily part of their routine. I know multiple people who are so drained by their work that all they want to do on the weekends is sleep. I know multiple people who are so broken by their work that their fingernails and toenails have stopped growing. People are literally dying from their work. Yet, we normalize the misery.

"Dad, what does retire from working early mean?"

I explained to him that some people don't like their jobs and would rather not work than work. So they save more money so that they can stop working when they are younger.

"If they don't like their job, why don't they just go get a different job? They can help people another way."

The mind of an eight-year-old! So simple, so straightforward, so obvious. He hasn't yet become polluted by the ways of this world.

"I think you're right, bud. They should go find a different way to help people. Work is awesome!"

Our kids deserve better. They deserve to live a meaningful life now, not just someday once they finish the retirement race. Let’s help teach our kids the better they deserve.

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Parenting, Spending Travis Shelton Parenting, Spending Travis Shelton

They’re All Right

During one such conversation, my young friend said she's heard all sorts of anecdotes about how much it costs to raise children. Some people told her it costs very little, while others say it costs an arm and a leg. My response: "They're all right."

Everyone around me is having babies: former youth group kids, clients, and people on my team. Given my station in life as someone who discusses all things money, I'm repeatedly asked the same question: "How much do kids cost?"

During one such conversation, my young friend said she's heard all sorts of anecdotes about how much it costs to raise children. Some people told her it costs very little, while others say it costs an arm and a leg. My response: "They're all right."

If someone thinks it costs little to raise kids, it will.

If someone thinks it costs a ton to raise kids, it will.

Kids cost what we decide to spend on them.

Raising kids is like spending a long weekend in Las Vegas. It's possible to do it affordably, and it's possible to spend a million dollars. The choice is yours.

I've worked with hundreds of families, and I have a few children of my own. You wouldn't believe the level of cost variability families experience when raising children. Even with children raised in the same city, the differences are stark.

For example, I know a family that spends $5,000-$7,000/month on their children. They would testify this is simply the cost of raising kids. I know another family that spends $200/month on their children. This couple would testify that their kids have more than enough. Kids cost what we spend on them.

In our household, we have two categories for our kids in the budget. First, "Kids." This includes anything explicitly spent for them: clothes, babysitting, fun outings, chore wages, furnishings, etc. It's a catch-all for all things kids. The second category, introduced in second grade, is "Kids Activities." This is a sinking fund that gets funded each month to be used for their lumpy activities: rock band, basketball, football, camps, etc.

The Kids category has ranged from $300-$700/month. It started at $700 for diapers and formula for newborn twins, then down, and is now back up to $400 per month. The Kids Activities category is a constant $600/month. Both of these categories are intentional, conscious, and negotiated choices between Sarah and me. We aren't victims. We are the authors. If we don't like it, we change it.

There are a million variables related to raising children, each with its own cost structure. As parents, it's not our job to say "yes" to any and every opportunity to spend money. Just because someone wants something, it doesn't mean we're required to oblige. I'd argue what's best for our children is to learn boundaries, embrace contentment, and for their parents NOT to be weighed down by massive levels of financial stress and pressure (caused, in part, by the obscene amount they are spending on their children). I've watched parents divorce due to the financial tension that was partially caused by them trying to "be good parents" by saying yes to everything their children want. It's sad.

Kids cost what we spend on them, so we might as well be intentional. If we don't decide what to spend, society will do it for us.

____

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Investing Travis Shelton Investing Travis Shelton

Well, Well, Well

And just like that, the U.S. stock market is at a new all-time high. Remember just two months ago when people were decrying the end of America and the utter destruction of millions of Americans' retirement accounts? Those were fun times.

And just like that, the U.S. stock market is at a new all-time high. Remember just two months ago when people were decrying the end of America and the utter destruction of millions of Americans' retirement accounts? Those were fun times.

Yesterday afternoon, the S&P 500 closed at $6,173, which marks a new 155-year high. The previous all-time high was $6,144, achieved on February 19, 2025.

Now, in a stunning and ironic twist, the same people who were decrying the end of capitalism (and subsequently and irrationally liquidated their investments out of fear) are now claiming it's a terrible time to invest since the market is so high.

You want to know the best time to invest? I'll tell you the secret. Lean in closer. Today. Today is the best time to invest.

"Yeah, Travis, but it doesn't make sense to invest at all-time highs. It's better to wait until it comes back down!"

If someone has a magic crystal ball that will perfectly predict the future, I'd love for them to share their secrets with me. Unfortunately, history hasn't boded well for people who tried to time the market. It's easy to look back with hindsight and declare what's what with uber confidence. Again, unfortunately, I don't see many people with DeLoreans parked in their driveways that allow them to go back in time.

Here's the truth. Yes, the market just reached a new 155-year high. However, it shouldn't scare us as much as people lead us to believe, for one very important reason. We hit new all-time highs all the time! For example, over the last 155 years (since the conclusion of the Civil War), the stock market ended the year at an all-time high 57 different times. That's one out of every 2.7 years. Here's how many times the market ended a year at all-time highs, by decade:

  • 1870s: 2

  • 1880s: 2

  • 1890s: 1

  • 1900s: 7

  • 1910s: 0

  • 1920: 4 (Roaring 20s)

  • 1930s: 0 (Great Depression)

  • 1940s: 0 (World War 2)

  • 1950s: 7 (post-war boom)

  • 1960s: 6

  • 1970s: 1

  • 1980s: 9

  • 1990s: 8

  • 2000s: 0 (tech bubble burse, 9/11, Great Financial Crisis)

  • 2010s: 5

  • 2020s: 5 (so far, including this year)

Imagine having a drink with a couple of buddies on New Year's Eve, 1968. You start discussing the stock market. One of your buddies begins talking about how the market feels too rich for his blood. After all, it hit new all-time highs in 13 of the last 18 years. It's now worth nearly $104!!! It's too high. It just doesn't make sense! We should probably wait for it to come back down.

You know better, though. Yeah, it's true the market hit new all-time highs 13 out of the last 18 years, but you also know the best time to invest is today. So, despite your friend's negative outlook, you invest anyway. Fast forward to today, whatever you invested on NYE 1968 is now worth 59x what you paid for it (plus all the dividends you received in the meantime).

Back to June 2025. Yes, we're at a new all-time high. Yes, the market will likely go down at some point. Yes, terrible things will happen in the meantime. And yes, we'll hit many, many more all-time highs. History has given us a road map to the future. All it requires of us is to be patient and enjoy the bumpy ride.

____

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Meaning, Investing Travis Shelton Meaning, Investing Travis Shelton

They Shot the Elephant

In a recent meeting with one of these couples, I was writing a bullet list of possible uses for their taxable investment account. As soon as I wrote the word "pre-60 retirement," they asked me to erase it. "We don't want to retire. We like to actually live our lives and have purpose."

When I'm sitting face-to-face with most coaching clients, there's an elephant in the room. This person (or persons) desires to retire one day. They'll tell me, "We want to retire in 15 years." They might be 40 years old, meaning their objective is to prepare themselves to retire by age 55.

This desire has many implications. First, it means this couple needs to invest like crazy. They need to intentionally and repeatedly set aside large chunks of money each month as they race the clock to accumulate enough resources to meet their objective.

When they elect to set aside massive resources for retirement (you know, to win the race), this, too, has implications. It means fewer financial resources available to the family month in and month out. That may mean less fun, fewer vacations, less generosity, and a more frugal lifestyle. It might also mean they linger in higher-paying, lower-meaning jobs. After all, what's the point in pursuing work that matters if we're busy racing toward the finish line and stop working as quickly as possible? There's a conscious trade-off between finding meaning in their life now (which they might not) and hurrying toward the retirement finish line.

The financial and career pressures begin to build, all for the sake of meeting these age-based retirement goals. Some people enjoy this process, but most don't. In fact, it can turn a frustrating endeavor into a pressure cooker of stress, weight, and disappointment.

Then, there are meetings where I sit face-to-face with a different kind of client. This is the type of couple who, like me, have zero desire to retire. Both spouses are pursuing work that matters, enjoying the journey, and living with meaning every step of the way.

In a recent meeting with one of these couples, I was writing a bullet list of possible uses for their taxable investment account. As soon as I wrote the word "pre-60 retirement," they asked me to erase it. "We don't want to retire. We like to actually live our lives and have purpose." I love it!

The implications of this mindset shift run deep. Immediately, we were able to pivot our approach and create a weird and counter-cultural way to approach this topic. Every ounce of pressure and urgency melts away, as there's no defined race to run. Instead, we can plan more intentionally and weave all the pieces together in a way that creates a cohesive lifestyle (not just someday down the road, but today). There is no elephant in the room; they shot the elephant!

Instead of allocating massive sums of resources to retirement, they can take a more measured and flexible approach. They can allocate more money for memories, travel, and giving. Their investments, instead of needing to fund an ever-earlier retirement, can now feed more meaningful endeavors. Their career decisions can be centered around meaning, not paychecks. More than anything, there's no weight. They are going to be great. They don't feel burdened or heavy. It changes everything!

I shot the elephant years ago, and I'm so glad my client did, too! When we can untether ourselves from the race toward retirement, it literally changes every single aspect of our lives. So beautiful! Is it something you'd consider? Please think about it, and we'll talk about it again soon.

____

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Behavioral Science, Spending Travis Shelton Behavioral Science, Spending Travis Shelton

Steaks Have a Price?

In a fun way, this steak conversation perfectly illustrates my broader point. We're all different. We each have a complex set of values, perspectives, and characteristics. And yes, these values, perspectives, and characteristics funnel into our relationship with money.

Yesterday's post set off quite the unexpected storm of commentary: steak, steak, and more steak. Steaks weren't the main point of that post, but it hit home for many. To summarize, I was trying to make the point that our personal opinions of what something should cost mean nothing. Instead, the herd determines market value, and it's our individual responsibility to decide if we accept said price.....or not. Everything else is just noise.

Yesterday's comments can be placed into one of two camps. First, about a half-dozen people shared they, too, struggle to pull the trigger on nice cuts of meat.

  • "Too rich for my blood."

  • "I need to stick with chicken breast and hamburger right now."

  • "It's not worth it."

  • "Maybe if the prices eventually fall."

This group of people is price-sensitive to the cost of steaks. They would like to buy steak, but when they look at it through their own personal lens, they don't see enough value for the cost.

The second camp is on the polar opposite side of the discussion. In their opinion, no cost is too much for a good piece of meat:

  • "There's always room in the budget for steak."

  • "It's a luxury I'm not willing to give up."

  • "Nobody better touch my steaks!"

  • "Steaks have a price?"

Then, there's one other guy. I ran into a man at a local retailer yesterday, and he was excited to see me. He is an admitted cheapskate. He compares fuel prices at various gas stations and picks the cheapest pumps. He only buys generic brands. He only spends "25 bucks, max" on pants. He rarely goes out to eat. My point: he's frugal. Here's what he said about steaks: "I eat 1-2 steaks per week, and I NEVER look at the price. I find a steak I want to eat.....and I buy it. I refuse to look at the price. It's one of my small joys in life."

In a fun way, this steak conversation perfectly illustrates my broader point. We're all different. We each have a complex set of values, perspectives, and characteristics. And yes, these values, perspectives, and characteristics funnel into our relationship with money. The price of a steak is the price of a steak. However, what we do with that information is dramatically different for each of us. It doesn't matter what the actual cost to produce a steak is, or what we think it shouldcost. The herd decides the price, and we individually need to react accordingly.

Now, take out the word "steak" and replace it with literally any other item in our life. A coffee, a MacBook, a house, a pair of Nike's, a new Honda Accord, a house cleaner, or my financial coaching services, to name a few. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks these things are worth because you're not them. Instead, our job is to block out all the noise around us, accept the price of something for what it is, and decide if the value of said item (to us) exceeds the price we would pay.

So simple, yet so challenging to execute. However, if we can lock in on this idea and do it well, it makes our lives so much richer.

____

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Spending Travis Shelton Spending Travis Shelton

The Market Value of Water

Social media is abuzz right now after leaked documents show a particular pair of Nike shoes costs $16/pair to manufacture, including all materials and labor. The selling price for said shoe? $180/pair. That's an 11x markup, or stated in terms of gross margins, 91% gross margin.

Social media is abuzz right now after leaked documents show a particular pair of Nike shoes costs $16/pair to manufacture, including all materials and labor. The selling price for said shoe? $180/pair. That's an 11x markup, or stated in terms of gross margins, 91% gross margin.

"They are screwing us!" shouted one commenter. Another irate Nike fan exclaimed, "Now we know they aren't worth near $180!"

Question: What is the correct market value of this pair of Nike's? What's the proper price that should be charged?

Answer: Whatever people are willing to pay.

How much these shoes cost to manufacture means absolutely nothing when it comes time to set a selling price. The actual market value of the shoes is solely determined by how much money people are willing to spend on them.

Let's go simpler. What is the market value of a bottle of water? The question is too vague; it needs more context.

What is the value of a bottle of water attained in your home? $0. Fresh, clean water is prevalent in nearly every home in modern America. Nobody would pay a dime for a bottle of water in their home.

What is the value of a bottle of water purchased at a gas station? As low as $1. Options are prevalent, and consumers have walk-away power.

What is the value of a bottle of water purchased outside a major sporting event? Probably $2-$3. There aren't as many options as in a gas station, but consumers still have walk-away power.

What is the value of a bottle of water purchased inside a major sporting event? Probably $5-$6. You are a captive audience and have limited walk-away power. Either you want water, or you don't. You can fork over the $5-$6 or go thirsty.

See the crazy dynamics of these relationships? The exact same water can range from $0 to $6, depending on context. Context always matters! Nearly every product on earth can and should be viewed through this lens. Its market value is not based on what it costs to make or what it "should" cost (in the eyes of particular people). Instead, the market value is whatever people are willing to pay.

Sure, our individual opinions matter in terms of our own personal go/no-go decisions, but our individual opinions have zero bearing on the market value of xyz item. The crowd determines the price, not us individually. I frequently talk to my favorite meat dealer friend, Teresa, about this. The price of steaks is bonkers right now. I have a hard time personally justifying them often. However, my opinion matters none, as the broader crowd has decided they are eagerly willing to pay far more for nice cuts of meat. That doesn't make the crowd wrong, or me right. It just is.

On the flip side, I will bring Teresa wheelbarrows of money for her awesome ground beef, beef patties, marrow bones, beef sticks, and sourdough loaves. They aren't necessarily cheap, either, but they are wonderful and I'm willing to pay the piper because they add much value to my family's life. We love it!

Life is so much simpler when we frame everything through the lens of cost vs. value......to us. It's worth it to me because _____. It's not worth it to me because _____. Keep it simple, and know what the value of something is to YOU.

____

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Meaning Travis Shelton Meaning Travis Shelton

What We're About, According to A.I.

I received an interesting e-mail from a friend/client yesterday. He was experimenting with A.I., and as part of his exploration, tasked the A.I. model to give a synopsis of my content.

I received an interesting e-mail from a friend/client yesterday. He was experimenting with A.I., and as part of his exploration, tasked the A.I. model to give a synopsis of my content.

Here was his initial prompt:

"Can you research Travis Shelton (located in Des Moines, IA) and his company "Shelton Consulting" as well as his blog and podcast "meaning over money" and provide me the most talked about topics or points he is making?"

It's scary how accurate A.I. is becoming. After reading its conclusions a few times, I thought it might be interesting enough to share today. Some of you know me personally, and some have never met me. Some have been reading/listening for years, and some just found me. So, today, I'm going to let an A.I. model explain what we're about here. We're certainly not for everyone (I've made my share of enemies), but if we're for you, we're beyond grateful to have you along the journey with us.

The following is a word-for-word output generated by the A.I. model. Enjoy!

"Absolutely! Travis Shelton, based in Des Moines, Iowa, is a financial coach, speaker, and founder of **Shelton Consulting**, which he launched in 2019. His mission centers on helping people align their work and money with their values to live more meaningful lives. He's also the voice behind the *Meaning Over Money* podcast and blog, where he explores the intersection of money, work, and purpose through a countercultural lens.

Here are the **most talked-about themes** across his platforms:

### Core Messages from Travis Shelton

1. **Money Is Never Just About Money**  

Travis emphasizes that financial decisions are deeply tied to identity, values, and emotional well-being. He challenges the cultural obsession with wealth accumulation and instead promotes using money as a tool for meaning.

2. **Pursue Meaning, Not Just Success**  

A recurring theme is the idea that chasing promotions, status, or wealth often leaves people feeling empty. He encourages listeners and clients to define success on their own terms—often rooted in purpose, relationships, and impact.

3. **The Hedonic Treadmill**  

He frequently discusses how people adapt quickly to financial gains, which leads to a constant craving for more. This cycle, he argues, prevents lasting satisfaction and can derail meaningful living.

4. **Generosity and Simplicity**  

Travis advocates for radical generosity—not just with money, but with time, energy, and attention. He also promotes simplifying life to focus on what truly matters, rather than accumulating more.

5. **Behavioral Finance and Emotional Triggers**  

His podcast dives into how emotions, upbringing, and societal pressures shape our financial behaviors. He often explores how childhood experiences with money influence adult financial habits.

6. **Faith and Values-Based Living**  

Rooted in Christian principles, Travis integrates faith into his coaching and content, encouraging people to align their financial and professional lives with their spiritual values.

7. **Young Adults and Financial Empowerment**  

He's particularly passionate about helping twenty- and thirty-somethings navigate money with intention, especially those disillusioned by traditional career paths or burdened by student debt.

8. **Short, Actionable Insights**  

His *Meaning Over Money* podcast is known for its concise, 10–20 minute episodes that tackle real-life financial and career dilemmas with practical advice and a dose of inspiration.

Interesting stuff. Couldn't have said it better myself. Meaning over money. Always meaning over money. Have a great day, all!

____

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Parenting, Growth, Behavioral Science Travis Shelton Parenting, Growth, Behavioral Science Travis Shelton

It’s Not Fair

Pax was visibly shaken after watching Tyrese Haliburton go down early in game 7 last night. Haliburton, a former Cyclone and clearly the most clutch player in this year's NBA Playoffs, was lying on the floor in agonizing pain after tearing his Achilles. He immediately knew he was done (plus next season as well). In that moment, the Pacers' chance of winning a title essentially evaporated. 

Pax was visibly shaken after watching Tyrese Haliburton go down early in game 7 last night. Haliburton, a former Cyclone and clearly the most clutch player in this year's NBA Playoffs, was lying on the floor in agonizing pain after tearing his Achilles. He immediately knew he was done (plus next season as well). In that moment, the Pacers' chance of winning a title essentially evaporated. 

Pax is right; it's not fair. It was a good teaching moment. It's not fair, and it never will be. Still, Pax was dumbfounded by how quickly everything changed. He went from believing Haliburton was about to win a title to knowing he probably won't see him play again until he's 10 (in October 2026 when the following season starts). It's not fair.

We didn't get too deep into it last night, but this is something he'll see more and more as he grows. Life isn't fair, and there's nothing he can do about it. As a parent, my job is to teach him to simply fight through the inequity, no matter what. Sure, be mad about the unfairness. Yeah, feel frustrated by it. But after that, fight. We fight, or we cower. We push ahead, or we step aside. We persevere, or we give up.

This is going to be a brutal experience for my kids. Time and time again, they will get a front-row seat at how unfair life is. My job isn't to protect them from it, but rather, to train them to push through it. As a parent, watching them deal with unfairness may be one of the hardest things I ever experience. However, it's critical we teach them through it, not try to help them avoid it.

This is something I watch play out in people's lives daily. It's somewhat easy to find success when things are going our way. Then, something happens. Something unfair. We unjustly lose our job. Someone rips us off. An irresponsible driver totals our car. How we handle these unfair situations is what determines if we'll ultimately be successful or not. This is where the rubber meets the road.

It's not a matter of whether we can get to the other side of this adventure without experiencing unfairness. That's an impossible task! Instead, what matters most is how we respond when life gets unfair. That's what I want to teach my kids. We will be closely watching Haliburton's journey back to the court. I have a feeling it will be an inspiring example of what it looks like to attack unfairness head-on.

Life isn't fair. It doesn't owe us anything. We will draw the short straw more times than we'd like to believe. It's all part of the game. Keep fighting.

____

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Relationships, Parenting, Travel, Meaning Travis Shelton Relationships, Parenting, Travel, Meaning Travis Shelton

Memory Hacking

Out of the blue, while at dinner, Finn piped up, "Thank you so much for today, Mom and Dad. Today was one of my favorite days ever." Wow! That was so sweet for him to say. If I'm being honest, yesterday didn't feel particularly special.

Between my travels, Sarah's travels, and Finn and Pax's travels, we haven't all been together as a family much lately. We're just now entering the part of summer where we'll get a lot of quality time together. Simultaneously, however, I have a behavioral quirk. As much as I try, I can't seem to shut off my motor when I'm at home. My wheels are always turning, and I go stir-crazy. I'm not proud of this, but I have come to recognize it for the problem it is.

With Sarah and the boys arriving back home around lunch yesterday, combined with me simultaneously finishing up a big client project and the fact that it was 100+ degrees outside, we decided to do a little memory hacking. We didn't have the time or budgeted funds for a major trip, so we decided to engineer a little staycation. We rented a hotel room in a different part of our metro and dedicated the day to making new memories.

  • We stopped at Northern Vessel to pick up some CBLs and visit with the team.

  • We shopped at the mall (the first time the boys have ever done that). Finn bought a new Minecraft Lego set, and Pax purchased a pair of football pants. Both were pleased with their decisions.

  • We spent hours in the hotel pool (between stints in the hot tub).

  • We shared a wonderful meal at a Mexican restaurant adjacent to our hotel (family style, of course).

  • We ended the night with ice cream.

Out of the blue, while at dinner, Finn piped up, "Thank you so much for today, Mom and Dad. Today was one of my favorite days ever." Wow! That was so sweet for him to say. If I'm being honest, yesterday didn't feel particularly special. Nothing exotic, nothing wild, nothing expensive. Just a lot of intentionality. The kids felt it. They had a blast and showed much gratitude. Boy, we needed that.....I needed that.

Today, we'll leave the hotel and head directly to a local waterpark for day two of our little staycation. We're all excited; hopefully, many more memories will come.

Whatever is on your agenda today, I hope you find a way to engage in some memory hacking. It doesn't have to be extravagant or profound. Intentionality is the key ingredient. Cheers to a great day and lots of memories.

____

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Entrepreneurship, Growth Travis Shelton Entrepreneurship, Growth Travis Shelton

I Don’t Support Him At All

We can pursue support, or we can pursue excellence. Noah never asked for my support; he's too busy trying to be excellent.

Out of the blue, I received a DM from one of the most successful business owners I know. She wanted to know if I could connect her with the marketing agency we use at Northern Vessel for our photography. She loves our content and desires a similar vibe for one of her businesses. I told her I'd be honored to connect her, but we don't use an agency. It's just one young man named Noah; he's awesome, and I'd love to make an introduction.

I told this story to a few friends, and one of them responded, "I'm so glad you're supporting a small business like that. I'm sure Noah loves your support."

If you're a regular blog reader, you probably already know where this is going.

"Oh, I don't support him at all!"

"Wait, I thought you and Noah are friends....."

"We are friends, but Noah doesn't need my 'support.' He does awesome work, and that's all that matters. I’m just connecting one excellent business to another excellent business that might be able to serve the other well.”

"But people like him need support from us. It's the only way they can make it."

"That's ridiculous....and demeaning. He doesn't need people's support. He just needs to be excellent at his craft. His excellence is what makes it for him, and his excellence is the only reason I referred him to a friend. He earned that."

We can pursue support, or we can pursue excellence. Noah never asked for my support; he's too busy trying to be excellent. Noah is just a young man with a lot of talent and a crapload of passion. He's so hungry to do good work! If he wasn't excellent, my business owner friend would never have asked me for a referral, and if he wasn't excellent, I would never have given it. Noah earned that, and to assume anything else is an insult to his good work.

We all have the opportunity to be Noah today. The fruit of our actions will speak for itself. The conversations we foster, the art we create, the work we produce, and the results that materialize. Nothing good that happens to me today will be the product of someone's "support," and neither will yours. Therefore, I encourage you to abolish the word "support" and simply embrace the word "excellence."

Oh yeah, and if you're stopping by the Northern Vessel shop or our booth at the Des Moines Farmers' Market today and see a young man snapping photos, say hello! Noah would love to meet you.

____

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Budgeting, Saving, Investing Travis Shelton Budgeting, Saving, Investing Travis Shelton

While the Sun Is Shining

This math is straightforward......and linear. One problem, though. Life isn't straightforward or linear. It's anything but either of those. Today's reality could disappear in a heartbeat, only to be replaced with a drastically different set of circumstances.

Here's a little game we play in our financial coaching meetings. For whatever topics we're discussing (whether debt payoff, saving, giving, or investing), we run the numbers and determine, "If you do $x every month for y months, you'll meet your goal by _____ date."

This math is straightforward......and linear. One problem, though. Life isn't straightforward or linear. It's anything but either of those. Today's reality could disappear in a heartbeat, only to be replaced with a drastically different set of circumstances.

This is where it gets murky. Oftentimes, people want to know how little they can do each month to accomplish a goal by a certain date. In other words, if everything goes perfectly and life doesn't alter a bit, what is the least sacrificial path to achieve the desired goal? I think this is a recipe for disaster. After all, nothing goes perfectly, and whether we acknowledge it or not, our lives will be altered multiple times in the months and years to come.

Instead of taking this approach, I encourage people to make hay while the sun is shining, as the saying goes. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so why not maximize the impact of today's reality? If you have extra money to throw at your debt over the next several months, throw it. If you have increased resources to contribute to your investments, harness them. If you're able to make more progress on your savings in the near term, embrace it. We don't know what will happen tomorrow!

A natural question spawns from this idea: "Well, what happens if we get too far ahead of our desired goal?"

This is a fantastic problem to have. It does NOT mean that we get greedy or selfish and turn ourselves into a hoarder. Instead, it gives us freedom and flexibility. If we make hay while the sun is shining (i.e., get more aggressive in the near term), we will inevitably have less pressure on us in the future. In other words, getting quicker momentum in the near term allows us the ability to downshift our intensity in the longer term. This could mean different career decisions, more money for generosity, and less financial pressure. This is a beautiful byproduct of making hay while the sun is shining.

There's no reason to arbitrarily put more pressure on our future selves. That's one reason not to go into debt or saddle ourselves with undo expenses. On the flip side, making hay while the sun is shining is also a tremendous way to combat the inevitable pressure our future selves will face. My clients who embrace this opportunity report significantly higher levels of satisfaction, peace, and freedom. It changes EVERYTHING.

I'll share some real-life examples in a future post (including from my own life), but in the meantime, I encourage you to ask yourself what area of your life you need to make hay while the sun is shining. Instead of doing as little as possible to eventually meet your goal, what can you do today to lighten the load for future you?

____

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