The Daily Meaning

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Investing Travis Shelton Investing Travis Shelton

Well, Well, Well Again

In the entire investment world, there are only a few dozen people who can be successful at this for an extended period of time, and they aren't your brother's co-worker's neighbor. It's not your financial advisor, either!

In my June 28th post, I discussed how the U.S. stock market had just hit a new 155-year all-time high. More importantly, I reiterated that an all-time high isn't something to be scared of. In the post, I detailed how frequently our stock market hits new all-time highs, and why that's just a regular feature of long-term investing.

Without fail, I received nearly a dozen messages pushing back against my message. One person told me I'm "stupid." Another told me I'm "naive." A third told me I'm "uneducated." That was a fun day to open my inbox!

Lots of people (who claim to be wise investors) get on their soapboxes and tout the strategy of "buy the dip." In other words, try to time the market by investing after it crashes. That would be an amazing strategy if we had a magic 8-ball or DeLorean. The problem with timing the market is that we must be right twice: first, when to buy, and second, when to sell. Besides, that's a stressful and time-consuming endeavor. In the entire investment world, there are only a few dozen people who can be successful at this for an extended period of time, and they aren't your brother's co-worker's neighbor. It's not your financial advisor, either!

Since I wrote that post on June 28th, the U.S. stock market has achieved another 12 all-time highs: One in June, 10 in July, and one in August (yesterday!).

Once in a while, my friend Brett will respond to a post with a simple question: "Where's the meaning in this post?" While today's post isn't jam-packed with meaning, I do have one very strong, meaning-filled encouragement. Please don't spend your time, energy, stress, or anxiety worrying about your investments. Simply invest in the U.S. stock market via low-cost index funds, be patient, and stop thinking about it. You have so many more important things to think about in your life than the fate of your investments. Their fate is awesome......long-term. Instead, invest your time and energy in your family, your work, your relationships, and your ministry. The ROI of those things is far greater than money will ever provide!

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Behavioral Science Travis Shelton Behavioral Science Travis Shelton

Speaking of Forever Homes

A forever home is only a forever home because of our current context. As soon as our context changes, so too does the framing of our forever home. One of my friends is living in their fourth "forever home."

Yesterday's post caused quite a stir! The mere idea of the Hedonic Treadmill causes many to get uncomfortable. It's an unsettling notion that we're all subject to certain psychological phenomena and triggers. We'd like to believe that we're 100% in control and rational in all that we do, but scientifically speaking, we're not.

Two readers specifically commented on my forever home reference. "Forever homes are real!" exclaimed one person. Another person frustratingly reiterated to me that it's okay to buy a forever home.

First, yes, forever homes are real.

Second, yes, it's okay to buy a house.

We have a major problem, though! A forever home is only a forever home because of our current context. As soon as our context changes, so too does the framing of our forever home. One of my friends is living in their fourth "forever home." Another friend is in the process of moving into their second "forever home."

This is peak Hedonic Treadmill. The second family mentioned above currently lives in one of the top 20 houses I've ever been in. It's stunning! Some houses are well located. Some houses are big. Some houses are nice. This one is all three. It's simply immaculate! When they purchased it five years ago, it was THE definition of their "forever home." In fact, using the phrase "forever home" allowed them to justify making some questionable decisions to buy the house in the first place. After all, if they are going to die in this house and invest in it for the long run (i.e., forever), it's okay to squint while making dangerous decisions, right?

That's one of the reasons why the phrase "forever home" is used so frequently in our culture. The mere phrase shifts the narrative in our brains, giving us just the right amount of excuses to do something we probably shouldn't.

Today, though, they feel differently about it. Five years after purchasing it, this house no longer meets their needs. They need more space (five bedrooms in the main living area aren't enough for them and their three kids). They need a bigger pool. It needs a "better guest house." The theater room feels outdated. It lacks amenities for proper hosting.

With all that in mind, they are in the closing process of their next "forever home." By "forever," what they really mean is they are about to make some more questionable decisions, and due to the Hedonic Treadmill, they will soon again redefine their version of a "forever home."

I'm not trying to pick on my friends. They aren't dumb. They aren't naive. They aren't mock-worthy. They are human. They are quite human. Here's my point in sharing their story. There is no end to the Hedonic Treadmill. We can't outrun it. There's never enough. It's impossible to reach a certain level and then say, "There we go, we're good now." If we don't catch ourselves, we'll be chasing it until our dying breath.

It's okay to take the off-ramp. We can elect not to play the Hedonic Treadmill game. We can't entirely avoid the Treadmill, but we can decline to play the game.

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Behavioral Science Travis Shelton Behavioral Science Travis Shelton

There’s No Escaping It

I occasionally write about a phenomenon called the Hedonic Treadmill. It's a term in the behavioral science world that refers to the inevitability that every time our life changes, good or bad, it quickly becomes "normal."

I occasionally write about a phenomenon called the Hedonic Treadmill. It's a term in the behavioral science world that refers to the inevitability that every time our life changes, good or bad, it quickly becomes "normal."

That shiny new car? Soon, it will just be a normal ol' car.

Our "forever home" we've always dreamed about? Soon, it will just be called home, only for us to replace it with a new dream in our head, uniquely called "forever home."

The newest iPhone with all the latest bells and whistles? Soon, it will be too slow, too small, and out of date.

The massive pay raise that you knew would change your life forever? Soon, it will just be what it costs to live, and "enough" will be something higher.

I was recently sharing this concept with a few buddies. One of them generally agreed with me, while the other was obstructive. "I'm not an idiot, I don't fall for #&!% like that." I tried explaining that since he's human (well, at least I think he is), there's no escaping the Hedonic Treadmill. Its impact on our lives is unavoidable.

"Prove it!" he responded.

Alright, here goes nothing. I would propose that almost everything in our modern world is an example of the Hedonic Treadmill.

Safe and drinkable water from the faucet? At one point, it was the biggest luxury in the world.

Air conditioning on a summer day? It wasn't long ago that we would simply sweat it out for a quarter of the year.

Hot showers? Humans spent thousands of years not even considering this possibility. Today, we treat cold showers as a form of mental and emotional toughening.

Internet? If you even spoke the word before the 1990s, people would look at you like you were crazy.

Phones? Have we forgotten how insane it is that we can pick up a device and immediately talk to someone on the other side of the planet? Amazing!

Planes? Speaking of the other side of the world, we can drive to an airport, jump into a metal tube, and literally be on the other side of the world by the end of the day. Unreal!

Today, in the 21st century, we take each one of these things for granted and consider them "normal." Not long ago, even mere decades in some of my examples, we would consider these things groundbreaking, reserved for just the few wealthiest people. Then, the Hedonic Treadmill strikes us and we normalize them as quickly as we adopt them.

It's so easy to take our lives for granted. We quickly adjust to whatever reality we live in, and call it "normal." However, the life we live today would be anything but normal to those who came before us. I'm not trying to make us feel guilty for our modern-day amenities. Rather, I'm suggesting that we carry ourselves with a posture of gratitude and never underestimate the power the Hedonic Treadmill has on each of us.

Contentment, humility, and perspective are beautiful traits to possess. They are the only weapons we have to combat the Hedonic Treadmill.

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Growth, Impact Travis Shelton Growth, Impact Travis Shelton

1,000

"Just write daily. It will change your life."

"Just write daily. It will change your life."

These words from my dear friend Gary Hoag sat with me for weeks. I could feel the weight of his statement, yet at the same time, I couldn't wrap my head around it. "Just write daily. It will change your life."

It took me a few months to get over myself, but eventually, I decided to trust Gary. Thus, the Daily Meaning was born. I only had two rules for this new endeavor:

1) 500 words or less

2) Publish daily, no exceptions.

By no exceptions, I mean no exceptions. I needed to create an environment where there are no outs. No justifications. No excuses. I committed to writing, editing, and publishing every single day of my life, regardless of circumstance. Even on my worst days. Even on my best days. Even on my sick days. Even on my where-am-I days. Even on my wilderness days. Even on my I-want-to-crawl-in-a-hole-and-die days. Even on my Sarah-and-I-are-fighting days. Even on my too-busy days. Even on my don't-know-what-to-write-about days. No exceptions. I write because I write.....period.

Today is day 1,000. 1,000 days in a row of writing and sharing my ideas with the world. Gary, I gotta tell you, you were right. It changed my life. Sincerely. It enabled me to serve thousands of people all over the world, meet new friends, engage daily with curious readers, and through the art of writing, learn how to think better.

I've written in ditches, tents, Mongolian gers, airports, cars, hospitals, funeral homes, amusement parks, planes, resorts, ships, gyms, schools, factories, arenas, and more than a dozen countries. When writing is woven into our lives, the world becomes our canvas, our creativity becomes our brush, and our experiences become our paint. It's all so beautiful. Not just the tangibly beautiful things, but everything.....including the pain.

Where do we go from here? To me, the answer is simple: "Just write daily." My commitment to you, and myself, is to continue writing daily, endeavoring to add value to people's lives, and perhaps provide a few laughs along the way (even if at my expense). If my theory is correct and everything we do builds into the next, the next 1,000 days should be even better than the first. I guess we'll find out.

My sincere thanks to everyone who signed up to take this journey with me. I hope the few minutes we share together each morning are as valuable for you as they are for me. Please never hesitate to hit "reply" and share what's on your mind. It's sincerely the highlight of my day. I'm eternally grateful for each of you.

God bless, and cheers to the next 1,000 days.

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Meaning Travis Shelton Meaning Travis Shelton

Wednesdays

Sure, there are exciting moments and opportunities, but if you were to follow even the most "exciting" leaders around in their day-to-day lives, it's probably pretty boring!

I'm often accused of having an exciting life. I meet with fascinating people, am engaged with a multitude of different endeavors, and visit interesting places (both here and abroad). On the surface, I can see how people would believe I lead an exciting life. The truth is, however, my life is quite boring. I live a tremendously boring life with some exciting moments sprinkled in. If you don't believe me, you should ask Sarah!

One of the talks at the Global Leadership Summit this week was about how the best leadership is boring. Sure, there are exciting moments and opportunities, but if you were to follow even the most "exciting" leaders around in their day-to-day lives, it's probably pretty boring! The exciting 5% are the highlights, while the boring 95% is where the deep, meaningful, and impactful work gets done in what can feel like the mundane.

And boring is good! I crave boring. I cherish the boring. I love the routines, daily disciplines, and rhythmic schedules. They keep me grounded. They give me peace. They allow me to focus my most creative energies on serving people well. Sure, I love the weird and interesting things I get to do in my life, and I'll never take any of that for granted, but boring is good!

After this talk, Walker Hayes jumped onto the stage with his guitar. Please forgive me, but I had no idea who Walker Hayes is. I've never heard the name before, but from the roar of the audience, I was in the minority (as evidenced by his 1.3M followers on IG). Anyway, Walker comes onto the stage and shares his reflections on the first few talks of the day. Specifically, he shared about how, on the surface, his life as a traveling musician and songwriter is exciting. However, he admitted that his life, too, is also fairly boring.....and that's a good thing. Then, he played a song about it, titled Wednesdays. I encourage you to click the link above or click play on the embedded video below to check it out. So beautiful.

Whatever your day looks like today, whether boring or exciting, I hope it's a beautiful one!

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Growth Travis Shelton Growth Travis Shelton

Lessons From My First 10 Years at the GLS

I'm going to share the three main lessons the Summit has taught me over the years. No, these aren't lessons shared by specific speakers. Rather, they are lessons I learned about learning. This applies to the Summit, but through a broader lens, I think it applies to life as a whole.

Day One of the Global Leadership Summit was a huge win. I thought the speakers were phenomenal, and a few of them seemed like they were speaking right into my soul. I always find it crazy when the perfect message hits us at the perfect time.....just when we need it most. That was my experience yesterday, for sure.

As we were waiting for the conference to begin yesterday morning, my friend Dan and I were discussing our key takeaways from the conference over the past decade. Since this is my 11th Summit, I've thought a lot about this topic. Therefore, I'm going to share the three main lessons the Summit has taught me over the years. No, these aren't lessons shared by specific speakers. Rather, they are lessons I learned about learning. This applies to the Summit, but through a broader lens, I think it applies to life as a whole.

Lesson #1: Be humble. We can't learn new things if we think we already have things figured out. I noticed this about myself during the first few years of the Summit. For whatever reason, I'd go into certain talks with an "I already know this stuff" posture. That's a sure-fire way to get nothing out of it. It's a great way to stay stagnant and remain right where we're at. Eventually, I recognized that I can learn something from anyone......period. It doesn't matter their education, experience, age, or discipline. If they have a pulse, I have something to learn from them.

Lesson #2: Less is more. In my earlier years attending the Summit, I wanted to walk away with dozens of new ideas and takeaways. I wanted to learn everything and change my life in 100 different ways. Then, I learned the hard way that trying to do 100 things is a great way to do nothing. Change is hard enough, never mind several changes at the same time. Instead, I shifted my goal to latch onto 2-3 key ideas and takeaways that could transform my life/business. That simple shift in mentality changed everything.

Lesson #3: Application. Sure, it's great to learn new things: conferences, podcasts, YouTube videos, books, online courses. There are countless ways for us to learn new ideas and skills. One thing I recognized early in my Summit days was a disconnect between how I felt immediately after the Summit vs. one month later. I learned all these new things and somehow thought that was enough. It wasn't! Ideas stuck in our brains do no good. Instead, we need to apply our learnings to our lives and business. We need to put one foot in front of the other and do the hard work. It's only then that we get to experience true impact.

That's my strategy heading into day two of the Summit. Be humble, find a few key takeaways, and apply them effectively. Regardless of where you're at today, I encourage you to do the same. Principles to live by!

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

It’s All Connected

If it's true that it's all connected, then it feels like everything is a chain reaction to everything else.

I'm excited to spend the next two days at the Global Leadership Conference, an annual event that I've been excitedly and dutifully attending for the last 11 years. I'm sure many blog posts and podcast ideas will blossom from what I experience these next few days, and I look forward to sharing that with you!

One of the things I was most excited about this week was the 5-hour drive with my friend Dan. I don't see him often, so any meaningful time I get with him is something I cherish. However, just a few days ago, he texted me and told me he would be flying to Chicago and would meet me there. What?!?!

He shared with me that he wanted to "get a long run on Lake Michigan" to celebrate a fun milestone in his business. Weird, I know....but that's Dan! Fast forward to yesterday, and I had just arrived at the hotel. Dan shot me a text that he just wrapped up his run and hopped into an Uber to meet me at the hotel. He also included a data link to the run he just completed: 23.57 miles! Immediately after exiting a plane. On a hot summer day. Dan, man!

This is one of the things I love most about Dan. I'm not an avid runner like he is, but I greatly appreciate his discipline and desire to push himself into discomfort. It's all connected, as far as I'm concerned. The fact that he can hop on a plane specifically to rip out a 24-mile lakeside run on a hot summer day tells me a lot about how he's wired and how he approaches life. The way he navigates relationships, work, business, ministry, parenting......it's all connected.

One of the fun pics Dan sent me during his 24-mile journey.

If it's true that it's all connected, then it feels like everything is a chain reaction to everything else. I feel this about my recent health journey. First was the intermittent fasting, then the intentional walking, then the shift in what I eat, then the daily biometric scale, and then lastly, the Garmin watch that monitors my vitals 24 hours per day. Each one led to the next, and most of them wouldn't have happened without the prior. It's all connected. Where this has led me is a far more intentional life. What I put in my body, how I move my body, the disciplines I practice daily, how I structure my work, and the consequences of my actions. This also spills over into my parenting and relationships.

While I'm bummed I didn't get to ride with Dan yesterday, I love that he was able to fly in earlier to run 24 hot miles. It will no doubt lead to some other great things for him, as it's all connected.

As you navigate your life today, I hope you can see how it's all connected. Everything is tied to everything else. That can be a very, very good thing, or a very, very bad thing. Make it the best of things! Have an awesome day.


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Entrepreneurship, Growth, Behavioral Science Travis Shelton Entrepreneurship, Growth, Behavioral Science Travis Shelton

Normalize Winning

It never dawned on him that he could create something this impressive. It never occurred to him that he possessed the ability to build something so cool.

One of my favorite parts of my work is walking alongside small businesses, helping them unlock new gears they never knew existed. For example, this week I'm meeting with a business coaching client who has far surpassed every goal he ever set for his business. Whether it's revenue, client roster, gross margins, impact, or net income, he has exceeded every benchmark that he previously used to define "winning."

It's not that he originally doubted himself, but rather, he never thought to dream this big. He never actually gave himself permission to win like this. His original plan was to simply provide enough income to support his family and save for the future. It never dawned on him that he could create something this impressive. It never occurred to him that he possessed the ability to build something so cool.

But here we are! Every time we walk through his numbers, his eyes get big and his smile even bigger. He's dumbfounded by where this is going, but he's embracing it every step of the way. The biggest shift that allowed this to happen is that he normalized winning. He stopped being bashful and feeling guilty about his newfound success, and is instead focused on practicing excellence and serving people well. The rest takes care of itself.

Another consequence of shifting our perspective and dreaming bigger is the decision-making shift it requires of us. If our goals are small, we’ll make decisions that will unlock these small goals. However, when our goals are large, it requires a different set of decisions to unlock it. Will we achieve these wild goals? Maybe or maybe not. However, there’s a high likelihood that even if we fail to meet the goal, we’ll end up in a far better spot than had we set expectations lower.

While this may seem like a "duh" idea, I sincerely believe it's one of the key drivers for people who are trying to build something (whether a business, career, or ministry). Normalize winning, whatever that looks like for you. Whatever you think the ceiling is, double it.....triple it.....quadruple it. It's okay to shoot high and work toward a yet-to-be-defined target.

More than anything, though, be sure to approach it with meaning, purpose, and a desire to make an impact. When you do, it makes the journey all that much more fulfilling. If you find meaning in the day-to-day process, regardless of the outcome, you've already won.

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Spending, Saving Travis Shelton Spending, Saving Travis Shelton

Planning For Imperfection

Many families operate their finances as if everything will go perfectly. They structure their standard of living, monthly costs, and lifestyle choices all the way up to their current income.

Shhhhhhh, please don't tell my wife I'm sharing this story. However, if you know her, you know what I'm about to say is 100% true! Sarah has an interesting approach to time and logistics. If she needs to be at an event that begins in 20 minutes, she will walk out of the house at such time that if everything goes PERFECTLY, she will arrive at the event exactly on time.....and not a minute earlier. Do you know how often things go perfectly? Zero. She hits a few extra stop lights, forgets something and needs to run back in the house, construction creates a traffic backup, or she ends up parking further away. Things never go perfectly, and as a result, she's inevitably late to nearly everything. While it hasn't ended our marriage (yet), it's a maddening way to approach life. Things NEVER go perfectly.

No, I'm not seeking marriage counseling today. Rather, I think Sarah's example is a perfect representation of what happens when we plan as if things will go perfectly. When that's the baseline assumption, bad outcomes are inevitable.

This brings me to a more serious version of this phenomenon. Many families operate their finances as if everything will go perfectly. They structure their standard of living, monthly costs, and lifestyle choices all the way up to their current income. As long as things stay good and steady, the train will remain on the tracks. However, you probably already know that life doesn't usually go perfectly. Things happen. People lose jobs, kids get sick, the engine in our car dies, the furnace breaks down in the middle of winter. Life happens!

My Meaning Over Money business partner, Cole, often asks me how so many people can continue to live this way without consequences. It feels like there are no negative repercussions to planning for perfection. "Soon enough," I respond. It's only a matter of time for many. Eventually, life catches up, and the imperfection creates a gaping chasm in people's lives.

Fortunately for many, we've ridden an unprecedented wave of positive since the 2008 recession. Things have been uncharacteristically good for an uncharacteristically long period of time. However, it feels like we're starting to turn a weird corner. The problem, though, is that it doesn't impact you until the moment it does. Everything is perfectly fine......until it's your worst nightmare.

This nightmare has recently struck several people I know. For years, these families have enjoyed the fruits of positivity. Life has been good, really good! The bad news: they were planning for perfection. All it took was one job loss to knock them completely off course. Instead of being able to navigate the tricky situation that life threw at them, their lives are in turmoil. Selling houses, spouses leaving dream jobs to secure other income streams, pulling kids out of activities, whipping out the credit cards.

I'm not condemning them. In fact, I have so much empathy for them. It didn't have to be this way, though. Instead of planning for perfection, we should plan for imperfection, knowing that life will hit us. Moderate the lifestyle, create more monthly margin, stay out of debt, keep a healthy cash savings. Allow for life to happen......because it will.

Most of us still have time to recalibrate for imperfection before life hits us. Let's seize this opportunity!

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Travel, Meaning Travis Shelton Travel, Meaning Travis Shelton

Your Ideal Reset

A study conducted in 2012 found that, on average, the ideal length for a vacation is eight days. That's when we achieve maximum satisfaction before the law of diminishing returns kicks in.

My family recently had its annual summer vacation. We take several random trips throughout the year, but this is our sixth year taking this specific trip. It's the highlight of our family's summer, and an event most highly anticipated by all four of us.

Including travel days, we were gone for eight days. If you ask Sarah, she would say that a few more days would be perfect. If you ask me, two to three fewer days would be perfect. Even while having the best time in the world, I start going stir crazy by day six. It's not that I take it for granted or don't love it, but by that time, my mind and body are ready to get back to work.

A study conducted in 2012 found that, on average, the ideal length for a vacation is eight days. That's when we achieve maximum satisfaction before the law of diminishing returns kicks in. If you're not familiar with the law of diminishing returns, think about a delicious apple pie. That first slice is amazing! The second slice is also pretty fantastic! The third slice, though? That third slice starts to make us feel a little lethargic. What about the fourth slice? The fourth slice makes us queasy. What about the fifth? We're in a coma. Somewhere between the first slice and the second slice is peak satisfaction, which begins to diminish after that until we become worse off.

Vacations are the same. After a certain amount of time away, we achieve our peak satisfaction from our trip. Then, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. In my particular situation, I hit that point around day six. I NEED to get back into life and rhythm. I NEED to serve people again. I NEED to re-engage with my company.

The law of diminishing returns is one of the key reasons I vehemently disagree with the notion of early retirement. For those who believe that a life of leisure is the prescription to happiness, the law of diminishing returns has some bad news for you. In practice, a life of leisure eventually becomes empty and unfulfilling.....like that fourth and fifth slice of delicious apple pie. Too much of a good thing can become a very bad thing.

The alternative, though, can be beautiful. A mix of work and play, time on and time off, serving people well before getting a reset, pushing hard and then resting. It's a give and take. We don't have to grind ourselves into a pulp so that we can eventually take our ball and go home. My biggest encouragement is for people to find a permanently sustainable rhythm that you never want to retire from. How amazing would that be!?!?

What about you? What's your ideal vacation timeline? Sarah votes for 10 days. I vote for 5 or 6. The data says 8. What say you?

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Careers, Meaning, Investing Travis Shelton Careers, Meaning, Investing Travis Shelton

Blood Money

One reader took exception to my analysis and aggressively came to the defense of my friend. "You're a finance guy, Travis. You know the math. If your friend invests $850 each month for the next 25 years, that's $1,000,000. That's how he gets to create generational wealth. He'd be stupid to throw away that opportunity."

I've received countless thoughtful responses to yesterday's post about my friend who turned down his dream job because it would require him to effectively take a $850/month pay cut. His dream, calling, and aspirations were sitting right in front of him, and all he had to do was say "yes." He said "no." Money overcame meaning. He knows that, and he also recognizes that the societal pressures all around him were the driving force for his ultimate decision.

One reader took exception to my analysis and aggressively came to the defense of my friend. "You're a finance guy, Travis. You know the math. If your friend invests $850 each month for the next 25 years, that's $1,000,000. That's how he gets to create generational wealth. He'd be stupid to throw away that opportunity."

The math is correct. $850 contributed per month, at a 9% annual return, for 25 years (300 months), would result in about $950,000. He's absolutely right.

You know what I call that? Blood money. If my friend throws away his dreams, calling, and aspirations for the next 25 years (from age 42 to 67) and instead hoards all of this excess money, he'll end up $1M richer. Last time I checked, he only gets one life. One chance. One opportunity. One shot at this. And he's going to exchange the 25 most productive years of his life for a million dollars?!?!? Blood money!

If you know me (whether personally or through the blog/podcast), you know that I'm a big believer in investing. I teach it, advocate for it, encourage it, and help people execute it. I'm a staunch believer in the power of long-term investing. However, NEVER at the expense of meaning and impact. If our investing prevents us from living a meaningful life or it's at the expense of making an impact on others, it defeats the purpose.

Money for money's sake is like losing the game in the first quarter, but not yet knowing you lost. It's the kind of loss that sneaks up on us and blindsides us just as we thought we were about to win.

Sure, my friend could elect to invest $850/month for the next 25 years by turning down his dream. It will result in a million dollars. That's real money. Alternatively, he could live with meaning and follow his dream, calling, and aspirations, and undoubtedly live an amazing life. Not 25 years from now when he has a ton of money, but today. Today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. Next year. Always.

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Careers Travis Shelton Careers Travis Shelton

Putting the Meaning Where Our Mouth Is

There's an immense cultural pressure to place money above all else. "Take care of your family." "Provide." "Create wealth." "They deserve more." It's so loud that it can seem deafening.

One of my friends was beyond ecstatic! He had just received word that he was accepted for his dream job. For more than 15 years, he's been talking about how much he aspired to do x type of work. I'm going to be intentionally vague on the specifics, as I want you to focus more on his decision pattern than his interests. But let's just say this guy has been over-the-top interested in this field.

Fast forward one month, and I ran into him at a local restaurant. Obviously, I asked him about his new job. "How's the new job going?!?! Everything you hoped it would be?"

Then, he dropped a bomb on me. "Well, I actually turned it down. They just couldn't get there financially." He explained that the salary offered was $15,000 less than his current job.

"But that was your dream job!!!!" I exclaimed.

This is the part that got me. He shared with me that he was ready to take the job, but several trusted people in his life criticized him and told him it would be a dumb decision. In his heart, he knew he needed to seize this opportunity. However, when push came to shove, the cultural pressures around him to prioritize money won the day.

He just sold his dream for $15,000/year, $1,250/month. After taxes, it's probably more like $850/month. He sold his dream for $850/month!!! Also, to clarify, this $850/month isn't the difference between his family surviving or not. This $850/month is lifestyle, margin, and more investing. He had been waiting his entire life for this moment, and turned it down for $850/month.

Please don't hear me criticizing him or looking down upon him. I get it. There's an immense cultural pressure to place money above all else. "Take care of your family." "Provide." "Create wealth." "They deserve more." It's so loud that it can seem deafening.

I've been there. I've looked at myself in the mirror and ultimately chosen money. I've fallen into that trap.....multiple times. I'm not trying to be a hypocrite here. Rather, I'm just some random dude who has lived on both sides of this coin that cares enough to die on the hill that the meaning side will always trump the money side. IF, and only IF we can put our meaning where our mouth is, our lives begin to open up and we experience something far richer than money could ever buy. Easier said than done, but so, so worth it!

____

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No Countdowns

One of my friends recently found out his wife has "One to three months" left to live. In their 30s, their internal clock probably said they had 60 more years left in the countdown. Then, at the snap of a finger, their countdown is reduced to 30-90 days.

We tend to look at lives as some form of long-term countdown. We perceive ourselves (and our loved ones) as 90 years old, then count backwards. I'm 30, I have 60 years left. I'm 50, I have 40 years left. I'm 70, I have 20 years left. For whatever reason, we put this arbitrary date on our proverbial calendar, then measure our time against that.

One of my friends recently found out his wife has "One to three months" left to live. In their 30s, their internal clock probably said they had 60 more years left in the countdown. Then, at the snap of a finger, their countdown is reduced to 30-90 days.

There are no countdowns. All we have is today, plus whatever tomorrow brings. There's a tension in that unknown, as we must embrace today for all it is while also preparing for the future in our imagination. We might be gone tomorrow......or still here at 90.

I've mentioned several times on this blog that I've always had a feeling that my time would come sooner rather than later. It's not a comforting feeling, but it has helped me think a lot about this topic.

While I spend much of my professional time helping families prepare for the long run, I also beat on the drum of living with meaning TODAY. If all we do is live for today, we might end up sabotaging our future selves. On the flip side, if all we do is live for the future, we might never actually live with true meaning. Again, the tension.

In a world with no countdowns, the answer feels obvious to me. Simply live with meaning. Live with meaning today, live with meaning tomorrow, and hopefully, God willing, continue living with meaning when we're 90. If we're living with meaning, everything else will eventually sort itself out. It's not about how much we spend, save, or invest. It's not really a mathematical conversation at all. Instead, let's look past the money and aggressively pursue meaning for meaning's sake. In a world with no countdowns, meaning is the thread that holds it all together.

____

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Growth Travis Shelton Growth Travis Shelton

Idle Hands

You know what they say about idle hands, though. This is the moment most business owners would get big eyes, grow complacent with their current operation, and decide to start multiplying.

With one day left in the month, Northern Vessel has already shattered most of its all-time single-month records. By all accounts, everything continues to trend in a shockingly positive direction. A week doesn't go by without a business, investor, or property requesting us to open a new location.

Speaking of new locations, it's the elephant we hear nearly every single day:

"When are you going to open a new location?"

"When are you going to expand?"

"Where will the next shop be?"

"Why don't you open another spot?"

"You'd make so much more money if you would just grow!"

Yes, it's the elephant in the room. You know what they say about idle hands, though. This is the moment most business owners would get big eyes, grow complacent with their current operation, and decide to start multiplying. Having worked with countless businesses, I think this approach is often a huge mistake.

Multiplication sounds simple and effective. Just do the same thing again, and make twice as much money. However, there are deep implications to such an approach. It increases risk while spreading thin our time, attention, energy, leadership, team, and resources. It's nearly impossible to retain the same level of excellence by multiplying. Few can do it well, but most crash and burn.

Our strategy is completely different. Instead of letting our idle hands lead us down the road of multiplication, we're going to double down and triple down on excellence. Whatever we're doing, we need to be better. Better hospitality, better drinks, better experience, better atmosphere, better process.

Here's where I think businesses and people make a critical mistake. Every time we hit our peak, we think it's our peak peak. The truth is that it's not our peak peak, but rather our next peak. We have so much more in us!

Here's how this has played out at Northern Vessel. As we round out our shop's third year, we've noticed a trend. This year's floor was the prior year's ceiling. Our prior best becomes the new worst. Every time we think we've hit our peak, it turns out to be the new floor. The bar gets raised, then we endeavor to meet it again. It's a self-perpetuating cycle. That's the real secret behind sustained growth. The relentless pursuit of excellence!

This applies to all of us, whether an individual or a business. If we're not careful, our idle hands lead us down some awfully self-destructive roads. Instead of trying to find easy or artificial ways to grow, sometimes we just need to be more excellent. Excellence is the gateway to the next level.....and then the next. Wherever you are in the journey, just know that your current peak will soon be your new floor. Keep raising the bar!

____

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Parenting, Meaning Travis Shelton Parenting, Meaning Travis Shelton

A Hole Full of Water

Never underestimate the power of a hole full of water.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of swimming with my kids. If you're a parent of small children, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Never underestimate the power of a hole full of water. There's something magical about it for kids. For hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, the boys swam, jumped, and splashed around. We dove for toys, did handstands, practiced our cannonballs, made hurling football catches, and plenty of other silly games.

To me, this represents the simplicity of life. Life doesn't require massive outlays of money, elaborate plans, and exotic destinations. Often, it just requires a hole full of water. Perhaps not literally a hole full of water, but a figurative hole full of water. The simple things are the best things. The simple things are the most valuable things. That principle applies to adults just as much as it does to kids.

Think about your purest moments of peace. Do they revolve around some elaborate and expensive endeavor? I suspect most people's answers will be a hole full of water type answer.

My hole full of water is a cup of black coffee in the morning, a long walk with a good podcast playing in my ears, and watching a movie at night with kids positioned against both my hips. Those are my holes full of water. Simple, pure, inexpensive, and priceless.

What are your holes full of water? Whatever they are, keep going back to those wells.

____

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Careers, Meaning Travis Shelton Careers, Meaning Travis Shelton

Empty Soul, and Tons of Regret

"30 years of service to a job, and all you have to show for it is an empty house, empty soul, and tons of regret."

As I was scrolling social media last night, I stumbled upon something that stopped me in my tracks. It was a distraught-looking middle-aged man staring into the bathroom mirror, with the following text plastered across the screen: "30 years of service to a job, and all you have to show for it is an empty house, empty soul, and tons of regret." I'm not going to share the post, as my thoughts aren't as much about this particular man as they are about the broader phenomenon.

I've seen this look on too many faces. I've heard these words from too many mouths. So many people (especially men) are suffering in silence.

One of the root causes of this phenomenon is our perspective on work:

  1. We generally view work as a necessary evil. We expect work to suck, then just like clockwork, it sucks.

  2. If work sucks, then the objective becomes the race to someday quit working (i.e., retirement).

  3. If work is supposed to suck and our goal is to get to the finish line as quickly as possible, we unintentionally create a self-fulfilling prophecy in the selection of our job(s).

  4. When we spend half of our waking hours at work, and said work is soul-sucking, then there's probably not a lot of gas left in the tank for the things we do actually care about. Thus, those things also suffer. Our relationships, our hobbies, and our passions.

  5. When we finally "win" the race and get to retirement, we realize this life of leisure wasn't actually the answer after all. That brings on an entirely new level of pain and emptiness.

  6. Enter the regrets.

The solution to this is unbelievably simple, yet so very difficult. It's called aggressively and violently pursuing meaning each and every day. Every day matters. Weekend days matter. Work days matter. Holidays matter. Vacation days matter. Young days matter. Middle-aged days matter. Older days matter.

But if we live our lives as if half our waking hours don't matter because we at least have the rest, the pain starts to bleed into all the days. Instead, what if all the days mattered? What if we found just as much meaning in our job as we did in our home life? What if our work provided a similar richness that our weekends provide?

It's simple. It's difficult. It's attainable. It's worth it.

____

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Careers Travis Shelton Careers Travis Shelton

Self-Employment Is Perfect, If…

However, the grass always feels greener on the other side. And to him, the grass of self-employment seems a lot greener than that of corporate America.

It's a sentiment I hear all the time, but one specific conversation with a friend inspired today's post. He's a man who has experienced a decent amount of success in his corporate career. He makes good money, he's in a field that aligns with his skills and passions, and he generally likes his job. All in all, he would self-describe his life as meaningful and his work fulfilling. However, the grass always feels greener on the other side. And to him, the grass of self-employment seems a lot greener than that of corporate America.

In his words, self-employment sounds "Perfect!"

I gotta admit, self-employment IS perfect. I say that tongue-in-cheek, of course. Seriously, though, self-employment is perfect if....

....you enjoy having the worst boss ever.

....you're okay having no paid time off.

....you don't know whether or not you'll have enough income to feed your family this month.

....every hour of the day becomes a potential work hour.

....you prefer to arrange (and pay for) your own medical insurance.

....you're cool paying double payroll taxes.

....you're excited to take on marketing, admin, finance, and accounting responsibilities.

....you wake up in the morning thinking you'll become the next Jeff Bezos, but go to bed wondering if you'll be homeless tomorrow.

....you're committed to making sure everyone else gets paid before you make a penny.

If that's you, yeah(!!!), self-employment is perfect! Seriously, though, I do love self-employment. However, it's not the magic pill many think it is. It can be brutal, unforgiving, and ruthless. Our collective romanticism of self-employment / business ownership doesn't fairly represent the true reality that people in the trenches are experiencing.

I sincerely think most people would be happier in their traditional job. Traditional work can and should be beautiful, fulfilling, and meaningful. Please don't let society trick you into believing you must "be your own boss" in order to be successful. The best path for you is whatever the best path is for you.....period.

____

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It’s NEVER Too Late

I regularly tell 40-somethings that today is a great day to change their lives and take drastically different paths. Sure, they might have been chasing money, stuff, and status for two decades now, but they still have so much time left. It's NEVER too late.

A few readers have recently accused me of being fatalistic in my two recent posts about rich vs. wealthy. The first post is HERE, and the second post is HERE. In short, I made the argument that there's a massive difference between being wealthy (all about money) and being rich (nothing about money). I followed it up by saying it's possible to have both, but the irony is the journey to both requires us to pursue rich (meaning), not wealthy (money). Meaning over money, if you will. When we pour our blood, sweat, tears, and passions into something, there's a strong likelihood we'll have some form of financial success.

Here's what one reader said about my two posts: "I feel like you're telling people that once they pick a road, they are screwed. That's it. That's your fate."

First, I totally understand how someone could read into my words and think that. I'm always grateful for the back-and-forth with readers; that's what gives this daily blog a soul!

Here's where I land on this topic. Not only do I disagree with the notion that once you pick a path, you're screwed, but I would double (er, triple!) down on the idea that it's NEVER too late to choose rich. It's NEVER too late to opt into meaning. It's NEVER too late to aggressively pursue work that matters.

I regularly tell 40-somethings that today is a great day to change their lives and take drastically different paths. Sure, they might have been chasing money, stuff, and status for two decades now, but they still have so much time left. It's NEVER too late.

I regularly receive messages from blog readers and podcast listeners who say something along the lines of (paraphrased), "I used to pursue money, but now I pursue meaning." Here's one thing all of these messages had in common. Almost every single person who switched their priority from being wealthy to being rich said they are so glad they did. Nobody ever says they regret pursuing the meaning and wish they would go back to pursuing money. Interesting!

In summary, after my unexpected three-part series, here's where I land on the topic:

  • Being rich ALWAYS surpasses being wealthy.

  • You can have both, but the path to both requires the pursuit of meaning.

  • It's NEVER too late to change your mind and take a different path.

Regardless of whether you're 17 or 87, you still have time. Make that precious time count!

____

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Careers, Growth Travis Shelton Careers, Growth Travis Shelton

Because Of, Not In Spite Of

Sometimes, we look at these types of situations and tell ourselves that life is good in spite of these twists and turns.

I spent the last two days in rural Nebraska working for a new business consulting client. The trip came together on 36 hours' notice, which required me to rearrange my entire schedule and convert in-person meetings to virtual (big shout-out to everyone who showed me grace!). It was one of the most challenging weeks of my career. I’m exhausted, overwhelmed, and a bit stressed.

Sometimes, we look at these types of situations and tell ourselves that life is good in spite of these twists and turns. I don't think that's a fair way to perceive it. Instead, I think life is good because of these twists and turns. 

As I reflect on all the insane situations I've found myself in this past year, I don't think 15-years-ago Travis would have been able to wrap his head around it. Frankly, I don't think that version of me would have been down for it. After all, our human nature is to hold on to the familiarity of the known (comfort) and reject the unknown (perceived risk). 

If I could go back in time and have two minutes to share something with former me, it's this: Embrace the journey. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. The twists and the turns are what enhance the meaning. 

As I head back home this morning, I'm full of gratitude, fresh insights, unique challenges, fun experiences, and hopefully some new relationships. 

Cheers to another day/week/month/year of twists and turns. Run to them, not away from them. Have an awesomeweekend!

____

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Yes, You Can Have Both, But….

You can be both wealthy and rich. It's not one or the other. However, there's an irony here. The only way to get both (in most cases) is to simply pursue richness.

One of my friends was livid at yesterday's post. In it, I discussed the difference between being wealthy and being rich. Being wealthy has everything to do with money, and being rich has nothing to do with money. I concluded the piece with this: "I'll die on the hill a million times that rich far exceeds wealthy every day of the week."

My friend, a very wealthy man, told me that my perspective on this topic is "small-minded" and "narrow." In his words, "Why choose one when you can have both?"

He's absolutely right......in the most wrong of ways. By his own admission, based on my definition of rich, he's poor. But now that he has wealth, he's going to find richness. However, in his mind, wealth is the key to subsequently finding richness. He couldn't be further from the truth. I'll save the gut-wrenching stories and gory details for confidentiality's sake, but he'll be the first to admit that his life lacks joy, meaning, and purpose. There's a lot of brokenness and pain caused by his steady pursuit of wealth.

His original point is right, though. You can be both wealthy and rich. It's not one or the other. However, there's an irony here. The only way to get both (in most cases) is to simply pursue richness. His own testimony is the cautionary tale of what happens when we try to pursue wealth. We just might find it, but it's not all that it's cracked up to be. Plus, the journey to get there often involves actions, decisions, and behaviors that sabotage our ability to have a rich life.

On the flip side, the pursuit of a rich life becomes more about the journey than the destination. It involves actions, decisions, and behaviors that lead to more meaning, purpose, and impact. Here's the irony. When we aggressively live with meaning, money often follows. That's not some prosperity gospel-type stuff, but rather a reality: when we pour our blood, sweat, tears, and passions into something that matters deeply to us, it's hard not to find some level of success. The journey toward meaning often intersects with excellence and impact, which translates into some form of compensation.

I'm not suggesting we have to choose between meaning and money......but I am 100% suggesting we ought to violently pursue meaning. Then, we let the chips fall how they may.

____

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