The Daily Meaning
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Prepare, Prepare, Prepare…..Then Watch
This week was a tale of extremes for Northern Vessel. Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) was easily the best day we've ever had. Not only did we eclipse our previous best sales day, but we crushed it by 25%. On the flip side, yesterday was one of the worst days in the history of the company. It occurred in the middle of a 10-inch snowstorm that crippled our metro.
The Home Stretch
With the passing of Thanksgiving, we're officially in the home stretch toward the Christmas / New Year's holiday. For decades, I've lamented how the season seems to be over in the blink of an eye. That frustration only grew after I became a father.
It’s All a Game
The collective was furious. Theft, fraud, immoral, ripping us off, evil corporations......the list goes on. Needless to say, people were upset. I, however, feel differently about it. I call it marketing.
The Anti-Pain Superpower
I do, however, possess a superpower that more than makes up for all this pain. It's called gratitude. Despite all the challenges, I'm tremendously optimistic and content with my life.
An Actually Positive TikTok Challenge
A parent, on the backside of the camera, asked their child, in camera view, a simple question: "What did you get for Christmas last year?" The kid had a deer-in-headlights look.
Gambling vs. Investing
Based on available data, 94%-95% of sports bettors lose money. Remember when Uncle Johnny crushed that four-team parlay and did shirtless victory laps around the house?
I’ll Show You, But….
About a decade ago, a casual friend approached me and asked if I would help him and his wife "build wealth" so they could retire in their 40s and "finally enjoy life."
"I'll show you, but that's not the solution to your problem."
Different Planets, or Not
Isn't it crazy how separated we are in today's culture? It almost feels like we live in factions, constantly droning on about how different we are from "those people." And the funny thing is that "those people" are our co-workers, neighbors, friends, and even family. Everything is so divisive. We've been conditioned to believe that the other side is dumb at best, evil at worst, and we should hate them for it.
The $10 Fast-Food Burger
As I processed my payment and collected my receipt, it dawned on me that I had just purchased a fast-food burger for $10. $10? What in the world!
Less Is More
I've found myself gravitating toward the concepts of minimalism over the last few years. When I say I've been gravitating, I mean in spirit.....not in action. I can feel in my soul that my life would improve if I had less stuff, less clutter. I haven't put that feeling into motion just yet, but I've been sitting on this idea for months now.
You Aren’t For Everyone…And That’s Okay
The husband responded via e-mail: "Your pricing might be the biggest bunch of horses*** I've ever seen. There's no way I'd ever pay that. I'm surprised anyone does."
Impact, Not Features
Then, she added, "And they will be able to use it for the rest of their lives." In that moment, her product's questionable price felt like the world's biggest bargain.
This Is Life
Life isn't awesome because it's full of rainbows and sunshine. Life is awesome because it's awesome, warts and all.
Reverse Engineering Your Obituary
What will your obituary say? What do you want your obituary to say?
The Cost of Being Human
You know how I know it's true? She's human, and we humans have this psychological quirk. That doesn't mean we're dumb or irresponsible......we're human. It doesn't mean we're being reckless or foolish.....we're human.
Three Years?!?!
This blog turns three years old today. Three years!?!? It's hard to believe I've posted for nearly 1,100 consecutive days. That first post was sent to a handful of people, and three years later, we have nearly 1,000 daily readers.
Running Out of Excuses
Today, however, the world looks different. We can pull a device out of our pocket and have immediate access to almost every person on the planet, some of the best information in the world is free, and tools are abundant.
Small Gifts, Huge Punch
I rarely know the impact, if any, I'm having along the way. So when I receive something like this, it's like hooking an IV directly to my soul.
What Am I Missing?
I'll die on the hill that BOTH spouses need to be involved in the budgeting process. However, that doesn't mean both spouses need to create and track it. Oftentimes, one spouse will be more inclined (interest-wise or skill-wise) to do the heavy lifting.