The Daily Meaning

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Travis Shelton 1/20/25 Travis Shelton 1/20/25

Fake Until You Break

This is self-sabotage at the highest level. These toxic perspectives and the behaviors associated with them are literally driving an entire generation into the ground. It's a fake-it-until-you-make-it type of life we're living, but ultimately, it's more like fake until you break.

There's a narrative pervasively weaving its way through social media and our culture. It says this: Millenials are screwed, victims of bad timing and circumstance. First, I need to confirm that I am, in fact, a Millennial. This demographic group is currently between 30 and 43 years old, and I slot in at the high end of this range.

I'm not going to dive into all the reasons this generation feels wronged and victimized. I don't think it's worth the time to write or read. While I understand where these arguments come from, I also recognize all generations deal with their own version of struggle, pain, and suffering.

Instead, I want to discuss the other side of this never-ending debate. Wells Fargo recently completed a study of Millenials who have an annual household income of $250,000+. What they discovered was that 59% of Millenials in this camp believe "it's important to appear financially successful to others." To put that in comparison, only 35% of Gen X and 14% of Baby Boomers had a similar belief.

6 out of 10 Millenials believe it's important to appear financially successful in the eyes of others. More than half of the people in my generation! That has deep and powerful implications. Of the 59% of Millenials who think this way, 41% of them admit to funding their lifestyle through credit cards and other consumer debt. Only 28% of Gen X and 6% of Baby Boomers do the same.

Yes, our generation has faced headwinds these past 20 years. Yes, there are things that make life hard. But nothing is making life as hard as we're making it on ourselves. We're literally breaking our own family structures for the sake of looking rich. We can say all we want that it's not happening, but the data says it is......and so does my experience working with hundreds of families. We're spending ourselves into oblivion.

What's the alternative? Instead of caring what others think and trying to keep up with the Joneses, we should focus on what matters most. We should live with humility, discipline, and intentionality. We should pursue a life of meaning above all else. More stuff, status, and wealth will never provide the satiation you're looking for. Only meaning can provide that. And meaning can't be found on the other side of a purchase. My generation, at 30-43 years old, is still relatively young. We have time to figure this out. We can right the ship and lead ourselves into a productive life full of meaning, joy, peace, and impact. But that doesn't happen on accident. It must be chosen, then aggressively pursued.

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Travis Shelton 1/19/25 Travis Shelton 1/19/25

But Not Yet

Short, punchy, profound, and so very true! Almost everything in life is possible, but not if we try to take shortcuts to get there….and not if we try to do them all at once.

I was chatting with a close friend yesterday while I waited for my flight to take off. It was an innocent chat, but then, out of nowhere, my friend shared something I instantly knew would be today’s post. He was discussing a mutual friend. Our mutual friend is a fantastic guy with a heart of gold and excellent at his craft. He’s most certainly on a path to success in his professional and personal endeavors. The conversation revolved around how our common friend has a ton of big, awesome goals. One problem: He wants to achieve them all right now. Unfortunately, his urgency, impatience, and lack of focus will completely sabotage most, if not all, of these big goals. My friend on the other end of the phone concluded this little gem: “We can have almost anything we want in life, but not yet.”

Short, punchy, profound, and so very true! Almost everything in life is possible, but not if we try to take shortcuts to get there….and not if we try to do them all at once. I’ll share a few real-life examples.

The first is one of my friends from college. He’s a smart dude with a healthy motor. Coming out of college, he believed he deserved to quickly achieve xyz title in his industry. Why? Because he was better than most people, and he deserved it. While I was 100% confident he could (and would) eventually get there, his approach and mindset concerned me. I encouraged him to simply do the work, pay his dues, and methodically work his way to where he wanted to be. He could get exactly what he was looking for, but not yet. Nope. He wanted what he wanted, and he wanted it now. In his pursuit of quick status (and the money that would accompany it), he frequently job-hopped, burned bridges, and greedily played the ladder-climbing game. Fast forward 20 years, and his career plateaued far lower than his original vision. So sad…..and so avoidable.

My second example is a friend with several simultaneous and conflicting wants. On one hand, he desperately wants to change careers and pursue work that matters. He also wants to buy a house. He also wants to upgrade his car. All three of these aspirations are possible, but not yet. If he prioritized them and focused on one at a time, he could achieve all three. However, in his impatience and haste, he’s creating a scenario where he’ll have none of them. I hope he alters his path, but I foresee a brutal end to this hasty endeavor. So sad…..and so avoidable.

We can have almost anything we want in life, but not yet. We need to focus on what’s most important, have discipline, stay persistent, and be patient. When we do those things, we’ll absolutely get to where we’re trying to go.

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Travis Shelton 1/18/25 Travis Shelton 1/18/25

When Nothing is Everything

My client was frustrated.....borderline fuming. After two frustrating months to end 2024, they felt stuck and defeated. Expenses piled up, the budget got shredded, and they didn't make nearly as much progress on their debt as hoped. They had big goals, but ultimately, the goals fizzled at the hands of their harsh financial reality.

I was so proud of them and happy for them! In my opinion, they had an amazing few months! Months worth celebrating! Months worth remembering. Months that will eventually be looked back upon on as the turning point to everything.

What's the disconnect? Their definition of a win was paying off debt and having everything go right. My definition of a win was how they approached the situation and navigated it when everything went wrong.

In years past, they would regularly fall into the credit card debt cycle at the slightest presence of adversity. Their finances would run away from them, they would quickly slide the credit card, and kick the can down the road to fight another day. After battling to remedy the problem for the next several tension-induced months, they would repeat the cycle. All the while, they would wonder where their money is going and why they can't get their crap together.

Enter November and December of 2024. They had big plans for debt paydowns and moving the needle in their finances. Then, as life tends to do, crap happens. An emergency vet bill, the car breaks down, an unexpected family trip, a surprise activity expense for their kids. One expense piled onto the last. Suddenly, their perfectly crafted budget eroded around them.

I'm not painting the best picture, am I? This is where it gets good. Since they had an actual plan, created with unity, implemented with intentionality, and entered the month with clear visibility, they saw the twists and turns as they came. While it wasn't ideal to alter their budget to accommodate the crap, they were in control of the budget, not the other way around. For the first time ever (20+ years!!!), they carefully pivoted, took care of their business, and survived the financial onslaught. Even more impressive, they managed to do so without tapping into the credit cards. Yeah, they endured all the crap that life had to offer WITHOUT falling into the credit card death spiral. Massive win!!!

If they compare where they ended up with what they originally planned on doing, it would appear they accomplished nothing. However, sometimes nothing is everything. In their case, this seemingly disastrous month was the biggest win of them all. Now that they know they can thoughtfully and intentionally handle the tough stuff without resorting to debt and old habits, they can accomplish anything together.

This is where they begin to cook. This is where their life changes forever. This is where the rubber meets the road.

Sometimes, nothing is everything.

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Travis Shelton 1/17/25 Travis Shelton 1/17/25

Ode to Reps

One particular comment struck me: "It was interesting watching you perform. Even though there were only a few people there, you gave off the same vibe as if there were 1,000 people in the room."

I recently appeared on a podcast, but it was a different kind of podcast. It was recorded just like a typical podcast, but at the same time, there was a live audience watching/listening. It was facilitated via Zoom, so I could see the attendees' faces while recording. Just one problem: Only five of the 150 scheduled attendees actually showed up. Therefore, I was doing a live virtual talk to an audience of five that would eventually become a podcast. Odd, I know.

Overall, I thought it went fantastic. On the heels of the event, the organizer reached out to thank me, apologize for the small turnout, and share a few thoughts. One particular comment struck me: "It was interesting watching you perform. Even though there were only a few people there, you gave off the same vibe as if there were 1,000 people in the room."

Good! That's exactly what I was hoping for. I'm a firm believer that every rep counts; we never know what impact we'll make. It reminds me of something I learned from being a youth group leader. If we hosted a big event and only a handful of kids showed up, that didn't mean it was a loss. Rather, it meant we could pour everything we had into those few kids. I loved that mentality!

I think this mindset carries into every aspect of life. Each repetition is an opportunity to give 100%, regardless of the circumstance. Further, giving 100% in the less assuming settings earns us the right to make an impact elsewhere.

It ALWAYS reminds me of my favorite music video, Ode To Sleep by Twenty One Pilots. If you haven't seen this video, and I'm 99% sure you haven't, please take a few minutes to experience it.

The video opens with Tyler and Josh performing in a small dingy room in front of just 12 people. What's most fascinating to me is that they are performing with the same energy one might exude in a large arena. They were going off.

The video transitions to a different show, 18 months later. This time, they are playing in a "dark, sweaty basement" in front of 300 people. Again, the same massive energy that doesn’t seem to match the audience size. They were going off.

Lastly, the video transitions one final time. This time, 18 months later, they are performing again. However, the audience has ballooned to 12,000 loyal fans. The moment the screen flips to HD and pans across the electric crowd still gives me chills. Again, the energy was off the charts. They were going off.

I can't get this music video out of my head. It has 26 million views, and I suspect half a million of them are just me. I so much appreciate their willingness to give 100% of themselves each repetition, whether 12 people or 12,000 people.

I don't know what you have going on today, but whatever it is, it deserves 100%. You never know the impact you'll make.

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Travis Shelton 1/16/25 Travis Shelton 1/16/25

Starting Is the Hardest Part

"$25 isn't enough to make a difference," he quipped. While that's technically true, I wasn't encouraging $25/month because I thought it would move the needle. No, I did it because starting is the hardest part.

I was recently sitting with a young client. Mid-20s, new-ish in his career, trying to figure out his place in life. Everything is new, exciting, and a bit nerve-wracking (though he probably won't admit that last part). To his credit, he's approaching his money head-on. He recognizes the responsibility....and the opportunity. His future self will absolutely thank his younger self, and I'm grateful to play a small role in that story.

However, we hit a roadblock. When it was time to dive into investing, he felt defeated. It's not that he didn't want to invest, but rather he didn't think he was ready. "I don't have enough left in my budget to invest, so that will have to wait."

"That's ok, we'll start with $25 per month."

He laughed. I wasn't joking.

From a behavioral science perspective, there's massive power in starting something. After all, starting is hard. Investing requires us to set up an account, create a login, connect to a bank, physically move money from one institution to another, and invest said cash into an index or mutual fund. That's a lot of hurdles! However, once those hurdles have been cleared, it's simple!

Once he makes the first investment, and then takes one more step to automate future investments, it becomes one of the easiest things in his life. Even better, the act of creating and automating his investment account, even with only $25/month, he becomes the type of person who invests. That action integrates with his life, his rhythm, his habits. Like paying his rent, brushing his teeth, and taking out the trash. It's just what we do.

As I explained, starting a $25/month investing rhythm is the hardest part. After that, it's easy to increase it. Increasing it takes two minutes. Maybe he'll increase it to $100/month. Or maybe $500/month. Maybe it will get to $1,000/month. Whatever the right number is, it only happened because he did the hard part of setting up that initial $25/month. So, no, $25/month won't in and of itself move the financial needle. But that $25/month start is what opened the doors for everything that will soon come.

Starting is the hardest part. Whether it's investing, giving, or saving, just start. Even $25. Heck, even $5. Just start. Get the ball rolling. Become the type of person who does that action. Let it seep into you. Once that happens, anything is possible!

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Travis Shelton 1/15/25 Travis Shelton 1/15/25

What Gets Measured Gets Done

Last week, Sarah approached me with an idea. She wanted to buy a walking pad to get more walking in during the bleak winter months. Think of it as a baby treadmill compact enough to go anywhere in your house, and quickly get stored away between uses. It was $120, and since we had allocated $150 to our home furnishings category this month, we agreed to buy it on the spot.

Fast forward a week, and I'm the one loving it. Out of curiosity, I pulled up my step count in the Health app on my iPhone. My general assumption is that I probably walk about 8,000-10,000 steps daily. Needless to say, I was WAY off.

Since July, I averaged 4,800 steps per day. If you look at the image above, I've had many weeks where my daily averages were in the 2,000s and 3,000s. Yikes! As Michael Jordan famously said in The Last Dance, "And I took that personally." That's when I drew the line in the sand. From here on out, I will average 10,000+ daily steps every week. No excuses. It will be measured, and it will be accomplished. Look at the far right line on that graph.....boom! A 10,000+ average this week.

“What gets measured gets done.” This is a famous saying, though I have no idea who said it. I've had mentors and colleagues tell me this over the years, and I couldn't agree more. When we measure something, we're more likely to accomplish it. In my financial coaching world, clients must send me an updated net worth statement before each meeting. If I've met with a client 30 times, we'll have 30 data points, side-by-side-by-side. We measure everything!

If a client is trying to get out of debt, we'll track their paydown and payoff progress closely.

If a client is trying to stay on pace with their budget, we'll track how far off they were each month.

If a client is trying to get a better grip on their dining out spending, we'll precisely track how many times they go out to eat, how much each cost, and the running total.

If a client is trying to sell x widgets in their business, we'll set up tracking systems to measure the inputs and outputs of their mission.

One last one, and it applies to this blog. One of my missions is to provide a high-quality read, but in a condensed package: No more than 500 words per day. Therefore, I write each post using a tool that measures every word I type. If my post is 510 words, I must pare it down. Powerful and concise.

What gets measured gets done. This applies to nearly every aspect of lives. Whatever you're trying to accomplish this week, month, or year, measure it. Find a relevant way to record it, measure it, and track it. Put it visually in front of you. See it for what it is…..and what it could be. Then crush it!

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Travis Shelton 1/14/25 Travis Shelton 1/14/25

Happy Accidents

I know I'm not alone here, but as a kid, I'd spend hours staring at my standard-def TV watching Bob Ross work his magic. I had no artistic talent and no interest in painting, yet there was something soothing and enjoyable about his presence in my life. After a while, you'd learn his cadence, rhythms, and sayings. One such saying has always stuck with me: "We don't make mistakes. We have happy accidents."

On December 16th, I published what I thought was a killer post titled "Giving > Getting." I was extremely proud of that one, and hoped it would move the needle for people. However, much to my dismay, I realized I made a crucial mistake. While everything looked fine on the website, my e-mail distribution software apparently doesn't like the symbol ">." Instead of my subscribers receiving a post titled "Giving > Getting," it was titled "Giving #x3E; Getting." See, a brutal mistake!!!!

I spent the better part of a day lamenting how my stupidity in the execution prevented a beautiful piece from reaching its true potential.

Enter Bob Ross and his wisdom.

To this day, that blog post is easily the most-read thing I've ever published. It experienced a record-high open rate and was shared countless times. Why? I don't think it's a coincidence. I think the e-mail subject line "Giving #x3E; Getting" was just too weird not to open; a happy accident, so to speak.

If I'm honest with myself, much of what I've accomplished throughout my life is a product of happy accidents:

If I hadn’t failed so badly in my original writing endeavors, I wouldn’t have lamented my frustrations to my friend and mentor, Gary Hoag. That’s the conversation that inspired what has now become this blog. A happy accident.
If COVID hadn’t crushed Cole’s videography business momentum, he never would have called me to pitch what eventually became the Meaning Over Money Podcast. A happy accident.
If TJ hadn’t failed in his first several iterations of Northern Vessel, and had his pending capital partners not flaked on him at the eleventh hour, Northern Vessel wouldn’t be what it is today (or if it had, I certainly wouldn’t be part of it). A happy accident.
If my employer’s company hadn’t shut down during the Great Financial Crisis, and if my employer hadn’t given me an ultimatum to move to Iowa or join my friends in the unemployment line, and if I hadn’t been so deeply (and stupidly) in debt that I didn’t actually have any personal freedom to make choices, I never would have moved to Iowa, and my life as I know it simply wouldn’t exist. A happy accident.

Nothing goes as planned, I screw up every step of the way, and I never end up where I expect. Life is a series of happy accidents, and I'm down for it! Happy accidents, while frustrating in the moment, create beauty, richness, and unpredictability in an often mundane life. Savor them, don’t wish them away.

Embrace those happy accidents!

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Travis Shelton 1/13/25 Travis Shelton 1/13/25

More vs. Better

Yes, that's correct. She said "no." She walked away from what most would consider the opportunity of a lifetime. Pretty stupid, right?

One of my friends received an amazing job offer! It's a different company within her industry. It offers more robust responsibilities, a higher-profile role, and better visibility to leadership. It provides tremendous growth opportunities in multiple directions. Did I mention it's also DOUBLE her existing compensation structure? We're talking about a massive pay raise. I don't mean this to sound like hyperbole, but she'll likely never have to worry about money again. It's that type of offer.

She turned it down.

Yes, that's correct. She said "no." She walked away from what most would consider the opportunity of a lifetime. Pretty stupid, right? Well, stupid by our culture's standards. That job offer was the epitome of what we fight for when trying to progress through our careers. We work, work, work, and work, hoping that one day we'll get that big break that changes everything. That was hers......and she turned her back on it.

Why in the world would she do something like that?!?!? I'll tell you why. She prioritizes better over more. She's living her best life right now. She loves her job, her co-workers, her leaders, the culture, the work, the responsibilities, and the balance she's created between work, marriage, parenting, friends, and serving. While this job opportunity could have provided more (much more!), it couldn't provide better.

This is what meaning over money is all about. I couldn't be prouder of her, happier for her (and her family), or more excited for what's likely to unfold in her life in the months and years to come. Her current path will surely push her, stretch her, challenge her, and reward her. It's going to be a fun journey.

Always choose better over more. Other people won't understand. You'll probably get criticized. Culture will call you stupid. It might be a more stressful path. It won't be as secure, comfortable, or easy. But better is always better.

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Travis Shelton 1/12/25 Travis Shelton 1/12/25

The Myth of Making It

Someday, I'll "make it." Famous last words!

“Making it” means different things to different people. For some, it means getting out of debt. For others, it means becoming a millionaire. Some people want to attain xyz title at work. Maybe it means landing a certain client. Or driving a car with that specific emblem. Perhaps there's a particular revenue goal. Your kid goes to an Ivy League college. What if you finally land on the cover of a magazine? One day, you'll finally get that degree.

We love to put pins on the map of our future and definitively say that's the moment when we've "made it." Unfortunately, it's a lie. It's not a lie because these things can't happen.....they can. It's not a lie because they don't matter.....they do. It's a lie because every time we achieve something, we move the goalposts further out. If having a net worth of $1M is making it, the moment you get it, the new definition of "making it" becomes $2M, then $5M, then $10M, and so on.

Years ago, when Cole and I shared a dumpy little office, he had this amazing bottle of bourbon. It was a special edition bottle, signed by the band Slipknot. He would regularly talk about how, after "making it," we would pop the cork and enjoy that special bottle. Since that day, he and we have achieved far more than we had ever expected......yet, that bottle is still unopened. Why? Because every time he hit a milestone, a new milestone took its place.

Here's my point. There is no "making it." That's a myth. As humans, we'll quickly reset expectations as soon as we reach the goal. There is no magical point where our lives magically become perfect, or we achieve maximum success. Rather, it's about the journey. We should live with contentment, strive to get a bit better each day, celebrate all the wins (even the small ones), and find meaning in all of it. Oh yeah, and pop the cork on that bottle, Cole. You're never going to make it, but man, you're doing it.

My challenge for you today is to stop defining which hurdles you'll someday hit to "make it." I promise you, by the time you achieve them, you will have already moved the goal posts on yourself. If that's true, just keep moving forward, living with meaning, enjoying the journey. Oh yeah, and pop that cork.

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Travis Shelton 1/11/25 Travis Shelton 1/11/25

Wipe Off the Mirror

This transparency is the secret to accountability, growth, and ownership. When we can digest our situation at face value, we can face reality on reality's terms. This makes all the difference in the world!

Today's piece is more technical than usual, but it bears consideration. Let's say you're having a tough financial month. Expenses are running higher than you anticipated, unforeseen situations pop up, and/or you elect to make a purchase that wasn't originally budgeted. You'll inevitably exceed your income, and something must be done.

The worldly way is to simply throw it on the credit card and deal with it sometime in the future. No bueno! For those of you who don't play Russian Roulette with credit cards, a solution must be found. Enter the emergency fund. Emergency funds are great for the times when expenses snowball on us. Most people house their emergency funds in a savings account directly tied to their primary checking account.

Therefore, when the crazy months arise and we need relief, we can click a few buttons, and that money is available for use. How we choose to frame it in our financial life is where the rubber meets the road, though. One option is to bring the emergency fund cash into our account and silently use it to offset expenses behind the scenes. We receive the needed relief, our needs are met, and we can move on. It's all good, right? Wrong!

To show why this is an unhealthy approach, please allow me to show you the alternative. Let's say we're having the same crappy month, and we need to pull $2,000 from our emergency fund. Let's assume our car breaks down, and it's one of those oh-crap-what-do-we-do moments with our mechanic. We immediately know our budget will be $2,000 short, and we can bridge the gap with our emergency fund. Instead of allowing these transactions to happen behind the scenes, we do two important things:

We add the $2,000 into our budget as income. In my budget, I call this income line item "From E-Fund."
We add the unwanted and unexpected expenses to our budget. In this case, we allocate an extra $2,000 to the car maintenance category.

What's the difference? In the first scenario, everything looks good in our budget. It appears we make what we always make, and our expenses are normal (i.e. artificially low). That doesn't reflect reality.

Adding our emergency fund proceeds and associated expenses into our budget forces us to look in the mirror. Or, to be more specific, it forces us to wipe off the mirror to see more clearly. This transparency is the secret to accountability, growth, and ownership. When we can digest our situation at face value, we can face reality on reality's terms. This makes all the difference in the world!

That's why I repeatedly say we need to account for all income coming in, and ensure every dollar finds a home. The consequences are very real. People who properly account for their emergency fund use are far less likely to dip into it than people who facilitate it behind the scenes.

Wipe off that mirror! The more real you can be with yourself, the better you'll be......and you deserve better.

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Travis Shelton 1/10/25 Travis Shelton 1/10/25

Punched In the Face by Gratitude

As I've watched the national news coverage the past few nights, it's been non-stop coverage of houses in Los Angeles literally going up in flames. People woke up like any other day, and went to bed without a home or possessions. Everything they owned.....poof. It's truly one of the saddest things I've ever watched play out.

Do you ever get frustrated? I mean REALLY frustrated. The car breaks down. You get turned down for that job. That girl/guy isn't interested in you. You got pulled over for speeding. Your flight gets canceled. Life can suck sometimes.....ok, lots of times.

It's easy to dwell on this stuff. We start sounding like our own little version of Debbie Downer. But then, something happens. We get punched in the face by gratitude.

Those are the moments where gratitude punches us in the face. Life is never perfect, and sure, it would be nice if these frustrating circumstances would just stay away. But we should carry ourselves with gratitude that we aren't experiencing the pain and suffering that so many experience daily. If all that happened to you today is getting turned down for the job, your crush isn't interested in you, you got pulled over for speeding, your car breaks down, AND your flight gets canceled, you're still better off than so many. That's still worth celebrating. All of those crappy things piled into one day, but you end the day going home to your comfortable house with all of your possessions, you're still blessed. Weird perspective, I know.

I think we should live every day with gratitude, but it doesn't hurt to get punched in the face by it once in a while. Prayers to anyone who is impacted by these wildfires. I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. Better days are yet to come, and beauty will surely rise from the ashes.

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Travis Shelton 1/9/25 Travis Shelton 1/9/25

Growth For Growth’s Sake

My friend is stuck in a success paradox. He's created something that's truly successful, but simultaneously, he created a life and career that can't provide peace and contentment. In his effort to gain security, he unintentionally self-sabotaged himself to the point where he can never enjoy it.

I recently enjoyed lunch with an old friend. He's a former colleague who went on to create his own business. Over the years, his business has grown substantially, to the point where it now provides an income that far exceeds anything he or his wife ever imagined. To put it bluntly, his family is well taken care of.

That's the setup for what I'm about to say. He's stressed, stretched thin, and running out of steam. He's a grinder, and it's all catching up to him. In the same conversation, he mentioned to me that his goal is to grow the business by x% in 2025. My response: "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you striving to grow so much when you're already stretched so thin and running on empty?"

"Isn't that what I'm supposed to do? If you're not growing, your dying."

I need to clarify one thing. This guy loves what he does. He's living his calling, his meaning, and his purpose. He's doing exactly what he's meant to do, and that's awesome! However, at the same time, he's caught in the trap.

My next question was simple and straight to the point: "What do you really want?"

Not surprisingly, he said things such as being a present father, a supporting spouse, getting more involved in his church, feeling more peace, and finding more time to get away with the family.

His current business allows for all of this! He's already there! On the flip side, pursuing x% growth in the season ahead will most certainly hinder these goals. Therefore, he has a simple choice to make: meaning or money. Growth for growth's sake is a money grab, an ego grab, or both. But it's not meaning.

Whether you own a business or not, I think this concept can and should hit close to him. Growth for growth's sake. More for more's sake. Newer for newer's sake. Bigger for bigger's sake. Fancier for fancier's sake. These all lead us to the same place. When we strive for more just because "that's what we're supposed to do," we inadvertently self-sabotage our bigger purpose and our true goals.

As we walked out of the restaurant, I told my friend I hope his business doesn't grow in 2025. I hope it stays exactly how it is: amazing. If so, he'll position himself to do everything he says is important to him. Sure, more feels good. It's shiny. It's sexy. It's stokes our ego. But meaning always trumps it. Every. Single. Time.

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Travis Shelton 1/8/25 Travis Shelton 1/8/25

Repurpose It

As I was working with a small business owner yesterday, I experienced a full-circle moment. I was frantically drawing visual representations of a complex situation on the whiteboard. Adjacent, on the flat-panel monitor, was a mirror of my laptop screen, presenting a skeleton Excel model ready to come alive. That's when the full-circle moment hit me!

It took me back to a hot 130-degree day in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I was visiting a client when a peculiar question arose. It was a concept I was familiar with but hadn't fully vetted. Out of necessity, and with the insights of the client and my colleague, we hashed through the idea and eventually found the answer we were looking for. From a broader perspective, though, I learned a concept that day that would stick with me for years.

Fast forward several years, and I had "thrown away" my career and transitioned to an entirely new career. All that wisdom, knowledge, and momentum, more than 15 years worth, gone. I spent the better part of two decades learning, growing, and building, and then poof (!!!!), I threw it all away......

......except I didn't. Nothing in life is wasted. Everything we do, learn, and accomplish is the springboard to what's next. Rather than throwing it all away when I left that career, I repurposed it. Next thing I know, I'm taking those same concepts into meetings with my dry ice manufacturing client. Then, something else happened. In bringing my previous experience, skills, and insight to the table, I actually learned even more! Not only did I not waste it, but it was a springboard to get even better.

Fast forward a few more years to yesterday, and I was sitting in a conference room with a small business client. This same concept I learned in Saudi Arabia, then enhanced with a dry ice manufacturer, was being used again to serve a totally different type of business. Nothing is wasted!

This concept applies to everything! Every learning, every experience, every interaction, every skill, and every relationship leads to the next. If that's true, then I'd encourage you to never condemn yourself for the possibility of "throwing ____ away." That's a toxic mindset that cements us in our place, conceding that our present reality is our inevitable future.

If that hits home for you, I encourage you to challenge yourself. If there's something in your life you want to do but would require you to "throw away" whatever experience, relationships, skills, or accomplishments you've garnered to date, ask yourself if that's really true. If nothing is wasted, you aren't throwing anything away; you're repurposing it.

For me, this epiphany was a game-changer. It gave me the freedom and permission to expand the vision, dream bigger, and be willing to make counter-cultural shifts in my career and life. I dare you to try it.

____

Travis Shelton 1/7/25 Travis Shelton 1/7/25

The Value of a (Great) Partner

I've been getting tons of feedback on the post about my friend Dan's tiny house. In my piece, I discussed his knack for formulating absurd ideas.....and then executing them. Being as close as I am to him, I didn't even consider the most common feedback I would eventually receive:

"It's easy to do those things when you're single."
"He must not be married."
"Sounds like he doesn't have kids."
"Is there a way to do something like that if you're married with kids?"

Again, this angle never crossed my mind. Dan is happily married and has two teen sons. This fact surprised many. Why? Because big dreams, absurd ideas, and wild callings can oftentimes get crushed by our partners. So the fact that Dan has followed through with these beautiful ideas is a testament not only to him, but also his amazing wife, Suzanne.

It's true. She's a huge supporter, encourager, and fellow dreamer alongside Dan. That's the value of a great partner. Dan doesn't accomplish these big dreams despite his partner, but because of his partner. So beautiful!

People sometimes ask me how I quit my previous career, took a 90% pay cut, and started over with twin three-year-olds and a wife who stayed at home. Translation: "I can't believe your wife would allow you to do something so stupid and not leave you in the process." The truth is she was in favor of me making that decision, and was more than a year ahead of me on being ready for that to happen. She not only encouraged me, but she dreamed right alongside me. That's the value of a great partner.

It's not to say that Dan and Suzanne have a perfect marriage. And it's definitely not to say that Sarah and I have a perfect marriage (we have lots of junk in our relationship). But I can confidently testify that both relationships allow for big dreams and counter-cultural callings.

Enough forces in our lives tell us to let our dreams die. It's the way of the world. We develop big dreams as children, only to have them figuratively beat out of us as we work our way toward adulthood. Then, once every ounce of zest has been ripped from our souls, we concede to live a life we can tolerate for the next several decades until we're finally able to escape our variation of misery via retirement.

With a great partner and the freedom to put meaning over money, we can free ourselves from the tyranny of this modern-day trap. If your partner isn't there, not all is lost. Engage in the subject. Share the vision. Encourage having the freedom to dream. Don't give up hope. I've seen many couples develop this after what seemed insurmountable odds. It's never too late to embrace meaning and the road less traveled. It might just take one partner making the first move.

Yes, Dan is married. He has a good one in Suzanne. Whatever credit you attribute to him, you might as well shift it to her. The value of a great partner is priceless.

____

Travis Shelton 1/6/25 Travis Shelton 1/6/25

Stepping Across the Line

Whenever I write about my disgust in the "support small business" movement, I suffer a momentary wave of panic that I'll lose some of my small business owner subscribers.

Whenever I write about my disgust in the "support small business" movement, I suffer a momentary wave of panic that I'll lose some of my small business owner subscribers. After all, my ideas on the subject are about as counter-cultural as they come. I've lost my fair share of readers from this position, but I'm grateful for everyone who has stuck with me and has been willing to hear a different perspective.

With that context in mind, I have a fun story to share. One of my small business owner friends recently reached out via text. He confessed there were many days where his finger hovered over the "unsubscribe" button out of frustration, but for whatever reason, he decided to give me the benefit of the doubt. He's a big believer in "supporting" small businesses. This isn't news to me, as I've watched him spout off that destructive narrative for years on his social channels and in his marketing.

Here's what he said next! "A while back I decided to give your idea a try. Instead of asking people to support me, I just tried to be more excellent. Do better at marketing. Treat customers better. And give people more reasons to come to my business instead of someone else's (or the big box stores)."

I'm loving this so far! Let's continue: "And it worked! My revenue has doubled in the last 6 months and I wonder why I spent so much time worrying about people supporting me. As you say, excellence always wins."

Yes! Yes! Yes! By the way, I've seen a shift in his business from watching their social media. The change is palpable. They carry themselves with a newfound confidence, and it's clear they are in the business of serving people well.

They now realize customers don't owe them anything. Customers don't exist to serve them, but the other way around. Their sole responsibility is to earn the right to serve people, serve them with excellence, and earn the right to serve them again. And if they do that well enough, earn the right for those people to share the news with others.

This is exactly what my friend has done, and his business and family are thriving as a result. He used to act entitled to people's business and feel victimized by a lack of support. Today, he and his team add a ton of value to many people's lives; they are thriving!

This is the way business should be done. I'm not arrogant enough to think I will single-handedly change the world here. However, together, we have the potential to bend the culture and slowly move the needle in this area. My friend is certainly making a difference in his little neck of the world.

Whether you own a business or work for an organization, today is another opportunity to be excellent. If we do, the rest will take care of itself.....eventually. No excuses, no justifications, no entitlement. Just excellence.

____

Travis Shelton 1/5/25 Travis Shelton 1/5/25

Where There’s a Will

I know a lot of people that do a lot of absurd things, and I mean that in the best of ways. For as much as people tell me I live a weird life, I'm surrounded by weirdos. Take my friend Dan, for example. Several years back, Dan decided he wanted to run 100 miles in a single day. See, I'm telling you! Anyway, he had this ridiculous idea that running 100 miles in a day is not only possible, but appealing. Then, he did it!

Dan also had another absurd idea. Back in 2018 or 2019, he revealed to me that he wanted to build a tiny house with his bare hands and use it as a retreat for himself, his family, and his friends. Not long after that, he presented me with some architectural drawings of what it would look like. Oh, I guess he was serious.

Fast forward five years, and he recently completed his house. To celebrate and commemorate the moment, he invited me and three other guys to stay in the house with him a few nights ago. The five of us had a blast, and it was amazing to see his dream come to life.

Dan lives life via a series of absurd ideas. However, he doesn't talk about things that he might someday think about possibly wanting to consider dreaming about doing. No, he does. He simply does. He's called to something, then acts. He dreams of something, then follows through. He develops a plan, then executes. If there's a will, there's a way......regardless of how crazy the idea might sound.

There's one caveat I need to share, though. Dan isn't superhuman. He's not larger than life. Truth is, he can't do it alone. He trusts and relies on the people around him to support him, encourage him, walk alongside him, and fill in his gaps. That's the secret, though. We weren't meant to do life alone. His dependency on others is a strength, not a weakness. Dan cracked one of the cheat codes of life.

See that picture above? Every person in that photo (plus many more) played roles on the day of Dan's ridiculous 100-mile run. Cheat code. Similarly, the same group of guys donated their time, talents, or resources to help bring the tiny house dream to life. Cheat code. Other people's involvement doesn't lessen his monumental achievements.....it just gives him more people to celebrate them with. These are still Dan's wins, but shared amongst people he loves and who love him. Double win!

Where there's a will, there's a way. And the way likely involves others. Please dream big. Please believe in your ideas.....even the absurd ones. Please have the courage to go for it. Please have the humility to bring others into the fold. Life is better together, and together, we can achieve far greater things.

____

Travis Shelton 1/4/25 Travis Shelton 1/4/25

It’s Not Gonna Kill You

Never underestimate a person’s ability to justify overspending. Despite all the pitfalls and perils of overshooting our budget, as well as the warning signs as we approach the end of our rope, we still find ways to work our way into irresponsible decisions.

There’s one specific example that gets thrown in my face as an example of why we must overlook the boundaries and simply act. “Travis, what if you need to buy groceries but are out of grocery money? Just not buy groceries?!?!”

Yes, correct. That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. It’s not gonna kill you. In 99% of situations, there’s enough collective food in the pantry, fridge, and freezer to make it through. It won’t be fun. It won’t be convenient. And it might not be tasty. But it’s absolutely a feasible approach to the situation.

I can tell you from experience that this approach sucks, but is effective. It’s effective for a few reasons. First, it teaches discipline. If there’s one area we’ll want to bend the rules, it’s this. If we draw a line in the sand here, we establish a principle and willpower that carries deeper and broader.

Also, since the consequences of our failed budget or failed execution completely sucks, we incentivize ourselves to learn from the experience and do better next time.

Third, we learn grit. We do hard things because we’ve done hard things. And we do them together. We persevere, fight for the cause, and endeavor to do what it takes to meet our goals.

I’m so grateful for those crappy months when Sarah and I screwed up our grocery budget so royally that we had to white-knuckle pantry dive for a few weeks. It’s happened more than once, and each time was as painful as the last. But it was so, so good for us. The habits and principles it set in our life are priceless, and are partially responsible for the life we have today.

It’s not gonna kill you.

Travis Shelton 1/3/25 Travis Shelton 1/3/25

One, One, One

One of my friends dropped a pretty fun wisdom bomb on me yesterday. As we discussed the piece titled "Is this the year?" he shared a concept that stuck with me. He calls it the "one, one, one." Each year, he'll discern what he wants to focus on in the year to come. Focusing on too many things is never productive, so this is where his concept comes to life.

One new skill
One new habit
One new hobby

No more, no less.

First, the skill. Find a skill you don't yet possess, and endeavor to develop it through the year. It could be a skill related to your work, your desired work, or even something personal. Determine what steps need to be taken to progress. It doesn't matter how good you get, but rather focus on the act of moving forward.....period. If you start at 0% and end the year at 50%, that's still a win. It's about the journey, not the destination.

Next, habit. Figure out what habit would improve your life, then commit to injecting the necessary discipline, consistency, and willpower to manufacture a sustainable habit. This is more about grit and determination than knowledge, skill, or insight. The goal is that by the time the year is over, it's a locked-in given in your life.

Lastly, hobby. I love this one! Instead of continuing to fall into the exact same interests we've had for years (or decades), pick something foreign and just engage with it. This is actually the hardest one for me, as I rarely justify the time for hobbies.....and get stuck in my old interests. The goal isn't to find your newest love as much as it's about the openness to try. This new hobby might become your next passion, or not. And if not, perhaps it's the springboard to what does become THE thing.

While I didn't necessarily think about this broad one, one, one concept before today, I can see glimmers of it as I reflect on 2024. I developed two tangible skills during the year. The first was writing. Sure, I've been writing for much longer, and this blog existed for 12 months before the start of the year, but 2024 was the year I learned how to write. How to think, communicate, and engage. I also learned the art of teaching businesses how to dig deep into their margins and truly understand their operations at a meaningful level. Again, something I already knew, but 2024 took it to whole new levels.

For habits, I leaned hard into intermittent fasting (7PM-12PM). I've now been doing it for about 18 months, and I'm not going back. It's transformed my life and how I live it, and I'm grateful it's now part of my day-to-day life.

As I previously mentioned, hobbies are a hard one for me. I can't put my finger on any new hobbies in 2024, but I'll be thinking about it as 2025 unfolds.

One, one, one. Does this bring to life any ideas, thoughts, or goals?

____

Travis Shelton 1/2/25 Travis Shelton 1/2/25

First, Stop the Bleeding

Debt continues to crush our society. Across the board, debt levels continue to rise. Record high credit card debt. Record high auto loan debt. Record high student loan debt. The pendulum has swung toward more debt.....and it's not swinging back. As I see this play out in the lives of families, I'm literally watching this debt erode people's lives from the inside-out. Constant tension. Marriages lost. Stuck in jobs. No saving for the future. Using more debt to keep the train on the track. Modeling bad behavior for kids. Watching the cycle repeat in the next generation.

Millions of families have conceded defeat, willingly subjecting themselves to the turmoil and suffering caused by this destructive cycle. Some, though, desperately want out. They recognize there is a better reality, a different way of living. They know it's possible, but despite best efforts, they can't seem to claw their way to the other side.

I always share three promises with anyone interested in getting out of debt:

1) It's really simple

2) It's really hard

3) It's worth it far more than you could ever imagine

For many, it seems like every time they make progress, regression pushes them back to where they started.....or worse. This is primarily because they failed to execute the initial and crucial step: First, stop the bleeding! Let's use an analogy. You're sitting in a canoe and notice a bunch of water at your feet. Concerned by this development, you start to shovel water out. But no matter how fast or how much you shovel, the water line keeps rising. It's because you didn't plug the hole. You didn't stop the bleeding.

This is why so many people struggle with debt. They try to pay it off without first stopping the bleeding. They keep their credit cards open. They're still willing to sign the dotted lines for more student loan debt. They're open to using debt for their next vehicle. I promise you, if debt is an option, it WILL be used. Even while paying off debt, you'll find yourself sabotaging yourself along the way.

Well, what's the alternative? If we truly want to get on the other side of the debt, we need to resolve to NEVER let debt be an option.....ever. No more car loans. No more student loans. Close the credit cards. Stop the bleeding! Draw a hard line in the sand and be stubbornly unwilling to cross it. Then, and only then, can we move the needle and finally get on the other side of debt like we deserve.

This is a very controversial and counter-cultural idea. I get it. I've been on both sides of this in my own life, and have coached hundreds of people through it in their journeys. Armed with that experience and insight, I promise you that not only is it possible, but it's amazing!

If this speaks to you, perhaps this needs to be a mission in 2025. Maybe someone in your life needs to hear this; encourage them! This is the year! Draw the line, cross it, never go back.

____

Travis Shelton 1/1/25 Travis Shelton 1/1/25

Is This the Year?

While every day is a great day to make changes, there's something special about New Year's. Closing the book on one chapter, beginning another. A reset of the calendar. New hope. Endless possibilities. It's a time to reflect on what was, and dream about what could be.

Is this the year?

Is this the year you create financial unity with your spouse?

Is this the year you get out of debt?

Is this the year you start that business?

Is this the year you get intentional with budgeting?

Is this the year you get in shape?

Is this the year you lean hard into generosity?

Is this the year you apply for the job that better suits your gifts, passions, and values?

Is this the year you get married or build your family?

Is this the year you remove toxic forces and people from your life?

Is this the year you launch a new product or service?

Is this the year you change your diet?

Is this the year you share your art with the world?

Is this the year? Hit me back and let me know what you'll accomplish in 2025. I hope it's the year. I hope you crush it. I hope it's the best one yet. Happy New Year, everyone!

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