Reverse Engineering Your Obituary

Several prominent people in my life have passed away in the past month. Some I knew well, and others I only knew from a distance. Regardless of my proximity to them, though, they influenced my life in some way. It was a bit surreal reading the obituaries of these folks. It's a weird text to read about people we assume will always be with us. It's a stark reminder of how the end of our lives will be here soon enough.

What will your obituary say? What do you want your obituary to say? I've thought about this topic far too much over the years. Wanna hear about a morbid (yet cool) idea? Try writing your own obituary. Seriously. Someone once asked me to perform this gory task. Write my own obituary as if I'm dead. I found this exercise to be cathartic, but productive. It forced me to really think about how I want to be remembered when I'm gone.

Reading our own obituary is like skipping to the last page of a good book. You see how the story ends, but you don't know how the character got there. And if our obituary is the last page of the story, today is the first page; everything in between is yet to be written.

Here's what struck me about this exercise. If I know what the last page of the story says and what the first page says, I get to be the author of everything in between. The only way to properly author the rest of the story is to reverse engineer the ending. If we're serious about the words we wrote in our obituary, we need to work our way backwards to ensure we get to that place between now and our last breath.

If we want to be known as a loving person, we ought to do loving things.

If we want to be known as a generous person, we ought to be generous.

If we want to be known as great parents, we ought to do things that make us great parents.

I have so much more to say about this topic, including possibly sharing my obituary. But today, I want to leave space for this idea to breathe and allow people to ponder this in their own lives. To be continued.....

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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.

As I reflect on the journey, I thought it would be fun to answer some of the most common questions I receive about The Daily Meaning:

"Do you ever run out of ideas?"

• No. In fact, the longer I've done this, the more ideas I come up with. At any given point in time, I'm bouncing around 5-10 different writing ideas in my brain.

"Are there ever days you don't want to write?"

• Occasionally, which usually strike when I'm tired or stressed. Even when I don't have the mojo to write, it feels therapeutic to think through an idea and get it onto paper.

"Why do you spend so much time doing something that drives zero revenue?"

• This is one of the biggest blessings of my life, for a few reasons. First, it has opened the door to so many new and fun relationships. I cherish every interaction I have with readers, and some of those interactions have blossomed into friendships. Second, serving people and adding value to their lives is compensation in and of itself. We are called to serve others, and this is one of the ways I'm honored to serve. Third, it's a true joy to practice the art of writing.

"How long do you plan to keep writing daily?"

• As long as I'm mentally and physically able. Sincerely, it's such a blessing in my life.

"Are you ever going to write about other topics, like politics and current events?"

• People don't follow me for political commentary. That's not where my trust has been earned. As much fun as it would be to spout off on all sorts of random topics, I believe I can add the most value to people's lives by sticking to the intersection of work, money, and meaning.

"Do you think I should start my own blog?"

• Heck yeah! It will rock your world and change you from the inside out. This doesn't apply just to blogs, either. Start that podcast. Write that book. Record that song. Paint that canvas. Just create......and ship it to the world. It will add a richness unlike anything you can fathom.

"What's your end goal?"

• I want to make an impact on this world, both while I'm here and long after I'm gone. If this blog can serve as one avenue to make a difference, awesome! If even just one person is positively impacted by any given day's post, it was a win!

"Knowing what you now know, what would you do differently if you had a chance?"

• I would have started earlier. If I could wave my magic wand and get a do-over, I would have started this daily blog 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, or 20 years earlier. I so badly wish I could go back and read about how 24-year-old Travis perceived the world.

"I don't have ideas like you do."

• Yes, you do, you just don't realize it yet. Life is nothing but ideas, inspiration, and content. Once you decide you're here to create, you'll find inspiration in everything.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and engage with me these past three years. I never take that for granted, and I hope to continue earning the opportunity to add value to your life in the years to come!

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Running Out of Excuses

Twenty years ago, it seemed like the entire world was a barrier to entry. Lines of communication were closed (or unknown), information was locked (or expensive), and tools were available to only those with particular access.

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.

In just the past 24 hours, here's what I was able to do at zero cost:

• Reached out to a major celebrity via IG to ask for a moment of their time.

• Watched a YouTube video about how to fix something on my car.

• Downloaded and played an audiobook for my kids at bedtime.

• Found a free Excel tool that will help me solve a fairly complex problem I'm helping a client battle.

• Received some tax insights from ChatGPT ahead of a conversation I'll be having with my accountant.

We're running out of excuses. The barriers to entry are shrinking. The cost of doing business is eroding. The gatekeepers are dying. The communication gaps are closing. "I don't know how to do that" is an excuse that carries far less water than it used to.

I'm watching creative and motivated people all around me build meaningful and sustainable businesses with little to no cost. They simply have no excuses.....and they don't want any.

I don't come from the YouTube generation, but I learned a valuable lesson from my business partner, Cole, a few years ago while we officed together. Every time he got stumped, he simply opened YouTube and searched his question. Within five seconds, he was watching a video that addressed his exact question. Equipment issue? YouTube. QuickBooks confusion? YouTube. Marketing predicament? YouTube. A lack of communication skills? YouTube. He was a kid with big dreams, and YouTube was his playground.

We're running out of excuses. Part of me hates this, as it gives me nowhere to hide. If I'm perpetually stuck on something, that's on me. Everything I need to succeed in xyz area of my life/business is at my fingertips for little to no cost. I kinda liked it better when I could just make an excuse for not doing something. Today, though, it's put up or shut up. The days of excuses are passing us by.

Despite part of me hating this, the other part of me looks at this and says to myself, "There's nothing that can stop us!" If that's true, what are we waiting for?!?! We're running out of excuses, so we might as well get creative and put our foot on the gas.

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Small Gifts, Huge Punch

I was blessed with a massively thoughtful gift yesterday. It's the kind of gift that blindsides you and may seem small on the surface, but it packs a punch. It's one of those gifts that remind us how intentionality, creativity, and thoughtfulness carry far more weight than dollars ever could.

To set the table, two nights ago I received an out-of-the-blue text from a friend: "I just left something for you at {your office}. Enjoy." Oh, interesting. I'm excited to see what this is!

The following morning, upon walking into the office, I was handed a little box. Inside was a beautiful note affixed to a unique little surprise. It wasn't necessarily an expensive surprise. It wasn't acquired through privilege, status, or wealth. It was assembled purely out of thoughtfulness and creativity. Ah, the best kind of gifts!

I texted her my deepest gratitude, to which she responded with something that stabbed me right in the heart (if that saying can be used in a positive tone):

"You are very welcome. You have blessed me in so many profound ways that you are probably not even aware of. My life is significantly better because of some fundamental things I've learned from you over the years. It brings me immense joy to have been presented with an opportunity to do something unexpected for you."

Just her text meant more to me than anyone will ever understand. It knocked me right off my feet. All I want to do is be generous to others. 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.

Small gifts, huge punch. Between her texts and thoughtful gift, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I think that's the opportunity each of us has every morning when we get out of bed and step into the world. The only thing standing between us and world-changing impact is a little intentionality, creativity, and thoughtfulness. It doesn't have to break the bank. It doesn't require us to possess a certain status. It's not reserved for the wealthy.

No matter who you are, where you are, or what you are, you already possess the tools to alter this world for good, one interaction at a time. That's the most encouraging thought I'll share all week, but at the same time, it's also the scariest; what a responsibility! Seize yours today.

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Not Going to the Grave With Me

Every so often, I feel the need to ask for Sarah's opinion before publishing a blog or podcast. Either the content is too sensitive, or I feel a tinge of doubt. Last December, when I presented something to Sarah, her response was, "Please don't post this. I think you'll regret it." I canned it. For the past 10 months, it's just been sitting in my drafts.

However, due to the passage of time, inspired by yesterday's post about not taking things to the grave, and by the beginning of Pax's basketball season yesterday, I'm ready to send it into the world. I'm still uneasy about it, and Sarah would still probably advise against publishing it, but at the same time, I feel like someone needs to hear this today. I believe some good can/will come from it. With all that said, here's the piece I originally wrote on 12/19/2024:

I used to be a good basketball coach. It was one of my biggest passions in life, spanning eight seasons from my late teens to my late 20s. For decades, I've dreamed about one day being my kids' basketball coach. After I actually became a parent and my boys started growing, I formulated a few goals. Through coaching, I wanted to spend more valuable time with my kids, invest in my kids and their friends, for my kids to learn to love the game, and add more meaning to our lives. This is my fourth year coaching my kids, and the first in a non-parks-and-recreation setting. I've come to a few realizations recently:

• I'm not as good a coach as I used to be. I have theories as to why.

• It hasn't produced more valuable time with my kids. More time, yes; more valuable, no.

• My involvement hasn't caused my kids to learn to love the game more (they struggle with the boundary between parent and coach)

Further, coaching hasn't been good for my health. I torment myself and second-guess everything I do. I spend hours (or days) after every practice or game, woulda, coulda, and shoulda'ing myself. I feel like a constant failure, always frustrated at myself for letting people down (especially the kids). Even when things feel good or seem good from the outside, I'm still a mess. Even when I should feel joy or fulfillment, I only feel disappointment in myself. 

It's a humbling experience that's tough to even type. However, I'm committed to transparency and providing ideas that may add value to other people's journeys. Here's where I'm going today. I need to face my reality head-on. As much as I want to be a coach—an excellent coach—it's probably not the best decision. As I look toward the season ahead, if I'm being 100% honest with myself, I need to play the role of supportive dad. Any other decision would be detrimental to me and others. Again, it's embarrassing to even type this.....especially because of how much I love those boys.

This is how we grow, though. If we continually linger in places and roles we're not meant to be in, everyone loses. We lose by suffering on this side while missing out on something far more beautiful on the other. Other people also suffer from being on the receiving end of our lack of excellence. Lastly, other individuals who are better suited and called to these positions miss out on the opportunity.

I preach this concept all the time when it comes to our work and careers. If I believe in these principles (I do) and also believe they apply to other areas of life (I do), I need to humble myself and make the right decision. Unfortunately, the right decision isn't always the most enjoyable one. We have one more week of basketball left this season, and I will give it everything I have. Then, tough decisions need to be made. Ultimately, I owe it to everyone (including myself) to make the right decision.

The same applies to you, in all areas of your life. 

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Just Chilling On a Hard Drive

My family had the privilege of attending another Twenty One Pilots concert about five weeks ago. It was the beginning of their tour immediately following the release of their most recent studio album, Breach. Breach immediately shot up the charts, becoming the #1 album in the world. Rightfully so, as it's brilliant!

Fast forward a month, and I received a notification on my phone that Twenty One Pilots just dropped a new video. What?!?! Turns out, they had just played one of their new songs live for the very first time.....and they released a video of the performance on YouTube. It's called Downstairs and it's amazing! Side note, my kids were extremely bummed Tyler and Josh didn't perform this song at the show we attended.

Fan or not, I highly recommend you give it a watch. It's stunning. Deep at its heart, it's a worship song. It's raw with emotion and cuts you right to the core. I firmly believe this song will grow in its legacy and one day be considered one of their finest works.

Here's a fun fact about this song. It's a demo they recorded 14 years ago. At the time, it was a concept called "Korea," and neither of them gave it much thought; so much so that Tyler, the band's frontman, deleted it from his computer. It was trash. It was worthless. However, Josh had a gut feeling about the incomplete demo, so he simply stored it away. Earlier this year, they decided to dust it off and see if it had legs. That birthed something so special. Today, and for years to come, millions of people will be blessed with this song.

14 years "just chilling on a hard drive," as Tyler put it. That song could have died with them. It could have been taken to the grave. Not one other person in the world might have ever heard it. But then, in some form of beautiful serendipity, they were nudged to finish it and release it to the world.

How many of us have beautiful ideas just chilling on our proverbial hard drives? What are you holding onto that could make a difference in the world, but without action, will someday end up buried in the ground with you? I think about this idea a lot......probably too much. It's one of the motivating factors for me to podcast, write, and create. I'll be dead soon, and when I am, I want to leave the world (and my boys) something of value. If I were to die today, 432 podcast episodes and 1,200+ blog posts would be left behind, equating to 115 hours of audio and eight full books. My body will eventually rot, but hopefully something I leave behind will linger and make an impact long after my departure.

I (and millions of others) am so grateful that Tyler and Josh had the fortitude and courage to finish Downstairs. Someday, I hope people will be grateful for something I left behind. Lastly, I hope countless people will be grateful for the things you leave behind. Please don't waste this opportunity. Please don't take it to the grave with you.

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The Gatekeepers Are Dead

In the last few months, I've heard an array of mirroring comments from people in my life:

• I wish I could start a podcast.

• I wish I could publish a book.

• I wish I could record an album.

• I wish I could start a business.

For generations, we lived in a world of gatekeepers. If you wanted to publish a book, you'd need a publisher to say "yes" to you and offer to publish it. If you wanted to be a radio or TV personality, you'd need a network to sign you. If you wanted to record an album, you'd need a label to discover you. If you wanted to start a business, well, there were a ton of barriers to entry. Gatekeepers were abundant, and our culture required permission to enter.

The gatekeepers are dead! Sure, publishers, networks, and labels still exist, but they no longer have the power to gatekeep like they once did. Yes, you need their permission if you want to access their particular platforms. However, due to advancements in technology and a massive cultural shift, we are no longer at the mercy of these gatekeepers.

If you want to start a podcast, start it! If you want to publish a book, publish it! If you want to record an album, record it! If you want to start a business, start it! The cost and friction points to initiate any of these endeavors are so low.

You can start a podcast on your phone today for free. If you wanted to, you could use your phone as the recording device, and Spotify For Creators (free!) as your distribution platform. Within seconds, your podcast could be on every meaningful podcast platform in the world.....for free! Zero gatekeepers!

If you want to publish a book, Amazon's self-publishing platform allows you to do it for free! No up-front cost, no minimum inventories. If someone orders a copy, Amazon fires up the printing machine, sends the customer the printed copy, and keeps a chunk of the revenue as compensation. Zero gatekeepers!

I know 12-year-olds who are starting creative businesses that are now making more than the median U.S. adult. I once had a high school youth group kid who made twice as much as I did! Zero gatekeepers!

None of these are easy endeavors, but nobody said it should be easy. This isn't about hard or easy, but rather, why we're waiting for permission from the gatekeepers. Spoiler alert: Permission isn't coming. The gatekeepers aren't what's coming between us and our callings. Instead, we're coming between us and our callings. We're too much in our own heads, using no-longer-existing gatekeepers as the excuse.

So many of you have dreams of one day doing xyz. Whatever that endeavor is, just do it! Don't wait for the gatekeepers.....they are dead. There's no better day than today to give yourself permission.

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Exercise the Muscle

During my 10-year stretch as a youth group leader, I taught hundreds of high school students about generosity. It was always one of my favorite topics to engage students with! In one of my favorite talks, I discussed a concept I like to call "exercising the giving muscle."

Think of it like doing the bench press. You wouldn't just walk into the gym and randomly decide to start throwing around 300-pound reps. It would kill you! Instead, you start small. Maybe it's 100 pounds, then 150 pounds. You graduate to 200 pounds, then slowly build your way up to 250 pounds. Each time you exercise those muscles, you get a bit stronger, allowing you to lift more next time.

Giving is much the same way. Inside each of us is a proverbial giving muscle, and like the bench press, we need to start slow. You probably don't wake up randomly one day thinking you're going to give a car away. Every journey of generosity has a beginning.

Early in my journey, I remember how I would constantly scan the horizon, looking for an opportunity to exercise my little baby giving muscle. One of my favorite and game-changing reps came at a local coffee shop. Sarah and I were in line at the register, waiting to order our customary Saturday morning drinks. Two women were at the counter ordering in front of us. I could tell they were tourists.....and I could tell something was wrong. After a bit of eavesdropping, I gathered that they had accidentally left their purses back at the hotel. They were frustrated with themselves, conceding they would need to run back to the hotel before getting their coffee.

"I got you," I said. They looked at me, confused. "We're going to buy your drinks. We got you." We're talking maybe ten bucks. This wasn't some heroic act.....it was just a few lattes. One of the women started tearing up, moved with emotion by our act of generosity. Reminder, it was literally only ten bucks.

That moment moved me. Through my simple act of exercising my giving muscle, I realized how even small acts of generosity have the potential to move the needle in people's lives. That was a big turning point for me. If $10 can move someone like that, what about $100? What about $1,000? What about $______?

That moment stuck with me for years, constantly reminding me that every gift matters. Every act of generosity has the potential to make an impact. My call to action with the high school students was to exercise that muscle. Buy lunch for a friend. Take a peer out for coffee. Surprise a teacher with a fun little gift. Hold the door open for a stranger. Clean the locker room after practice so the coaches or managers don't have to. Exercise that muscle!

That's a good call to action for each of us today as well. Whether big or small, find ways to exercise the giving muscle today!

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My Collections

In yesterday's post, I confessed that I don't personally collect anything. Everyone around me seems to have collections, but my life is seemingly void of collectibles. Does that make me weird? Am I missing out? I challenged our readers to share their viewpoints and perspectives on collecting. I so much appreciate your insights.

After much consideration, it dawned on me that I do, in fact, collect things. However, instead of collecting material things like I used to when I was younger, my collections look different now. I'm not sure how I missed it so badly yesterday, but it turns out I'm indeed a collector. Here's what my collections look like:

• I collect memories.

• I collect experiences.

• I collect photos and videos.

• I collect trips.

• I collect countries visited.

• I collect food eaten.

• I collect sights seen.

• I collect first-time endeavors with my kids.

• I collect impactful moments with those whom I have the honor of serving.

I totally missed the mark yesterday when I was focused too much on the physical, and not enough on the intangible.Those things I listed above? I cherish them so much, and if I'm honest, I pursue them violently.

I recently read a study about why time seems to go faster as we age. Turns out, there's a scientific answer for it. Our brains measure time in significant events: first-time experiences, landmark moments, profound experiences, etc. When we're younger, we naturally have more of these moments in our lives. The world feels new and exciting. We're more likely to be adventurous. We have a childlike wonder.

Then, as time passes, that childlike wonder begins to fade. What once felt new and exciting starts to feel bleh. When I was a kid, I remember the astonishment I felt each time my family drove into downtown Chicago. The buildings, the lights, the sounds, the people. It was all so....intense! Today, though, it's a different experience. I took my family there a few weeks ago. This time, it was just a cool city. I still love Chicago, but the wonder has somewhat faded.

This is why it's so important for me to collect memories and experiences. The more often I approach life with a childlike wonder, the more significant events get seared into my brain. How has this panned out? The 20 years from age 18 to 38 seem like a blur, gone in the snap of a finger. On the flip side, the six years from 38 to 44, intentionally approaching life with this new mindset, have felt like two decades. I've had more monumental memories and experiences in the past six years than I did in the 20 years prior to that, combined. That's very cool to think about; that's very depressing to think about. But I'm going to focus on the cool here!

Collect memories. Collect experiences. Collect impact. The act of collecting that which is intangible is a tangible effort toward a more meaningful and enduring life. I'm not even sure if that last sentence makes sense, but upon 15 reviews, I'm gonna stick with it!

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A Lesson From 10-Years-Ago Mr. Beast

Mr. Beast. He's the #1 YouTuber of all time. With 443 million subscribers, nobody has dominated the platform quite like him. He's a billionaire and a household name worldwide. Love him or hate him, people cannot deny the influence he's had over the past several years.

I don't regularly consume his content, but the video he posted yesterday quickly grabbed my attention. It's a video he recorded, uploaded, and scheduled 10 YEARS AGO. That's right. A video was published that had been in the YouTube queue for a decade. Here it is, in case you're interested in watching the three-minute clip.

I'm enthralled by this video, but for a different sort of reason. In it, he states that as of the time of recording, he had 8,000 subscribers. He's oozing with confidence, but at the same time, the appearance of so much doubt. He goes on record stating that if he doesn't have at least one million subscribers by the time this video is published, he will have failed. That's a pretty audacious goal, but in hindsight, it's funny (reminder: 443 million subscribers and the biggest YouTuber of all time). But I continue to be struck by the doubt in his voice.

It doesn't have to be one or the other. The majority of the most successful people I know possess both confidence and doubt. They are confident in the vision and their ability to execute, but at the same time, doubt is always on the mind. The fear of failure, impostor syndrome, and a lingering feeling that they are moving beyond their abilities.

I'm not going to self-label myself a success, but I can testify to having these very feelings. I wake up each day oozing with confidence about what I'm about to do, but at the same time, a constant and varying feeling of inadequacy. Can you relate?

I don't think we have to choose one or the other. In fact, I think the combination of both is healthy. If all we have is confidence, we can become arrogant, uncoachable, and stuck in our ways. If all we have is doubt, we hinder our ability to execute on the vision and are more likely to give up in the presence of challenges.

I hope you have a ton of confidence with your mission......but do so with humility and a coachable heart.

It's okay to have doubts, but take the appropriate steps to walk with confidence while you progress down the path.

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Live By the Sword, Die By the Sword

A massive scandal broke out in my city yesterday. Then, in mere minutes, it became a national scandal. Protests were quickly organized, and idealizations of riots were discussed on social media. Then, the inevitable happened. Local companies began drawing lines in the sand and making bold proclamations on their business social media accounts. Not the owners' pages, not the employees' pages, but the actual business pages.

One of my close friends sent me a sharp, but concise assessment that sums up his perspective (and mine): "Live by the sword, die by the sword."

This is a topic I've written about at length. Whenever a company decides to embody human values and shove them down the throats of its customers, two things will inevitably happen:

1. Current and prospective customers who share said values will be immediately attracted to the business. They will throw "support" at the business by posting about it on social media, buying something from the business, and/or giving a good review of the business on Google or another review website. I call this living by the sword.

2. Current and prospective customers who disagree with said values will be immediately revolted by the business.They will likely never engage with this business again, drag the business through the mud with whatever influence they have, and/or give a terrible review. I call this dying by the sword.

Here's the problem about living by the sword and dying by the sword. It's not a zero-sum game. When businesses lose a customer due to these practices, the customers are gone forever (possibly taking others with them). However, when a business gains a customer due to these practices, the customer likely won't remain a customer.

Why? Any "support" someone shows a business as a result of a company projecting certain values is fleeting. It's not builton trust, competency, or tangible value. Relationships not built on excellence are temporary or false relationships. It likely doesn't have legs.

I've watched so many of my friends torch their businesses to the ground by living by the sword and dying by the sword. It doesn't take much to move the needle in a negative direction. At first, it doesn't feel like it's hurting all that much. "I don't need their business anyway." Slowly but surely, though, the business feels the impact. A little this month. A little next month. It's not the end of the world, though! Then, before they know it, it's getting harder and harder to connect the financial dots. I've seen it so many times, and unfortunately, I'll continue to see more of it.

Here's the alternative: pursue excellence. Serve people well. Add value to their lives. Make a positive impact on their day. All the people! The people you love AND the people you might hate (if that's something you're feeling). Just be excellent.....period. Excellence always wins. If we do that, the rest will take care of itself. However, if we decide to live by the sword, we'll eventually die by the sword.

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Lessons From a Linebacker

Our family attended a local high school football game last night. It was the two public schools in our town, facing off against one another in the annual rivalry game. Both schools are some of the largest in the state. There were an estimated 10,000-12,000 in attendance at the stadium. Yeah, not the high school football I grew up with. 

One of the highlights was watching Finn and Pax's flag football coach, who is a player on one of the teams. He's a good kid. The boys loved playing for him, and I thought he seemed like a great young man. 

Here's what I know about his particulars:

"Hi, I'm Travis. I'm Finn and Pax's dad."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Dawson."

"What year are you?"

"I'll be a junior."

"What position do you play?"

"I play linebacker."

Short, sweet, clear. 

We were excited to see if he would be at the game. We checked the program: "Dawson, Junior, LB, #6." We found our guy on the sideline! We knew he was in the house, but would he play?

As the defense stepped onto the field for the first time, he trotted out. He's starting! We were excited to see him. Would he get much action? Then, it began…..

Tackle.

Another tackle.

Crushed the quarterback.

The crowd is wildly yelling his name.

Another tackle.

He was one of the most hyped guys on the sidelines, wildly cheering on his teammates and amping up the crowd. 

They put him in at running back.

He scores a long touchdown.

More tackles.

He seemed to live in the heart of the action on nearly every snap.

Crushed another guy.

Sack.

Another sack on the next play.

He's a madman!

I turn to Google. The moment I typed in his name, a series of articles popped up about how he was named all-state as a sophomore (a sophomore!) and is a returning leader on one of the best teams in the state. I had no idea!!!!

All this from a kid who just casually told me he's going to be a junior and plays linebacker. He could have told me all about his accolades and status. He could have let me know who he is. He could have made sure I knew he was the man. Instead, he was just him. He was a player on the football team, and he was coaching my kid. I respect him so much for this. He was a wonderful coach, and my kids still talk about him all the time. Did I mention I respect the heck out of this kid?

I think we can all take a page out of Dawson's playbook. Let our actions speak for us. Be humble with our mouths and impactful with our actions. Less talking, more walking. Proud of you, Dawson. You got a supporter in me, and a couple little boys over here that you've impacted more than you know. Grateful for the way you carry yourself; people are watching.

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Never Offend For Sport

After a quiet morning on the e-mail front, I received a deluge of feedback in the afternoon regarding yesterday's post. I knew it was coming, but it was more aggressive than anticipated. I certainly knew I would receive backlash, which is part of the reason I haven't published about that topic much until now. However, after a few engaging conversations with friends, I felt the nudge to suck it up and engage in the topic.

Two ideas come to mind when I think about receiving backlash:

1. A wise mentor once told me, "Travis, you're always going to offend someone, so just make sure it's the right someones." Dang!!!! It's true, though. We will inevitably offend people along the journey, one way or another. It's a when, not if. If that's true, we might as well offend people by being truthful to ourselves.

2. I never offend for sport. It breaks my heart when I offend people. I never set out to offend or hurt people. I try to make sure that when I speak, my intentions are pure. If I'm going to say something that could possibly be received as offensive, I'm going to do it with a mission in mind. In situations like yesterday's post, the mission is to challenge people to think about a certain topic through a particular lens.

In a time when offending people seems to be a game, sport, and hobby, I recommend we try a different strategy. No, we'll never completely avoid being offensive to some people at some times. There's no way to avoid it. However, we can take a different approach. Aim for sincerity and let the chips fall where they may.

I hope you regularly feel challenged by my posts. I hope I give you something to think about. I hope it even inspires you from time to time. I never intend to offend. However, if I do offend you, please know that's never my mission. I never want to offend for sport.

Have an awesome day!

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Easier to Just Stay At Home

In just a few hours, I'll be the keynote speaker at an event I've wanted to speak at for several years. Hundreds of the most influential Christian business leaders in our state will be in attendance. I'm really, really, really excited.......

.......and I'm really, really, really nervous. It would be easier to just stay at home. I've been planning this talk in my head for months and preparing for it for weeks. I'm going to share some challenging ideas and encourage some radical shifts when it comes to the pursuit of excellence.

Can I just be frank and tell you I'm terrified? Yeah, it would definitely be easier just to stay at home. If I were to stay home today, there's zero chance I could fall flat on my face and face a giant embarrassment. On the flip side, staying home also ensures I don't make a difference. Staying home would be me turning in my permission slip to help people. Staying home would all but guarantee I don't fulfill my purpose today.

It sure would be easier to stay at home, though!

Whatever you're called to do today, this week, or this month, don't just stay at home. Put yourself out there. Face your fears. Risk failure. Take a swing and see how the chips fall. You might just impact some lives along the way!

As for me, I hope to rejoin you tomorrow morning with less stress, more composure, and a lack of stories about failure and embarrassment. Have a great day, all!

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Permission Granted

My inbox and phone have been flooded with messages over the past few days. People are struggling with all sorts of emotions right now. One particular message hit especially hard.

"Travis, for the last few years I thought your meaning over money message was stupid. It felt like a cheap way out of taking personal responsibility and doing the right thing for your family. I felt like you were being a wimp and taking a loser route. But last week something changed in me. I started looking at my life and realized I only do what I do for the money. Other than that I feel like my life is meaningless. I'm not doing any good for the world. I'm just living for me and that needs to change, but I don't feel like I have permission to take a different path this late in the game."

Welcome to the club, my man! We're so good to have you. Permission granted! I get why so many people roll their eyes at these ideas and principles. I understand why I get so much criticism. I don't take it personal......anymore.

It's never too late to choose meaning over money. It's never too late to turn the tables over and start afresh. It's never too late to reject society's notion of normal to pursue the path less traveled. It's never too late to take stock of what matters most, then refocus your life toward that.

God will use all things for good; even the bad stuff. Scratch that, especially the bad stuff. Nothing is wasted in God's economy. I deeply hope this man takes this nudge and runs with it. I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful story that will unfold in front of his family, friends, and everyone he has the privilege of interacting with. He doesn't need my permission to act, but perhaps my encouragement will give him the confidence he needs to get started.

You don't need permission, either. However, if you're looking for it, I'll give it to you in the form of encouragement. Life is too short and too important to allow money to drive our decisions. Perhaps it's time to let meaning take the wheel.

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Noisy But Quiet

I returned home on Friday night from the Nebraska cattle ranch I've been working with. My first order of business yesterday was to spend some time at Northern Vessel. The weather was perfect and the sun was shining.

However, I noticed something the moment I walked into the shop. Despite the place being absolutely packed (which is normal), the energy was off. Hundreds of people flowed in and out of the shop, but at the same time, it felt empty. As one of our baristas put it, "noisy but quiet."

People were still spending time with loved ones. People were still enjoying their free day. People were still consuming tasty beverages. But something was off. You could cut the tension with a knife. Perhaps it was just me? I chatted with a dozen different people, each saying the same thing. Everywhere they've been has felt similar: noisy but quiet.

Maybe that phrase not only applies to rooms, but to people as well. Noisy but quiet. That's how I'm feeling. I have lots going on right now. I am serving countless people. I'm leading businesses. I'm trying to make solid decisions. I'm preparing for speeches. I'm creating content. It's noisy. However, it's quiet. Inside me, it feels quiet. The energy is off. I can cut the tension inside my soul with a knife.

We ALL go through times like these. Different events, seasons, and situations can trigger it for each of us. We might feel perfectly well one moment, and just like that, life feels different the next.

I don't claim to be an expert on this topic, but I'll share the little wisdom I possess today. During times like these, we need to keep moving forward -- step by step, one foot in front of the other. The only other option is to cower and whither away, and nobody wins when we select that option. Therefore, I'll just take one step today. I hope you do the same.

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If My Life Ended Today….

I separately shared conversations with two of my best friends yesterday. Both of them expressed a sense of being shaken up by recent events, particularly driven by the fact that they are both the exact same age as Charlie Kirk. It was the first time either of these men had thought about their mortality in such a raw way. One of these guys said he's been pondering the following question: "If my life ended today, what would I have to show for it?"

That's an intense question! How would you answer? I've written multiple times on this blog about how I've always felt I’d experience a premature death. I don't know why I think that, but it's something I've pondered for decades (so far, so good!). As such, I've been thinking about this question for quite some time.

Here's one thing I know. I haven't waited until "later" or "someday" to do the things I'm called to. Faith will always prevail. Even at our own detriment, Sarah and I have made tough choices to follow a challenging path. A path that's led to much fruit. Lots of struggle, but so many blessings. We've wilfully and knowingly made things difficult for ourselves. However, we did so at the hands of our calling. While I can't be certain, I hope others (including my two children) would internalize that principle and use it to alter their own life choices. I pray that's something beautiful I can leave behind.

Here's one thing I won't leave behind: regret. I am deeply committed to leaving no regrets on the table. I'm not scared of many things in life (except for maybe snakes), but I'm deeply terrified of regret. Regardless of when my life ends, I pray I close my time on earth with no regrets.

Tomorrow is not promised. Every tomorrow is a blessing. Every tomorrow is an opportunity to live our calling, now. Every tomorrow is a challenge to eradicate future regret. I hope to see you again tomorrow, but if I don't, I can promise you I left it all on the field.

I don’t mean to sound morbid with this post, but I pray this spurs a conversation within yourself today.

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Not Throwing It Away…..Today

I'm still reeling. These last few days have been absolutely brutal. Yesterday's blog post was the shortest post I've ever written. I simply had no words. The tank was empty; I was completely drained. Again today, I don't feel great. I have a lot of emotions spinning in me. Like so many others, my instinct is to react. My gut says to explode. Every ounce of me wants to let people have it.

However, at the same time, I keep thinking about this idea I podcasted about more than three years ago. It's an idea I think about often, but today, more than ever, this idea remains foundational in my life. We each have a choice:

1. We can explode with anger, vengeance, and frustration. We can tell people off, make ridiculous social media posts, or leave nasty comments on other people's posts. We can unleash our opinions on the world, leaving a wake of wreckage in our path, essentially throwing away any influence we ever had with people in our circle.

2. We can navigate life with a posture of restraint, retaining influence in people's lives. While we might hate their opinions and behaviors, and we won't get the instant (but fleeting) satisfaction of telling them how dumb they are acting, we can keep the right to be a positive influence in their lives.

I'm teetering between #1 and #2. Every ounce of me wants to lash out. However, doing so will require me to throw away any and all influence on many people's lives. Looking at it the other way around, there are countless people in my life that I will likely never trust again after this week. Any influence or equity they had in my life has been torched. It's sad, but true. Perhaps they don't care, but it's still sad.

In order to keep a proper perspective, I went back and listened to that episode (Episode 131 of the Meaning Over Money Podcast, dated 6/27/22). It's weird listening to your own voice to gain insights, but I gotta do what I gotta do. I fully encourage you to listen as well. That episode feels more timely than ever. You can find it on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Today, I'm going to choose restraint. I hope I choose restraint again tomorrow. Every day is a new battle. Keep fighting the fight, retaining influence on other people's lives. Your influence matters.

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Make It Hurt a Little

Yesterday was a great day for Cyclone fans all over the world, as the football team won its second consecutive Cy-Hawk game against our rival, the Hawkeyes. I'd like to say I enjoyed watching the game, but to be honest, it was a stressful and miserable endeavor from start to finish. That game is always tough to watch, but I was excited about the outcome.

The catch: I watched it from home. I had been eagerly anticipating being there in person with our season tickets, but by Friday, I knew we needed to simplify our weekend and watch it from home. I have a huge talk coming up, and I really needed more rest and more prep time.

When one of my friends found out I was staying home, he had a question: "How much did you get for those tickets?!?! That's the most valuable game of the year!"

"I gave them away."

His face immediately formed a look of disgust. "Why would you just give them away?!?! You could have gotten at least $600 for them!!!"

"Because I wanted to," I replied. The truth is, there was no amount of money I could have received for those tickets that would have provided me with as much joy as giving them to another family. That family was able to make memories, share an experience together, and be part of something truly awesome. It was priceless!

Giving is more valuable than money, every single time. Sure, we could make it a math equation. If I give away $1,000, I have $1,000 less to spend on xyz. That math is correct. That math is real. However, the simple math fails to encapsulate the greater beauty of giving. Whenever we give, it changes something inside of us. It shifts our perspective from "me" to "them." It forces us to look outside ourselves. It requires we think about ourselves less, and other people more.

Would an extra $400-$600 come in handy? Absolutely, it would! It was very tempting, too! The selfish and self-serving side of me really wanted to hit the cha-ching button on those tickets. However, we needed to remain pure in our intent with our season tickets: Make memories with our kids and bless other people. Mission accomplished.

Giving is more valuable than money. If you agree, fist bump to you! If you don't, would you please consider putting me and this idea to the test? Consider blessing someone in a big way this week. Make sure it requires tangible sacrifice on your part. Make it hurt a little. Then, see what happens. It's beautiful!

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Being Stupid

Yesterday morning, I was sitting at church, minding my own business, when out of nowhere, the man giving the message anonymously told a story about me! I was shocked, to say the least. He's a friend of mine, so it was an honor for him to even think about me in this regard.

To summarize, he shared examples of people who made decisions that led others to call them "stupid." In my case, he shared how I had a high-paying job that would have essentially ensured I'd be financially set for life. Then, in an attempt to serve more people in different ways, be more present with my family, and be a better father, I quit my job to start my own little business. This decision resulted in people all around me (including some extremely close to me) telling me I was "being stupid."

I gotta admit, having some of your closest friends and family call you "stupid" is a hard pill to swallow. At the same time, though, we shouldn't endeavor to gain the approval of others. It's our journey to live, and we're the ones who must live with the consequences of our own actions.

Over the last six years since making that decision, I've had many people call me stupid for many different decisions. It's unsettling when people around us make counter-cultural choices, and it challenges us in our soft spots. We've all been on that side of the equation. Just last week, I found myself getting jealous of a friend for doing something I don't personally (yet) have the courage to try. Instinctively, I wanted to call him "stupid," but truthfully, that was my own insecurity creeping in.

I feel like half my days are spent encouraging people to do "stupid" things. So many people are teetering on the edge of making life-altering decisions, but the cultural pressure from people around them often holds them back. After all, nobody wants to be "stupid."

There's a shadow side to all this. At some point along the journey, the same people who initially thought we were stupid start to see the positive side of these seemingly crazy decisions. In some situations, without even saying a word, we begin to inspire other people to make their own "stupid" decisions. Stupidity is contagious, I guess.

This is the role we each have the opportunity of playing. Our decisions and choices may draw the ire of people all around us, but so too does the product of our actions. Someone has to break the mold.....why not you?

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