Da Coach

We lost football legend and former Bears coach, Mike Ditka, yesterday. Coach was larger than life. Even if you didn't know the Chicago Bears, you knew Coach. Even if you didn't know football, you knew Coach. Heck, Saturday Night Live had a running skit based on him! Coach was (and is!) an icon.

Last night, as Pax and I were readying ourselves for the Iowa State Cyclones football game, ESPN ran a tribute to Coach. It was the first time Pax had really been exposed to him, and for me, it was a throwback to my childhood. The tribute featured several notable people who spoke of the impact Coach made on their lives. Often, the stories weren't about a profound act or gesture, but about his presence in their lives.

It got me thinking about this word: legacy. Coach left a lasting legacy. Long after his burial and celebration of life, people will remember him, cherish him, and credit him with the impact he made on so many lives.

Money can make an impact, but that's just one form. Impact is impact, no matter the form. It's easy to sit on our hands and think, "Well, I'm not rich or famous, so I guess I can't make a difference." Wrong! Each one of us has the opportunity and responsibility to leave a legacy in whatever ways we can. It's not about dollars.....it's about presence.

Remember, legacy isn't built in a singular moment. It's built over years and years and years: countless interactions, small but meaningful conversations, and steadfast consistency in the lives of others. Slowly but surely, legacy is built through the cumulative impact we make on this world.

Please don't wait for some big moment. It's the little moments, day in and day out, when we have the opportunity to move the needle. Each of these moments will either be squandered.......or slowly build into your lasting legacy.

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Financial Non-Financial Financial Decisions

We recently extended our hours at Northern Vessel. Instead of being open until 3PM on weekdays and 2PM on Saturdays, we're now open 6AM-6PM, Monday through Friday. This is a huge shift for us, bringing many opportunities and some potential downsides.

As a team, we've discussed ideas to create a stir and spark much-needed late-afternoon activity. We've tossed around some wild ideas, ranging from questionable to all-out insanity. I'm leaning toward a few of the wilder ideas. However, we've also recognized that enacting one or more of these crazy ideas would certainly not be a "good financial decision" for us. One could dare say it would be a terrible financial decision.

This begs the question. If something is a terrible financial decision, is it, by definition, a bad decision? Conventional wisdom says yes. If, as a family or business, we make a decision that knowingly hurts the bottom line, we collectively view that as a bad decision.

What if it's not really about money, though? What if we're making decisions that are knowingly bad, financially speaking, but serve the greater purpose in profound ways? It can feel muddy. It's almost like a financial non-financial financial decision. We're making decisions about money, but it's not really about money, but it deeply impacts the money.

Sometimes the best decisions look like bad financial decisions, and sometimes the best financial decisions are actually flat-out bad decisions. In the case of NV, we're looking to spark a certain type of behavior, draw attention to a less obvious product line, and maybe bless our guests along the way. We'll no doubt endure some financial consequences, but it could be one of the best decisions we've ever made.....or not. But there's only one way to find out!

I see the same thing in my coaching. I regularly encourage people to make what could be considered "bad financial decisions." However, these counter-cultural decisions are rooted in behavioral science and a bigger purpose. Again, the goal isn't to have more; it's to have better. Sometimes, having better means making "bad financial decisions."

I'll soon begin a series about "bad financial decisions." In the meantime, I want to hear from you. What are some "bad financial decisions" that you've made, whether personally or professionally, that were actually good decisions? Hit reply to your e-mail, or if you’re reading on the website, drop a comment below. Can’t wait to hear your stories.

Have an amazing day!

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Don’t Hoard the Pain

I recently had a seemingly casual, professional-level conversation with a stranger. The intent of the conversation was for me to share some insights and advice for this man's young business. However, mere minutes into the conversation, we somehow meandered onto the topic of something deeply personal for him. I could tell it was a sensitive, all-too-relevant topic in his life, filled with much pain and suffering, so our conversation quickly shifted from business to this unexpected direction.

Sometimes, we go through things in life that are deeply painful. Experiences that forever change the trajectory of our lives. Moments we wish we never had to endure, but will never be able to forget. Pain that perpetually lingers, ranging from a dull ache to a knife-like stabbing.

Here's a principle I try to honor in my own life. Don't hoard the pain. It's so easy to lock all that pain up, pretend it doesn't exist, and simply mask it from the world. After all, it's usually easier not to talk about it. We bury it deep in a proverbial junk drawer, hoping it somehow just goes away.....but it doesn't.

Therefore, don't hoard the pain. Don't keep it all to yourself. We can't undo the pain. We can't jump into a DeLorean and change the past. We can't lessen the blow it dealt in our lives. Therefore, share it. Use it. At least allow some good to come from it. The damage has already been done, irreversibly, so we might as well find a way to harness it for good.

Back to my business meeting. This man's pain is all too familiar for me. He's experiencing something I, too, have experienced in a profoundly destructive way. This young man and I spent most of our conversation talking about this topic. All the pain, suffering, and turmoil I've experienced in my own life - what was once bad can be repurposed for good. I was able to share some insights and encouragement with this young man. I didn't hoard my pain. Instead, I found a way to create good from something that has been nothing but destructive in my life. Those little moments are special. Turning something so terrible into something potentially impactful is priceless. It was a beautiful conversation, and I hope I have the privilege of spending time with him again soon.

Don't hoard your pain. What's done is done. Now, even out the ledger by using it for good. Use it to make a positive impact in this world. You suffered so someone else might be allowed to suffer less...or perhaps not have to suffer alone. Not all heroes wear capes, and most heroes don't have origin stories stemming from roses and sunshine. Allow your pain to fuel your impact.

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Pancakes For the Table

In our culture, we tend to treat giving like something that's reserved for the few wealthy. Giving is something we do when we make a certain income, have a certain amount of assets, attain a certain standard of living, have enough to make a large gift, or never lack anything. In other words, giving is something someone else does, and for "me," I'm not there yet. Behavioral science tells us that we're not "there" yet because we know someone who is financially ahead of us. We're not able to give yet because "I can't afford it yet."

There's a fairly famous sports podcaster named Big Cat. He's a funny dude who regularly pops up in my social media feeds. He went viral for something he recently said on his show (talking about going to diners with friends):

"I always get pancakes for the table. Unlocks the whole menu. It's the best. Everyone who steps into a diner is thinking in their head, 'Should I do pancakes?' But you don't wanna just do pancakes; but you'd eat pancakes. So you get pancakes for the table."

This might be the best life hack I've ever heard!!!! I can confidently testify that I'll be enacting this practice at diners in the future. However, I didn't share this story to give diner ordering best practices. This is a form of giving. Giving doesn't have to be some monumental deal. Sometimes, giving looks like ordering pancakes for the table. A small little blessing. Something unexpected.

No, small gifts like this might not change the world. BUT small gifts like this can put a smile on someone's face, brighten someone's day. That's the beauty of giving. Small, creative acts, exhibited over time, have the potential to change someone's world. Today, maybe making an impact means someone can order the Denver Omelet AND enjoy big fluffy pancakes.

As for us, the givers, seeing the people in our sphere smile at unexpected bonus pancakes will surely put an even bigger smile on our faces. That's called meaning. I say it all the time, but the giver receives more than the recipient. In this case, the recipient gets delicious pancakes, but the giver's heart changes in some small way. I'd call that a win....a huge win.

Don't convince yourself that giving is something someone else does. Don't fool yourself into believing that giving isn't giving unless it's some big fancy gift. Sometimes, it's pancakes for the table.

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For the Love of the Game

"Travis, how much money do you make from your blog?"

A curious question from a close friend. A few days ago was the 1,400th consecutive day I published an article on this blog. I've spent thousands of hours on this little endeavor, spanning nearly four years of my life.

Last week, a blog reader sent me a $10 gift card, which was a very sweet gesture. This gift increased my total lifetime blog revenue from $0 to $10. That's an infinite percent increase! Boom!

After accounting for my website costs, e-mail distribution platform, and the $650 of legal fees I recently paid for accidentally using a copyrighted photo in a blog post last year, my total net profit probably stands somewhere around -$3,000. Yes, that's negative three grand.

"Why do you do that to yourself?" the same friend asked. For the love of the game, of course! Not everything we do in life has to be for-profit. I do lots of things for profit. I coach, I consult, I speak, I sell coffee. My family is doing just fine. This blog is a passion with a purpose. I love doing it so much, and I aim to make an impact on this world. It's never lost on me that nearly 1,000 people wake up each morning to read 500 words I put in front of them while they were sleeping.What a blessing! What an opportunity! What a responsibility! I never take that for granted.

I'm not against making money from the blog, but that's not why I'm here. I'm here to serve those who wish to be served. And someday, after I'm dead and gone, my kids will have some remnants of their father. A time capsule, if you will.

We ought not always measure success by dollars and cents. Sometimes, we need a different measuring stick.

• This blog fills my tank: WIN

• This blog fulfills a passion: WIN

• This blog cultivates relationships: WIN

• This blog makes an impact: WIN

• This blog adds joy to my life: WIN

• This blog is creating a lasting legacy: WIN

• This blog makes zero money: Who cares? Not me.

Find your measuring stick. Only YOU get to decide what counts as success or failure. Nobody else's opinion matters. It's your journey, and you're the one who has to live with the consequences of your decisions. Therefore, make decisions that future you will be proud of. Hint: Having more money, stuff, and status probably isn't what future you is actually looking for.

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Finding Our People

"A lot of people hate what you say and disagree with what you believe," one of my closest friends said. As much as I'd like it not to be true, it's very much true. Many people hate what I say and disagree with what I believe. My email inbox would also testify to this! It would be so easy to dwell on the criticism, but doing so would sabotage me from seeing the bigger picture: I'm not speaking to them; I'm speaking to people who have an open heart and open mind to listen. Not necessarily people who agree with me, but people who are willing to absorb someone else's ideas and decide for themselves. People who live with curiosity and desire meaning. I'm not here to serve everyone.....I'm here to serve my people. I will find them; they will find me.

Apple recently announced the upcoming release of a foldable iPhone. The front of the phone looks similar to what we know a smartphone to be, but it opens with a seemingly magical bendable screen to reveal something that resembles an iPad. While the technology looks absolutely bonkers, I don't see a realistic use for it in my life. Add the fact it has a starting price tag of $2,000, and I'm totally out. Millions of people agree with me. That's okay, though, as Apple isn't trying to serve everyone with this new device. They are trying to find their people; their people are trying to find them.

This is just how the world works. Not everything is for everyone. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that if you try to be for everyone, you'll be for no one. We'll never please the masses, so we might as well please those whom we are called to serve.

What's interesting is that when we decide to find our people and let our people find us, it's not always the people we expect. Sometimes, the ones we thought were our people are absolutely not, while the people we least expected become our people. That's such a beautiful metaphor for life.

We can't, nor should, be for everyone. Find your lane and simply serve those who wish to be served. You'll find them; they will find you.

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A-, At Worst

Last week, I wrote a piece called "B-, At Best." In it, I was heavily critical of myself after a recent speaking engagement. I recognize that I'm probably too hard on myself, and many of you pointed out that I'm probably too hard on myself, but truth is truth. I could have done better. I could have done MUCH better!

A few days ago, I had another speaking engagement. This time, however, I felt different about my performance: A-, at worst. I think it was a highly successful event, and I couldn't have been much happier with how I conducted myself.

There's an elephant in the room, though. The elephant in the room is the fact that I couldn't have crushed this most recent performance if I hadn't been willing to risk failure during the preceding talk. I don't think I needed that B- to propel me, but whatever happened on that fateful B- performance day equipped, fueled, and propelled me to achieve what I just did. Everything builds on everything.

We can't be afraid to fail! So often, I watch people stand idly while their dreams pass them by, simply because they are scared of failure. There's nothing that feels worse than failure- that is, until much further down the road, when we feel the agony of regret. Sometimes, enduring failure is the prerequisite for achieving success. Everything builds off everything. Thus, we need to keep moving forward. Always forward.

Therefore, whenever I look at myself and feel like a giant turd of failure, I recognize it's all part of the game. I can't make a positive impact on this world without experiencing the pain of defeat, and neither can you.

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B-, At Best

I had a speaking engagement yesterday. I've been excited about this one for a while now. My official grade for my performance: B-, at best. It's been a while since I spoke, and the content was oriented differently from my last few gigs, and I wasn’t as crisp as I wanted. Needless to say, I was disappointed with myself. Perhaps I'm too harsh a self-critic (which I'm told often), but I know what I'm capable of.....and that wasn't it.

Do I regret it? No. Do I wish I could undo it? Certainly not. I have a lot of woulda, shoulda, coulda's, but it would be wrong of me to wish it away. After all, even a B- has the potential to make an impact on someone. I pray that someone in that room was positively impacted by what I had to say. So even if I'm disappointed with my performance, it doesn't mean it's a loss.

I think about this often, as far too many times I've harshly judged myself and questioned whether I should or shouldn't have tried to do xyz thing. However, every time I do, I come back around to this realization that not doing it would have done zero good for this world, and doing it, even at a B- level, has the potential to move the needle.

This is one of the hardest pills for me to swallow. In a journey filled with failure (or perceived failure in some cases), I'm constantly reminded that showing up and doing the work is the prerequisite to impact. I wish everything I did were as put together as a Hollywood film and wrapped up in a pretty little bow, but that's not how life works.

We have a choice to make: 1) Play it safe and stay out of the game, essentially removing the risk of failure, or 2) Get on the field and scrap it up, knowing that the risk of failure goes hand in hand with the possibility of positive impact.

I wholeheartedly recommend option number two.

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Inheritance? What Inheritance?

I inadvertently opened a can of worms the other day when I said I don't think it's impossible to be too generous. I thought that post would stir up some dialogue, but instead of what I expected, it opened a different can of worms. I received six e-mails about the exact same thing....here's how one person succinctly (and bluntly) put it:

"What about your kids' inheritance? You think it's ok just to give away their inheritance?"

I love this, as it opens the door to have a very counter-cultural conversation. I don't personally believe in leaving financial inheritances. Practically speaking, here's what it means for me: No matter how much Sarah and I have when we die, almost all of it will be given away. Why? Why would we do that?

As a Christian, one of the core tenets of my faith is an understanding that everything I have belongs to God: money, possessions, skills, passions, etc. If that's true - if I sincerely believe that's true - why would I then turn around and give everything I have to my kids? To me, that would be hypocritical and self-serving. Therefore, as stewards of God's resources, anything we have left when we pass shall be given away.

Does this mean I'm just abandoning my children? Does that make me a bad parent? Does it show a lack of care for the next generation?

Here are a few implications of how I perceive this topic:

• The "inheritance" I leave them when I die, in part, will (hopefully) include the skills and care to be a good steward with the resources they are blessed to manage in their lives. I want to equip them to do well in this area of life.

• I hope to financially help my kids along their journey BEFORE I die. I want to help with college, weddings, and possibly other major milestones. I don't want to enable them, but rather encourage them.

• When we pass away, whatever financial resources we have left will be given to our family's generosity trust (which we currently use). I aspire for my children to manage it well and execute the plan after we pass away. I want to entrust them to oversee our last tangible impact here on earth, and I hope they receive this responsibility with gratitude and honor.

• More than anything, I hope Sarah and I can be living witnesses to these principles for our kids, and when they eventually grow older, they decide to replicate something similar with their children.

That, my friends, is true legacy. Legacy isn't a dollar amount, a bank balance, or some other form of "generational wealth." I want to build a legacy of generosity and selflessness that can span generations. That's my heart. That's my dream. So, no, I don't plan on giving my kids a financial inheritance. But I hope what I do give them is far more valuable.

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Too Much Generosity?

"How much is too much?"

I received this question after a recent post about generosity. How much is too much generosity? Can one be too generous? People have even called my advice on generosity "reckless." Can generosity be reckless?

I don't think you can be too generous. Sure, basic needs must ultimately be paid, but beyond a simple roof over our heads, food on the table, and adequate clothing, everything else is excess. If we look at every expenditure in our financial lives with true honesty, I suspect 70%-80% of our spending is some combination of want and need-extended.

Therefore, back to the original question. How much is too much? I don't think there is such a thing as too much generosity. Generosity, as Jesus defines it, is both joyful and sacrificial. The mere fact that we're asking if it's too much is a good sign we've ventured into "sacrificial" territory. For me personally, when I start questioning my own sanity, that's typically when I realize we're being adequately sacrificial. Then, if we can bear it, we push a little harder. It's a slow and steady ratchet of discomfort, pushing the needle on "how far is too far?"

Instead of asking how much of our resources we should give, I suggest we flip the script and ask how much we should keep. The moment we start to make ourselves uncomfortable on this topic is the point when we unlock a new type of joy and meaning in our lives. Instead of feeling a void from not having the things we believed we wanted, we receive the profound joy of knowing someone gets what they needed. It's life-changing.

I understand this is a spicy take for the culture we're living in. I'm not even suggesting that everyone make a hard 180-degree turn today. Rather, I encourage you to noodle on this idea. Sit in it. Come back to it now and again. Then, take one step in the direction of sacrificial generosity. Not a leap. Not some monumental shift. Nothing drastic. A step; one tiny step. Then maybe another.

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She Forgot the Drink, But…..

I recently received a phone call from a long-lost friend. Nothing dramatic; just a friend whom I lost contact with a decade ago after we stopped seeing each other on a day-to-day basis. The reason for the call? She recently checked out Northern Vessel for the first time and wanted to share her thoughts with me.

"Thanks so much for stopping in! That means a lot. What drink did you try?" I asked.

"I don't even remember what drink I had. All I can remember is how that place made me feel! It was a weird experience. Not weird in a bad way. Weird in the best way. I was just treated so well! Your team treated me like I was their family."

I will never get over hearing these stories. Our mission at Northern Vessel is to offer people world-class hospitality through coffee. Our team is amazing. They buy into the mission. Not only do they hold the standard, but in many ways, they keep raising it.

My friend's feedback reminds me of a saying that has stuck with me for years: "They might not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel."

This woman called me to rave about our coffee shop, yet couldn't remember a thing about her drink. It was a feeling. It was an experience. It touched her. It moved her. That doesn't happen by accident. That happened because of how our team conducted themselves, truly saw her, showed intention, met her where she was at, and exhibited genuine hospitality.

This isn't about coffee; this is about life! Regardless of what work you're in, who you serve, or how you serve them, the "how you make them feel" part will be the lingering takeaway years after you're gone. That will be the lasting impression you leave on this culture. Anyone can offer good service and execute a task. However, the bigger question is whether we're willing to take it one step further and give people something to remember. They might not remember your proverbial drink, but they will most certainly remember how you made them feel.

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The Mic Is Hot

I never really thought about this as a gift, but after countless conversations with various people in my life, I've come to understand that it is, indeed, weird. Whenever I record the Meaning Over Money Podcast (SPOTIFY / APPLE), I don't have a script. I don't use notes. I don't have an outline. There are no edits. I turn the mic on, discuss the topic on my mind, and turn the mic off about 12-15 minutes later. Then, Cole slaps on our intro and cleans up the audio quality. He doesn't splice, cut, or edit my words in any way. One take, done. We've done that twice per week for nearly five years.....approximately 440 episodes.

I never really thought of that as a gift, but it turns out it's a skill most people don’t possess. Then, something happened. After my Black Friday neck injury and subsequent cognitive issues, I lost this gift. I could no longer turn the mic on and cook. It was gone! Slowly, over time, I regained most of my pre-injury capacities and abilities—all except for my gift for turning the mic on and recording my podcast. For much of early 2026, I rode the struggle bus. It was difficult to record. Difficult to string my ideas together. Difficult to produce something impactful, engaging, and meaningful. Our last episode was published in March; crickets since then.

The mic is hot again! After eight months of struggles, I'm finally able to turn that mic on and live my best life. I recorded three episodes last week, and I couldn't have been more excited about it. They felt natural. They felt good. They were even a bit spicy. We will start regularly releasing episodes in the next few weeks.

It's so easy to take our gifts for granted. I recorded more than 400 podcast episodes without realizing how second nature it had become. Then, in a moment's notice, I lost that gift. I mourned the loss of that gift, but more profoundly, I beat myself up for not appreciating the gift in the first place.

All of us have gifts. They don't always feel like gifts, but they are! It's our job to recognize them, embrace them, and harness them for good. Find yours, embrace them, and use them to make a mark in this world. I'm excited the mic is hot again, and I hope you're excited to use your gifts as well.

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They’ll Hate You Either Way

The ten best people I know in this world are hated. When I say "best people," I mean I look at the way they live their lives and truly believe they attempt to live beyond reproach. They love their families. They are passionate about making a difference in this world. They are beyond generous. They live with joy. They lift people up; they don't tear people down.

Yet, despite being beloved by many, they are ruthlessly hated by some. People despise them. They are hated privately, sometimes publicly. Some individuals would pay money to see them hurt....or worse.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that you WILL be hated. Regardless of how much good you try to do, impact you try to make, or people you try to lift up, you will absolutely be hated. You will be hated for what you believe. You will be hated for what you don't believe. You will be hated for what you say. You will be hated for what you don't say. Heck, you might even be hated for completely falsified and made-up reasons.

Now, you might be thinking this is an oddly pessimistic and downtrodden post. However, there's a flip side to this. If it's true that you will 100% be hated by some, you might as well just live the life you're called to live. If it's inevitable that some will despise you, you might as well be despised for living in truth. If enemies will surely come your way, you best make the biggest impact you can along the way.

I've long ago conceded that despite my best efforts, many people on this planet hate my guts. I often disagree with the reasons they hate me, and some of it is indeed falsified and manufactured, but there's nothing I can do about it either way. Therefore, whenever someone asks me how I can share controversial and countercultural ideas day after day on the blog and podcast, my answer has gotten simpler: People are going to hate me either way, so I might as well make sure it's the right people for the right reasons.

Again, I'm not saying this to be a Debbie Downer. I don't need pity, and this isn't my attempt at self-loathing. Instead, it's my call to action for some of you to get out of the stands and onto the court. I know you're scared of what people will think of you. I felt the same way for years! Unfortunately, they are going to hate you anyway, regardless of whether you pursue your callings and attempt to make an impact on this world. Therefore, you might as well go for it! What do you have to lose?

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Whatever Means

A friend recently asked me a very pointed question. Based on some of the things I've said in recent posts about creating and shipping, this friend wanted to know if I think everyone should be publishing a blog or recording a podcast. I've never actually thought about that question before, and I was a bit surprised this person believed that was my position.

While it's true that I often discuss the idea of creating and shipping, I find myself speaking through the lens of writing and podcasting because that's my palette, my canvas. I actually don't think I'm called to write, or podcast, or speak, or (fill in the blank here). Rather, my calling is to serve others with whatever means I can use.

You have the same calling. However, "whatever means" varies greatly from person to person. For some, it's doing plumbing. For others, it's teaching children. For some, it's writing computer code. For others, it's being an accountant. Each one of us possesses skills, passions, and influence that we can choose to use to serve others.

"Choose" is the key word. We have a choice. We all have a choice. Every day we wake up with a choice. Will I use my skills, passions, and influence to make a difference today?

When I left my prior career to serve people in a different way, all I knew was that I was going to use financial coaching as my means for impact. Then came podcasting (which I never saw coming). Then came speaking (which I never saw coming). Then came writing (which I never saw coming). Then came consulting (which I never saw coming). Then came Northern Vesse (which I never, never, never, never saw coming). None of those were my callings. My calling was to serve people with my skills, passions, and influence, and those ended up being the means by which I could bring those things to life.

Be willing to get creative with the means. You have skills. You have passions. You have influence. Be willing to approach your life with a clean slate on how you can use those things to serve people. Your best ways may still be in front of you.

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“Have I Been Conned?”

"Have I Been Conned?" read the subject line of an e-mail I received last month.

The long e-mail I received was a hard one to digest, as evidenced by the month it's taken me to write about it. It was a deeply personal e-mail, so I'm going to paraphrase.

This man, we'll call him Steve (mid-40s), said he first stumbled onto my content about 4 years ago after randomly catching one of our Meaning Over Money podcast episodes. He was drawn in by the production quality of the show, and stayed because, unlike most podcasts, our show was short and to the point. "No fluff, no filler, just compelling, thought-provoking ideas."

He said that for several years, he disagreed with more than half of my content, especially anything relating to the idea that our work should provide meaning. His mission in life has been to make as much money as possible so he can retire as quickly as possible. And if you've been a follower of my content for any period of time, you know how much disdain I have for that mode of operation.

Here's where Steve's story gets interesting. One day, earlier this year, he woke up with a pit in his stomach. As he prepared for his day, he wondered to himself, "Is this really all life is about? Work, money, sleep, work, money, sleep, work, money, sleep." In an instant, he felt like everything he had been told about life revealed itself as one giant lie. What's the point, he wondered. After spending more than 20 years in his career, it just dawned on him that he was "playing a loser's game."

"I fell for the lie that life is about making money. I lost sight of what was really important to me. As I look around, I realize almost everyone is doing the same thing. I think that's why I so frequently disagreed with your content. Until now!"

Steve isn't alone. In fact, I hear from people just like Steve every week. It feels like an awakening is happening. The wool is being pulled from over people's eyes, and they are recognizing that our culture's perspective of work and money is deeply toxic. It's led to a place where 70% of Americans dislike or hate their jobs. On top of that, mental health issues are rising quicker than ever. We are running on this hamster wheel of money, consumption, and misery, picking up steam every step of the way.

At some point, we must jump off the wheel. We need to catch our breath and realize what game we're actually playing. We live in a system that's built around keeping us obsessed with money, stuff, and status. More than ever, one of the key status symbols that we worship is an earlier-the-better retirement. That's the flex. That's the mission.

My new friend Steve sees the con now. Fortunately, his eyes have been opened. As he puts it, he's never been richer, never been more miserable, and never been this lonely, and never been more ready to stop working.....and he's still only in his 40s. It's time for Steve to start playing a new game.

I'm on Team Steve. I love this new game that Steve is opting into. Meaning over money. Impact instead of consumption. The pursuit of work that matters. It's a wild game; it's an amazing game. Maybe you can play it, too.

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Mazzulla Has a Good Point

I recently stumbled upon an interesting video clip of Joe Mazzulla. Joe Mazzulla is the head coach of the Boston Celtics, known for his sharp comments to the press. Sometimes, his responses seem a bit unreasonable and impatient. However, there are times when he responds in profound and thoughtful ways. Today's video clip is of the latter.

Reporter (asking Joe about how he's dealing with the brutally difficult stretch his team is going through): "Is there something you're doing in the last 48 hours to keep yourself away from just being consumed with this? Are you watching different movies?"

Joe (with a shocked look on his face): "Honestly, I met three girls under the age of 21 with terminal cancer. I thought I was helping them by talking to them, and they were helping me. And so having an understanding about what life is really all about, and watching a girl dying, and smiling, and enjoying her life.....that's what it's really all about. And having that faith. You know, the other thing is you always hear people give glory to God and say thank you when they're holding a trophy. But you never really hear it in times like this. And so for me, it's an opportunity to just sit right where I'm at and just be faithful. That's what it's about."

Perspective matters. We need to remember what's really important as we live our days. It's so easy to get caught up in the small, ultimately meaningless nuances of life. The person in front of us didn't accelerate when the light turned green. Someone at the coffee shop cut in front of us in the line. Our co-worker gave us a snooty attitude when we asked for a favor. One of those dumb speed cameras caught us going 57 in a 45, and now we must send some rando a $97 fine. We didn’t get the promotion we so desperately wanted.

But then, there's Joe's perspective. Man, we're so blessed. Most of us will wake up today more blessed than the vast majority of people who have ever lived on this planet. Yet, many of us will wallow in self-pity and frustration today, looking for reasons to feel negative about the journey. We lose perspective.

I hope you live today knowing just how blessed you are. Not a perfect life. Not a life void of baggage, pain, and suffering. But blessed nonetheless. Remembering that fact has the potential to re-frame our entire day, allowing us to focus less on ourselves and more on others. That's the ticket to meaning and impact.

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And the World Shall Be Better

I received a fun little surprise yesterday when I opened my e-mail account. I was met with a piece of writing by one of my best friends, Dan. In his message, he shared that he's long been contemplating sending a monthly e-mail to a large group of people.....with yesterday's e-mail being the first. He vulnerably shared what prevented him from doing it until now:

"But if I'm honest, fear held me back.

• What if it's not good enough?

• What if nobody reads it?

• What if people think less of me?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized those aren't the right questions. The answers to those questions will always be changing. They're dependent on opinions, circumstances, and things we can't control."

Dan is a tremendously impactful and influential man. His experience, wisdom, and gifts have changed countless lives (mine included!!!). However, now that I think about it, outside of random texts, I've never seen his influence in written form. I liked it!!! Strike that, I loved it!

Dan is one of those people I envision never being scared, never backing down, never faltering. He's stronger than me. He's wiser than me, too. So when I see his vulnerable words about fear, it struck a chord in me. It's a topic I write about often, and Dan is evidence that even the strongest of us are sometimes afflicted by it.

But the fact that Dan is facing this challenge and opportunity of writing head-on tells me that his influence in the world is about to multiply. Thousands of people who haven't had the privilege of being impacted by Dan now have the opportunity to learn, grow, and be encouraged by Dan's gifts and insights.

Dan decided to step through the fear.......and the world shall be better.

Dan is a special dude, for sure! But everyone reading this has something to offer, too. In many cases, our impact and influence are just on the other side of stepping out of our comfort zone. It's on the other side of our fears. It's on the other side of doing the hard thing. Like Dan, many of you probably have things you've been considering for a long time. Today, please allow Dan's action to inspire your action. Step into what you're called to do.....and the world shall be better.

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The Pillow Test

There was a time in my life when I defined my day's success by how much money I made. And by "a time," that means 10+ years. For more than a decade, the measuring stick of success was measured in income, investment balances, titles, and net worth. After all, those are easy-to-read measuring sticks. It's easy to open an online bank portal and see a number in black and white.

Then, something changed within me. I realized none of that mattered. All of the measuring sticks I had been using for the past 10+ years were futile. They were something, but ultimately, nothing. That's when I developed "the pillow test."

Here's how the pillow test works. When I go to bed at night and lay my head on that pillow, I reflect on my day and determine whether I did everything I could to make an impact on the world and on others. If my answer is yes, I succeeded. If my answer is no, then I might not have. It's clearly not as objective as a black-and-white number on the screen, but it sure does make for a better assessment of my day.

I've had a few days recently where I made very little money, but through the lens of the pillow test, they were massive successes. Those days were filled with needle-moving encounters, and I'm prayerful that I served people in the ways they needed to be served. What's in it for me? Well, nothing, I suppose, but that wasn't the point. The point was to lie my head on the pillow at night and, hopefully, believe I had done everything I could to make an impact.

It's a different way to look at life, but I'll testify a better way. Does the pillow test pay the bills? No, not always. Sure, we need to pay the bills. We need to financially care for our families. That's true. Two thoughts on that:

1. When we serve others well, money usually follows. That doesn't necessarily mean a ton of money, but serving people well is the prerequisite to creating an income. They often go hand in hand.

2. When the dust settles, and we take our last breath, we most certainly won't be adding numbers in our head, trying to determine how much money we made. On the flip side, I think there's a strong chance we WILL be thinking about the possible impact we made on this world during the years we were blessed to be here. That distinction is worth considering.

I hope you think about this when you go to bed tonight. Regardless of how much or how little money you made today, did you make an impact? Did you serve others well? Did you move the needle in someone's world? If so, I don't care how much money you made; you won!

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D, R, or Not Important

I recently received an interesting first-time e-mail from a blog reader: "I've been reading your blog religiously for more than 2 years now and I still can't tell your politics. I feel like I know your values but you never tip your hand about politics. Is that intentional?"

I think this is a very insightful observation, and yes, it's intentional. We live in a culture that defines people by the letters "D" and "R." Many people define themselves with these designations. It almost becomes people's entire identity and personality. It's interesting to me that for many Americans, the letter they attach to themselves has more bearing on their life than their chosen faith.

Therefore, I'm quite pleased that this blog reader has been reading my content for years, but still cannot paint me into a political box. Here's my favorite part of her e-mail, though. She feels like she knows my values. Yes!!! My values. Values matter so much more than letters, candidates, and bumper stickers. Every day, I seek to communicate my values, ideas, and perspectives. That's one of the reasons why so many people come back again and again. I DON'T jam politics down people's throats. Now, some people might ascertain my leanings based on certain shared perspectives, but it's not a concrete correlation.

Why? Why don't I share my political leanings more openly? In our culture, we decide whether we fully agree or fully disagree with what someone says the moment we know the letter in front of their name. Even if it's the best idea ever, we despise it if the person has the wrong letter. And even if it's the worst idea ever, we love it if the person has the right letter. Therefore, I opt out of that stupid game and instead allow people to judge my values, ideas, and perspectives on their own merits.

I propose we chop up the letters. Nobody needs to know what letter sits before each of our names. D or R? More like not important. I don't care what letter you wear. I care about the ideas you bring to the table. If you bring good ideas, I'm in. If you bring dumb ideas, well, probably not. Politics shouldn't need to play a factor.

I'm so glad my new blog reader friend shared her observation with me. I'm grateful she noticed, and I hope others do, too. You are more than your politics, far more! In fact, I'd argue that almost everything about you is more important than your politics. Please remember that, and let's create a world where people know more about our values, ideas, and perspectives than the letter we wear.

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Everything Can Be Something, Something Can Be Everything

Yesterday's post struck a nerve with people, both in tremendously positive ways and profoundly negative ways. I expected as much, given how countercultural my perspective on retirement is. If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you check out YESTERDAY'S POST.

I concluded the piece with a snippy little comment, "That's what happens when we choose not to throw away all of our wisdom, experience, relationships, influence, skills, and knowledge. Or he could just keep tinkering in his garage and tending to his garden."

Ironically, I received a fun message from my friend Randy about this. Randy, a retired man himself, pointed out that one of his fellow retiree friends actually has a massive garden. He and his wife find great joy working the land, seeing the product of planting, watering, and caring for their crops. In fact, they yield so much produce from their garden that they give much of it away.

I couldn't love this more. And no, this doesn't contradict what I said yesterday. Randy wasn't intending for it to contradict me, either. Instead, Randy was joyfully pointing out an important concept. Nobody gets to define what "work that matters" is. For many, a garden is simply a garden. It's a way to pass the time; keep busy. For this couple, though, it's so much more. It provides the three key ingredients that define "work that matters": meaning, fulfillment, and impact. They find meaning in the work, sharing the experience together. They feel a sense of fulfillment seeing the fruits of their labor (pun intended). They create impact by giving generously. Everything can be something. Something can be everything. A garden could just be a garden, but to this couple, it's so much more.

This leads to another e-mail I received from my soon-to-be-retired friend, Dave. Like Randy, Dave is one of those people I respect so dang much. When either of these men talks, I listen. Dave recommended that I continue to define what "work that matters" is. More specifically, perhaps we need to define what it's not. "Work" doesn't just mean something we do in exchange for financial rewards. The gardening couple mentioned above works on their big, beautiful garden. That's still work. But to them, it's work that matters.

To many, including my friend Dave, volunteering is "work that matters." Volunteering, as the name implies, is unpaid. But if you've ever served an organization in a volunteer capacity, you know two things: 1) It's unpaid (duh!), and 2) it's work! I've volunteered for so many organizations, including a 10-year stretch as a high school youth group leader. It's work....hard work! But it's so, so rewarding. Work that matters!

Everything can be something. Something can be everything. Collectively, we need to continue bending our culture around retirement. Yeah, we can listen to the prevailing culture and selfishly pursue an inward-facing life of leisure. Alternatively, we can pursue work that matters. The beautiful part of that idea is that everything can be something, and something can be everything. The world is our oyster, waiting for us to find the most meaningful, fulfilling, and impactful work suited for us. Embrace the journey!

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