The Money Tree

+ Ask Me Anything Zoom

Stealing from the proverb:

The best time to plant a money tree was 20 years ago.

The next best time to plant a money tree is today.

The trouble is...

Planting a tree, money tree or otherwise...

... takes getting your hands dirty, sweat and some patience.

PATIENCE is the real rub.

If we could all plant the seeds today and tomorrow, we would have money trees.

We'd ALL have orchards full of money trees.

"If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas" - Cleon Salmon from the movie Slammin Salmon.

Nearly 20 years ago...

I worked 70+ hours per week for a salary on someone else's orchard.

It was a tough fucking choice to wake up at 3 or 4 am in the morning to plant MY OWN money trees and start my own orchard.

It was brutal to be out digging, watering, and pulling weeds on Saturdays and Sundays. (I was really only pushing buttons and talking to people, but stick with me here!)

I lived off of coffee, cigarettes and Yellow Jackets (like 5 hour Energy before there was 5 Hour energy.)

But wake up at 4 am and plant the donuts I did.

One day, I started to see sprigs sprout up!

Those sprigs turned to saplings.

Then the saplings started bearing fruit!

I will never forget one day coming back from the mailbox.

I had half a dozen checks from 3 or 4 different countries.

I opened them all up.

(One of them was from the UK and looked weird. It was for recurring payments and I'd get one per month. SEE PIC above.)

I put them in a "fan".

Eager as a schoolboy, I displayed them to my wife, Jeannie.

Now, if you know Jeannie, she has angel eyes.

And when I fanned out those checks, her angel eyes teared up, and she said, "I always knew you could do it. I am sooo proud of you!"

It was a beautiful day.

One I will never forget.

Nobody would've blamed or shamed me if I had chosen not to plant my money trees. I was already working 70 hours a week.

But "I" will be forever grateful I did!

Those trees I've planted have turned into quite the orchard.

They bear fruit 24/7/365.

That orchard has bought my home free and clear.

Bought my son a home free and clear.

Bought me time to care for my angel when she was so sick for two years.

I don't owe a dime to anybody.

My orchard of money trees keeps giving me fruit.

Now...

Anytime I need to make a tough decision...

I remember BACK to this beautiful day.

AND THEN...

I try and think from FUTURE TRAVIS.

Will he be able to sit in the shade 5 years from now because I planted a tree today?

...or will he be a scorched, sunburnt old man still in the hot sun picking fruit from someone else's orchard for a wage, retainer, or fee?

Will he be more proud? or less proud of himself?

Who else will benefit from the decision in the future?

Who will he be fucking over by not rolling up his sleeves and making the decision?

What will Jeannie's eyes say?

Decisions can be complex.

I hope, in some small way, this serves as a pair of clarity glasses like it has done for me.

I know folks today have very little time.

It’s tough to find time to plant that first (or next) Money Tree.

That’s why…

Our next Zoom shindig is…

… an ASK ME ANYTHING on growing your 1st (or next) Money Tree after the kiddos go to bed.

Or if you’re a morning weirdo like me…

Before the kids get up!

Details are below.

Grab your seat before ya forget.