This trip, I took a recommendation from a few buddies in the group and stayed at a smaller, family-owned Best Western. It was fine, but I realized how used I’ve gotten to staying in hotels with certain conveniences, like little shops where you can grab a Coke or a protein bar. Without a car, I had to rely on rides from others and even scheduled Ubers for the first time. Normally, I just call an Uber when I need it, but scheduling pickups was a game changer—especially for those early-morning rides to the airport. I don’t know how I missed out on that feature until now!
Tuesday was all about working with my coach. We spent the day strategizing and planning for 2025, focusing on content creation for the firm. We mapped out ideas for ads, discussed launching a podcast, and brainstormed other ways to engage with clients and the community. It was a productive day, and by the end, I had a clear roadmap for filming and content structure.
The rest of the week, from Wednesday through Friday, was spent with the Warrior group. These sessions are always eye-opening. We started by evaluating where we currently stand. It’s not just about business—it’s about everything: our physical health, our relationships with family, and where we are mentally and emotionally. They believe you need a solid understanding of your starting point to map out where you want to go. We also spent a lot of time planning for next year, outlining what we want to accomplish in 2025 and how to make it happen.
One of the books the group recommended was Conversations with God. I’ve read the first two books in the series before, but this discussion made me want to revisit them. The group brought up some great points from the book that resonated with me. It’s always good to get a fresh perspective, even on something you’ve already read.
Oh, and here’s a funny moment from the trip: the Warrior group has their own branded T-shirts and hats, mostly in a dark red color. They gave me one of their baseball caps to try on. I sent a picture to my wife, and her response was classic: “I don’t even remember the last time you wore a baseball cap. You look like a stranger!” Needless to say, the cap wasn’t a hit with her, but it was fun to mix things up.
Meanwhile, back home, Holly hosted a movie night for our nieces and nephews. They came over to watch Deep Blue Sea, an old shark movie and one of Holly’s favorites. From what I heard, they had a blast—popcorn, snacks, and plenty of laughs. It’s great that they could enjoy some family time while I was away.
Saturday was travel day again. I flew from Orange County to Orlando, with a stop in Atlanta. My wife and I had planned a short getaway, so we made the most of it. On Sunday, we went to Disneyland to soak in the Christmas atmosphere. It was wonderful—although, I have to admit, the warm weather threw me off. Walking around in T-shirts didn’t exactly put me in the holiday spirit, even with the decorations up. Still, we had a fantastic time. We rode plenty of rides, attended Mickey’s Christmas Party, and just enjoyed the experience. It’s always great to get some quality time together, even if the weather didn’t quite cooperate with the Christmas vibes.
While I was away, Teddy (our dog) had his own adventure. Everyone knows Teddy doesn’t do well by himself, so we had a house sitter take care of him over the weekend. On Monday, she dropped him off at my parents’ house, where he got to spend time with their two dogs. I’ll share more about his escapades next time, but from what I hear, it was a lively couple of days!
Before I sign off, I want to give a quick shoutout to our YouTube channel. We recently posted two new videos about car crashes, and they’ve been doing really well. They’re getting a ton of engagement and views. If you haven’t seen them yet, check them out on the Shane Smith Law YouTube channel. The feedback has been fantastic so far, and I’d love to hear what you think!
That’s all for now. I’ll talk about the rest of my week in the next update. And as always, remember: If you’re in pain, call Shane!