YOU will never get ahead making the MINIMUM PAYMENT...

So, I took a few days off from writing so I could focus on a few new projects I am working on..

But as I was driving to my favorite Westchester Coffee Shop, Tazza, to write this mornings blog, I was rehearsing a skit in my car for a new speech I am going to do.

The speech is about making the minimum payment AND paying the principal.

Now some of you may think this is a speech or blog about getting out of credit card debt, but I will have you know... it is not!

But.. we can learn a lot when it comes to paying back debt, especially credit cards.

Many of us actually live in debt.. 

We live in PERSONAL DEBT.. 

We "semi-commit" to things, start projects, never finish, and then "fall behind"... 

From that point on we feel like we are playing catch-up.. even on things/ projects we never really committed to.

Example of a Potential Personal Dialogue if I Don't Write ...

"I want to write a "blog" every day.. I start writing for a week.. then stop..  

But.. I told myself I need to write everyday.." 

And on those days I do not write, I fall behind. I fall behind on the content.. and am writing today's content tomorrow, and writing tomorrows content when I get to it.. rinse, wash, repeat.

You see.. we all work this way with things.. 

How do you feel when you cross something off a TO-DO list?

Amazing, right?

And the bigger the task and the more you have procrastinated it.. the better it feels to complete!

Right?

Or a big phone call or conversation you have been avoiding..

Once you have it you feel great, right?

But if we do not pay our "debt" (the things we procrastinate).. we fall further behind, mentally, physically, and emotionally. 

We are bringing yesterdays issues and purchases into a new time.

We are no longer focused on dreaming and about moving forward because we are dragging all of our debt with us... 

Over time, DEBT will wear you down.

DEBT will kill progress, kill your energy, kill your passion.. and eventually send you into a downward spiral of negativity and pessimismwhen it comes to achievement. 

So now you can see how DEBT can erode your performance.

DEBT can take your ambition away until it is cleared up..

My suggestion is to create a plan that is challenging yet fair that you can stick with.. then hold yourself accountable to that plan.. (your minimum payment).. and throughout the weak.. do just a little more (extra credit if you will.. or paying down the principal)..

If training, do an extra set. 

If at the office, make the extra call.

Do just a little extra and you will feel great. We all crave daily progress. 

After all, if we are achieving daily progress, we are moving closer to the vision we set for ourselves.. 

Every day we fall behind, we are actually moving away from our goals and vision..

This repetitive situation is a danger zone since it can lead to perpetual negativity and depression..

I always like to reference my athletes.

Derek Jeter was a guy that went to the bank every day to make a deposit          (literally and figuratively).. 

He had a daily plan that he attacked every day.. 

You knew where he was at all times because his plan was so structured.. 

He didn't work harder than others.. but he was more consistent than the others..

His consistency (deposits) over time gave him the edge and led to his GREATNESS..

You can do the same.. PAY THE PRINCIPAL.

COACH D!