The Money Advantage® Podcast | Infinite Banking Concept & Family Banking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c3GrX1JmXI

If you’ve been in our community for a while, chances are, you love cash flow, and you know we do too!  You’re interested in quickly creating income streams with cash-flowing assets.  You want assets you know and control that produce income for you so that your source of income is not restricted to the money you can make from your business while you are working in it.  You likely already have your sights set on advancing your business to one that is self-sustaining, buying other businesses, or investing in real estate. And you’re hungry for ideas that may show you the unseen possibilities that already exist within your own financial situation. J Massey

For years, J Massey has been creating cash flow with real estate and teaching others to do the same.  His stories of loss, success, and the wisdom he’s developed through that experience will inspire you and show you what’s possible in building your own cash-flowing asset portfolio.

On a personal note, J Massey is a hero of mine!  I’ve followed his podcast for several years, where my thinking has been challenged and transformed, and I’ve been introduced to pivotal relationships.  Without even knowing it, J has been a catalyst to much of my work.  To say I was a bit star struck to interview him is an understatement!  You’ll instantly fall in love with his thinking, his good-natured humor, and his genuine desire to solve problems and create value.  It’s such an honor to share this interview with you.

Where Real Estate Fits in the Cash Flow System

To build time and money freedom, you first want as much cash flow as you can get today, by keeping more of the money you make.  Then, you protect what you’ve created.  Finally, you increase your income.

Investing in cash-flowing assets like real estate is part of Stage 3 of the Cash Flow System.

Who Is J Massey?

A full-time real estate investor, entrepreneur, popular podcast host, author, speaker, coach and all-around problem solver, J Massey is well known for providing best-in-class advice and strategies to help new and experienced investors the world over.

J Massey’s platform is simple… He invests his time looking for investment opportunities (a.k.a., problems to solve through real estate transactions), closing deals and teaching others how to find and manage similar opportunities, including getting deals at discounts and raising private capital to investing in multi-family properties, getting leads and negotiating the deal.

By turning his real-world fieldwork into killer training courses, new and seasoned investors alike learn win-win solutions to solve real estate “problems” for buyers, sellers and other investors. J’s cashflow-creation strategies are embraced on a global scale by people who want to learn better ways to achieve tangible success in real estate investing, and in his words become “bigger, badder, better real estate investors.” His growing network of “Cashflow Creators” is proof that J practices what he teaches and teaches what he practices.

J is currently a landlord, lender, consultant, educator and highly sought mentor. He currently owns hundreds of units of properties and has completed hundreds more real estate transactions across several states.

J's publishing credits include a book he co-authored titled “3 Money-Raising Questions.” In 2014, he released his highly acclaimed book, Cashflow Diary: 10 Steps to Creating Wealth in ANY Economy!

J Massey Conversation Highlights (Partial Transcript)

The Need to Take Ownership of Your Financial Destiny

J Massey: [20:50] The number one problem that every person literally on this planet right now has, is the fact that we do not have control over the value of the currency that we are currently using. We've got to level up our financial IQ to address that problem.

Here's a very painful but true lesson: the cavalry is not coming. No white horse is coming over the mountain to rescue...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2uHEngDgtk

Dan Sullivan shares a profound perspective on goal-setting, exponential vision, and staying energized to continue progressing, in his article Staying Positive by Looking Backward.We’re sharing this article, along with our experience of using these concepts, to help fortify your abundance mindset.  We know that developing a healthy, positive perspective is the secret weapon of the entrepreneur.  It energizes and encourages you, helping you build the life and business you love.

Where Entrepreneurship Fits into the Cash Flow System

We love Entrepreneurship.  Business owners emphasize and focus on cash flow over accumulation.

In the Cash Flow System, you first increase cash flow by keeping more of the money you make.  Then you protect your money.  Finally, you increase and make more.

Entrepreneurship is part of Investing in stage 3.  Building a cash-flowing asset portfolio of real estate and business accelerates time and money freedom.

Introduction to Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach

[2:14 – Bruce] Dan Sullivan has been coaching entrepreneurs since 1979. He says that you need to work on your business, not just in your business.

Dan is a master thinker in thinking about your thinking.

Looking backward is a way to not only think about your life and what you want to achieve but why you think about things in a certain way and how you want to achieve them.

The 10 Times Multiplier

[3:15 – Bruce] Dan is a big believer in what he calls the 10 times multiplier. He says that you grow exponentially when you look backward. Looking backward allows you to see how you were at one point, brings you clarity, and helps you move forward.

You might be thinking that there's no way you can 10 times your income.  Maybe you’re already making, let's just say $200,000, and you don’t see the way to get to the $2 million mark. He says to think back to when you were only making $20,000. You increased your income 10 times, from $20K to $200K.  You can use that same growth pattern to 10 times your income from $200K to $2M.

Why Looking Backward Helps You Stay Positive

[4:25 – Rachel] When you set goals, instead of measuring the distance you have left to go before you arrive, look back at how far you've come.

Looking forward to how far you still have yet to go, can be really discouraging. But when we look backward, we realize that we've done a lot already.

That same person that we were that created that progress and advancement in the past is the same person that we are now who will carry that advancement and progress forward.

25-Year Vision, 90-Day Goals

[5:12 - Bruce] Dan always says, have a 25-year vision, which some people would call a goal, but then look at it in 90-day increments.

You're constantly looking at what you have achieved in the past 90 da...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2uHEngDgtk

Dan Sullivan shares a profound perspective on goal-setting, exponential vision, and staying energized to continue progressing, in his article Staying Positive by Looking Backward.We’re sharing this article, along with our experience of using these concepts, to help fortify your abundance mindset.  We know that developing a healthy, positive perspective is the secret weapon of the entrepreneur.  It energizes and encourages you, helping you build the life and business you love.

Table of contentsWhere Entrepreneurship Fits into the Cash Flow SystemIntroduction to Dan Sullivan and Strategic CoachThe 10 Times MultiplierWhy Looking Backward Helps You Stay Positive25-Year Vision, 90-Day Goals80% PerfectGoal-SettingA Continually-Growing VisionAction-Oriented Goals, Not Results-Oriented GoalsWhy Numerical Goals Are LimitingThe Four Benefits of Looking Backward Instead of Forward1) You Have a Sense of Accomplishment2) You Have A New Way of Viewing Your Past3) You Increase Your Confidence4) You Have a Strategy for Setting GoalsFlip the Switch to Stay PositiveA Financial Axle to Support Your 10 Times Life Vision

Where Entrepreneurship Fits into the Cash Flow System

We love Entrepreneurship.  Business owners emphasize and focus on cash flow over accumulation.

In the Cash Flow System, you first increase cash flow by keeping more of the money you make.  Then you protect your money.  Finally, you increase and make more.

Entrepreneurship is part of Investing in stage 3.  Building a cash-flowing asset portfolio of real estate and business accelerates time and money freedom.

Introduction to Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach

[2:14 – Bruce] Dan Sullivan has been coaching entrepreneurs since 1979. He says that you need to work on your business, not just in your business.

Dan is a master thinker in thinking about your thinking.

Looking backward is a way to not only think about your life and what you want to achieve but why you think about things in a certain way and how you want to achieve them.

The 10 Times Multiplier

[3:15 – Bruce] Dan is a big believer in what he calls the 10 times multiplier. He says that you grow exponentially when you look backward. Looking backward allows you to see how you were at one point, brings you clarity, and helps you move forward.

You might be thinking that there's no way you can 10 times your income.  Maybe you’re already making, let's just say $200,000, and you don’t see the way to get to the $2 million mark. He says to think back to when you were only making $20,000. You increased your income 10 times, from $20K to $200K.  You can use that same growth pattern to 10 times your income from $200K to $2M.

Why Looking Backward Helps You Stay Positive

[4:25 – Rachel] When you set goals, instead of measuring the distance you have left to go before you arrive, look back at how far you've come.

Looking forward to how far you still have yet to go, can be really discouraging. But when we look backward, we realize that we've done a lot already.

That same person that we were that created that progress and advancement in the past is the same person that we are now who will carry that advancement and progress forward.

25-Year Vision, 90-Day Goals

[5:12 - Bruce] Dan always says, have a 25-year vision, which some people would call a goal, but then look at it in 90-day increments.

You're constantly looking at what you have achieved in the past 90 days, and that helps you stay motivated. If you look forward, think about how much further you have until the goal, that demotivates and discourages you, and you get down on yourself. But if you look at just 90 days, you’ll see what you accomplished in 90 days.

80% Perfect

[5:50 – Bruce] Dan also has an 80% rule, where he says to get something 80% done, and then pass it on to somebody else. And then when they do it 80% of the way, all of a sudden,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fNYsemEAHg

Alexander Pope said, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Financially speaking, it would be more accurate to say, “to spend money is human, to create wealth divine.”  No one ever needed a lesson in how to buy things. In fact, with no restraint, we manage quite well to find plentiful ways to spend money.  How you spend money has the power to stunt or accelerate your wealth creation. Find out whether your purchase personality is a Spender, a Saver, or a Steward.  Learn the practical action steps to up-level your purchasing strategy to keep and control more of your money, starting from where you’re at.

To help you spend money the right way, we’ll answer:

* What are my options for how I spend money?* Am I a spender, a saver, or a steward?* What are the impacts of each?* What action steps can I take from where I am to spend money better and increase my future cash flow?

Understanding your purchase personality will move you from impulse buying and scarcity-based decision-making to abundance-based wealth creation.  Instead of never getting ahead, you’ll spend money knowing that you’re increasing your wealth potential.  Rather than being out of control, you’ll gain control, options, and increased confidence in your financial future.

It's Not So Much What You Spend, It’s How You Spend It

When you review your monthly cash flow, you’ll notice circumstances that call for you to go above and beyond your normal monthly spending.  These major purchases may be to maintain your lifestyle or improve it.  They may be emergencies, or opportunities, or just for fun. Whether it’s buying your next rental property, a business acquisition or expansion, buying a new car, putting tires on the old one, remodeling your kitchen, paying for your daughter’s wedding, your son’s college education, major purchases are outside your monthly spending plan and require additional thought and planning.

The way you pay for these expenses has more significant impacts on your current and future cash flow than you realize.

How you purchase makes a world of difference in your control or loss of control.

So how will you pay for these future major purchases?

You can know the best way, speculate, guess, dream, and even commit, but the best way to predict your future decision-making is to look honestly at your past decisions to figure out what mindset you used to arrive at where you are today.

Where Spending Money Fits into Your Cash Flow System

Spending money is just one part of the Survival to Significance Cash Flow System.

How you spend money is a result of your mindset.  When you spend money the right way, you keep and control more money today, giving you more to save and invest in cash flowing assets.

What’s Your Purchase Personality?

Use this simple quiz to help you discover your purchase personality.

* Do you put money into savings each month?

If no, you are a Spender.

If yes, continue.* Think back to your last large purchase, maybe it was an investment property, car, boat, remodel, wedding, vacation.  Did you have enough in savings to have the option to pay cash?

If no,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fNYsemEAHg

Alexander Pope said, “To err is human, to forgive divine.” Financially speaking, it would be more accurate to say, “to spend money is human, to create wealth divine.”  No one ever needed a lesson in how to buy things. In fact, with no restraint, we manage quite well to find plentiful ways to spend money.  How you spend money has the power to stunt or accelerate your wealth creation. Find out whether your purchase personality is a Spender, a Saver, or a Steward.  Learn the practical action steps to up-level your purchasing strategy to keep and control more of your money, starting from where you’re at.

To help you spend money the right way, we’ll answer:

What are my options for how I spend money?Am I a spender, a saver, or a steward?What are the impacts of each?What action steps can I take from where I am to spend money better and increase my future cash flow?

Understanding your purchase personality will move you from impulse buying and scarcity-based decision-making to abundance-based wealth creation.  Instead of never getting ahead, you’ll spend money knowing that you’re increasing your wealth potential.  Rather than being out of control, you’ll gain control, options, and increased confidence in your financial future.

Table of contentsIt's Not So Much What You Spend, It’s How You Spend ItWhere Spending Money Fits into Your Cash Flow SystemWhat’s Your Purchase Personality?The Three Ways to Spend MoneyThe SpenderThe SaverThe Similarities of the Spender and the SaverBoth Have a Scarcity MindsetNeither Can Get AheadThe Two Problems with Paying CashYou Give Up the Ability to Earn InterestYou Reset the CompoundingThe StewardHow the Steward Gains the AdvantageAccess to the Best FinancingYour Money Continues Growing and Earning Compound InterestYou Retain Your Cash for When You Need ItYou Can Pay Off Your Loan If You Want ToImproving How You Spend MoneySteps for SpendersSteps for SaversStart Creating Wealth TodayThe Whole Series on DebtBuild Your Time and Money Freedom

It's Not So Much What You Spend, It’s How You Spend It

When you review your monthly cash flow, you’ll notice circumstances that call for you to go above and beyond your normal monthly spending.  These major purchases may be to maintain your lifestyle or improve it.  They may be emergencies, or opportunities, or just for fun. Whether it’s buying your next rental property, a business acquisition or expansion, buying a new car, putting tires on the old one, remodeling your kitchen, paying for your daughter’s wedding, your son’s college education, major purchases are outside your monthly spending plan and require additional thought and planning.

The way you pay for these expenses has more significant impacts on your current and future cash flow than you realize.

How you purchase makes a world of difference in your control or loss of control.

So how will you pay for these future major purchases?

You can know the best way, speculate, guess, dream, and even commit, but the best way to predict your future decision-making is to look honestly at your past decisions to figure out what mindset you used to arrive at where you are today.

Where Spending Money Fits into Your Cash Flow System

Spending money is just one part of the Survival to Significance Cash Flow System.

How you spend money is a result of your mindset.  When you spend money the right way, you keep and control more money today, giving you more to save and invest in cash flowing assets.

What’s Your Purchase Personality?

Use this simple quiz to help you discover your purchase personality.

Do you put money into savings each month?

If no, you are a Spender.

If yes, continue.Think back to your last large purchase, maybe it was an investment property, car, boat, remodel, wedding, vacation.  Did you have enough in savings to have the option to pay cash?

If no, you may be a Spender.

If yes, continue.

Here to encourage, enlighten, and empower you to improve your communication to create positive change is Joe Yazbeck, master speaker and coach.  In this rich interview, we’ll discuss:

* How do I get past the fear of speaking?* I know I have the potential to be a much greater speaker than I am, but where do I start?* How do I improve my speaking to grow my business?* What do I need to include in a successful presentation?* What are the most important things I can do right away to improve my impact as a speaker?

If you’re in business, you should be speaking.  Don’t let fear of using your own voice and not knowing what to say cripple your impact and prevent you from building a life and business you love.  Instead, recognize the power of this essential skill and say yes to mastering speaking, so you can expand your relationships and grow your business.

Where Speaking Fits into the Cash Flow System

Developing your speaking and communications skills is part of your Mindset in Stage 1, as well as your Unique Ability Investing and Legacy Creation in Stage 3 of the Survival to Significance Cash Flow System.

It’s one of the most powerful ways to invest in yourself and your personal and professional development.

In growing your business, speaking is a fundamental skill you can’t ignore or outsource.

As you develop your skills, you become a more successful, effective, and impactful person that is capable of building a self-sustaining business through relationships and teams.

The things you want are not really what you want.  What you want is to be the person who creates, expresses, or experiences those things. – Steve D’Annunzio, Mission-Driven Advisor

Who Is Joe Yazbeck?

Joe Yazbeck is a public speaking and leadership trainer, best-selling author, president of Prestige Leadership Advisors, and Master Speaker and coach.

As the Founder and President of Prestige Leadership Advisors, his mission is to facilitate leaders in becoming dynamic, powerful communicators, so they can significantly influence the world around them. Joe has worked with heads of state and leaders of major corporations, as well as high-ranking military officers, political candidates, and best-selling authors.

Joe is a highly-sought-after leadership and communications coach. Government and business leaders around the globe seek his counsel and company’s services at critical times such as PR, launching a brand, strategic direction, media training, speaking to government committees, winning a political campaign, creating a successful exit strategy, leadership development, etc.

To complement the services of Prestige Leadership Advisors, Joe created the No Fear Speaking System which offers communications services which include executive-level speaker training, negotiation skills, media presentations for radio and TV, sales presentations, courtroom/trial presentations, etc.

Joe has also authored a companion book by the same title, No Fear Speaking: High Impact Presentation Skills and Public Speaking Secrets to Inspire and Influence Any Au...

Here to encourage, enlighten, and empower you to improve your communication to create positive change is Joe Yazbeck, master speaker and coach.  In this rich interview, we’ll discuss:

* How do I get past the fear of speaking?* I know I have the potential to be a much greater speaker than I am, but where do I start?* How do I improve my speaking to grow my business?* What do I need to include in a successful presentation?* What are the most important things I can do right away to improve my impact as a speaker?

If you’re in business, you should be speaking.  Don’t let fear of using your own voice and not knowing what to say cripple your impact and prevent you from building a life and business you love.  Instead, recognize the power of this essential skill and say yes to mastering speaking, so you can expand your relationships and grow your business.

Where Speaking Fits into the Cash Flow System

Developing your speaking and communications skills is part of your Mindset in Stage 1, as well as your Unique Ability Investing and Legacy Creation in Stage 3 of the Survival to Significance Cash Flow System.

It’s one of the most powerful ways to invest in yourself and your personal and professional development.

In growing your business, speaking is a fundamental skill you can’t ignore or outsource.

As you develop your skills, you become a more successful, effective, and impactful person that is capable of building a self-sustaining business through relationships and teams.

The things you want are not really what you want.  What you want is to be the person who creates, expresses, or experiences those things. – Steve D’Annunzio, Mission-Driven Advisor

Who Is Joe Yazbeck?

Joe Yazbeck is a public speaking and leadership trainer, best-selling author, president of Prestige Leadership Advisors, and Master Speaker and coach.

As the Founder and President of Prestige Leadership Advisors, his mission is to facilitate leaders in becoming dynamic, powerful communicators, so they can significantly influence the world around them. Joe has worked with heads of state and leaders of major corporations, as well as high-ranking military officers, political candidates, and best-selling authors.

Joe is a highly-sought-after leadership and communications coach. Government and business leaders around the globe seek his counsel and company’s services at critical times such as PR, launching a brand, strategic direction, media training, speaking to government committees, winning a political campaign, creating a successful exit strategy, leadership development, etc.

To complement the services of Prestige Leadership Advisors, Joe created the No Fear Speaking System which offers communications services which include executive-level speaker training, negotiation skills, media presentations for radio and TV, sales presentations, courtroom/trial presentations, etc.

Joe has also authored a companion book by the same title, No Fear Speaking: High Impact Presentation Skills and Public Speaking Secrets to Inspire and Influence Any Au...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSbHF-THCsw

We brought Josh Thomas, of Profit Arc, onto the show to talk about sales, marketing, and growth.  This dynamic, authentic conversation covered that ground, and so much more.In his down-to-earth message of simplicity and focus, Josh shares the power of one person to make a difference, how to adapt to change, and the #1 thing that your business needs to get results.Josh tells his fascinating story that winds from burnout and mediocre failure to learning how to run a successful business and helping others to do the same.

Where Entrepreneurship Fits into the Cash Flow System

We love Entrepreneurship.  Business owners emphasize and focus on cash flow over accumulation.

In the Cash Flow System, you first increase cash flow by keeping more of the money you make.  Then you protect your money.  Finally, you increase and make more.

Entrepreneurship is part of Investing in stage 3.  Building a cash-flowing asset portfolio of real estate and business accelerates time and money freedom.

Who Is Josh Thomas?

Josh Thomas is a problem solver. He has assisted businesses in dozens of industries to identify problems and fix them.

Be it a sales, marketing or systems issue, Josh’s focus is on results and revenue.

He has personally consulted with over 1,000 businesses in 30 different industries across all 6 continents. He has directly produced millions of dollars in sales and profit growth through his unique “results first” approach.

Josh delivers tangible results-oriented solutions in sales, marketing, and systems components using sales fundamentals, direct-response marketing, and proven best practices for laser-targeted, rapid business growth.

He lives in Austin, Texas and is an avid stand-up paddle-boarder.

Conversation Highlights (Partial Transcript)

The Power of a Handshake

[18:27] It just takes one person, one thing, to change everything for you.

Perseverance and Adaptation

[20:00] Evolution is not about survival of the fittest, or the most intelligent, but it's about the animals that can most readily adapt to change.

The Simple Thing to Focus on to Get Results

[21:09] There's a lot of noise and shiny objects out there.  We want to make sure that we're focusing on the thing that's going to get us a result.

Not on the thing that's going to make us look good, or that's going to stroke your ego, but the thing that is going to get a result.

To have a successful business, you need a valuable product, a hungry crowd, and to be in a great position where the hungry crowd can see your valuable product.

And that's it.

If you're on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Google Plus, that's fine. But why are you there?

Are you there because your customers are there? Are you there because you have a plan on how to generate business from there? Or are you there because somebody said you have to be there?

Let's go back to your website. Do you have a website because you need one,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSbHF-THCsw

We brought Josh Thomas, of Profit Arc, onto the show to talk about sales, marketing, and growth.  This dynamic, authentic conversation covered that ground, and so much more.In his down-to-earth message of simplicity and focus, Josh shares the power of one person to make a difference, how to adapt to change, and the #1 thing that your business needs to get results.Josh tells his fascinating story that winds from burnout and mediocre failure to learning how to run a successful business and helping others to do the same.

Where Entrepreneurship Fits into the Cash Flow System

We love Entrepreneurship.  Business owners emphasize and focus on cash flow over accumulation.

In the Cash Flow System, you first increase cash flow by keeping more of the money you make.  Then you protect your money.  Finally, you increase and make more.

Entrepreneurship is part of Investing in stage 3.  Building a cash-flowing asset portfolio of real estate and business accelerates time and money freedom.

Who Is Josh Thomas?

Josh Thomas is a problem solver. He has assisted businesses in dozens of industries to identify problems and fix them.

Be it a sales, marketing or systems issue, Josh’s focus is on results and revenue.

He has personally consulted with over 1,000 businesses in 30 different industries across all 6 continents. He has directly produced millions of dollars in sales and profit growth through his unique “results first” approach.

Josh delivers tangible results-oriented solutions in sales, marketing, and systems components using sales fundamentals, direct-response marketing, and proven best practices for laser-targeted, rapid business growth.

He lives in Austin, Texas and is an avid stand-up paddle-boarder.

Conversation Highlights (Partial Transcript)

The Power of a Handshake

[18:27] It just takes one person, one thing, to change everything for you.

Perseverance and Adaptation

[20:00] Evolution is not about survival of the fittest, or the most intelligent, but it's about the animals that can most readily adapt to change.

The Simple Thing to Focus on to Get Results

[21:09] There's a lot of noise and shiny objects out there.  We want to make sure that we're focusing on the thing that's going to get us a result.

Not on the thing that's going to make us look good, or that's going to stroke your ego, but the thing that is going to get a result.

To have a successful business, you need a valuable product, a hungry crowd, and to be in a great position where the hungry crowd can see your valuable product.

And that's it.

If you're on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Google Plus, that's fine. But why are you there?

Are you there because your customers are there? Are you there because you have a plan on how to generate business from there? Or are you there because somebody said you have to be there?

Let's go back to your website. Do you have a website because you need one,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okx4cjnLylY

Becoming debt free is often listed as a notch on the belt of financial progress. It’s widely discussed, admired, longed for, celebrated, and even praised by so-called financial experts.  But, paying off debt may be risky or even altogether unnecessary.  In fact, you’re probably not in debt in the first place!  We want you to be debt free, but you first have to know what that means.  Many confuse being debt free with being liability free.  Before you decide whether to add becoming debt free to your checklist, let’s get the skinny on what debt is.  Then, you can take action that gives you the most certainty, control, and peace of mind.

To help you gain clarity on your debt position and know what to do about it, we’ll answer:

* What is debt?* Am I in debt?* Will a debt-free goal help or hurt me?* More importantly, to reach my goals, gain confidence, peace of mind, time and money freedom, what should I do about debt?

This conversation will help you develop a big picture perspective of a balanced personal economy.

Rather than spiraling out of control, you’ll gain control, options, and increased financial capabilities.

Why Becoming Debt Free Seems Like Such a Big Deal

Let’s face it; most people fear debt. They feel it’s an encumbrance or ensnarement that nullifies their goals.  If it was in a game of Taboo, it’s almost a dirty word that lives with other deplorable financial conditions, like losing money, bad credit, foreclosure, and bankruptcy.

Why does debt strike at the chord of our financial aspirations so much so that ringing the debt-free bell seems like such a milestone?

Often families start off saddled in student loan debt.  Because there’s not much cash, they add car loans, a mortgage, and credit card debt to achieve their lifestyle.  They work a job to pay it off, while also balancing buying a house and saving for their future.  But the more debt you have, the harder it seems to pay it off because you feel tighter each month.  The debt seems like a slippery slope that can easily have you feeling that forward progress is all but impossible.  To be debt free might seem like the best way to get back on track.

Maybe looking at the debt payments each month is an arrow to the heart, reminding you of past mistakes.  To be debt free would mean to be free of the pain of guilt.

Because a balanced financial life seems unachievably complex, looking at it one piece at a time might feel more manageable and doable.  Becoming debt free might be that one step you think you can really accomplish.

However, putting all your emphasis on paying off debt can be detrimental when it causes you to lose control and delay your journey to financial freedom.

Where Debt Freedom Fits into Your Cash Flow System

Dealing with debt is just one step in the big picture of the Survival to Significance Cash Flow System.

Debt is part of your cash flow in the foundational stage.  How you handle debt has the potential to increase or decrease your cash flow an...