News from Sherer Financial Coaching

So You've finally decided to become debt free. You've taken a class or attended a seminar. You've learned what to do, you're motivated, you're excited. but then you find yourself at Circuit City, and you notice that the surround sound system you've been dreaming of owning is on display. You sink into the comfy chair someone in marketing has thoughtfully provided.. oooh, yeah.. that's nice! Immersed in waves of high fidelity sound, thoughts flash through your head. "Ahh this is the life, I gotta get me one of these! NOW! Ooh! And they have 5 million year financing, oh goody! Ummm.. wasn't I doing something before I came in here? Oh yea, becoming debt free.. What to do? Hmmm.. think... think... think... Debt free or Dolby digital?

Temptation -
This is what separates the gazelles (As in, gazelle intense, running from debt with all they've got.) from the sheep. (easily led, following the heard) How do you deal with the constant bombardment of the "everything else" vying for your limited dollars? Do you have what it takes to go all the way? Can you see your goal through to completion?

You will be distracted by temptations that pop up everywhere while you are trying to achieve your goal. Remember, the most worthy goals are the ones that are the most difficult, if it were easy, everyone would do it!

How do you deal with these distractions? Ask yourself, will this take me towards my ultimate goal to be debt free or away from it? If you were on a football field, and debt freedom was one of the goalposts, would going after these things be taking you there? No. Not that some of these things may not worthy goals in and of themselves, they may be, but they conflict with each other don't they?

Author John Maxwell tells a story about dove hunting in Argentina. Maxwell and his assistant were travelling to Argentina for a speaking engagement. In this particular area, dove hunting was very popular, the doves would fly overhead so thick, they would block out the sun. Maxwell and his assistant decided to try it. The pair went hunting with a guide who took them to the area where the doves would be. Sure enough, a flock of doves flew overhead so thick, the sky darkened. Maxwell and his assistant began shooting.. and shooting... and shooting. The results were less than spectacular. After a while, the guide announced it was time for lunch and the group made their way back to camp. While they ate, Maxwell and his assistant were joined by a pair of hunters from Arkansas. "So, how many did you get?" Asked one of the hunters. "Three." replied Maxwell's assistant. "Three hundred?" said the hunter, "That's not bad for your first time out." "No, three." Said the assistant. After lunch, the guide took the pair back to their spot and explained, "Your problem is you're trying to shoot ALL the doves. You must concentrate on shooting ONE dove, or you won't get any."

The ability to focus, to do one thing at a time, moving with purpose, is what will get you to the goal line. Focused people do not "chase cars", dogs chase cars. When a dog sees a car, it gives chase right? First this one, then that one.. everything catches their attention ... and what do they get? .... nothing.

Perhaps if they had hired me, I would have taught them to focus on one car... and then there'd be real trouble.

Focus - one thing at a time and it will all happen in time.

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but setting our aim too low and achieving our mark."

- Michelangelo