Page 114 - First Steps 2023

You’ve tried to refinance, tried covering the payments by living
on Ramen noodles and chicken broth, done all you can to come up
with the money, but you’re out of options.
Then, one morning, there’s a knock on the door. You open it to

find a large man who politely explains he’s from the bank. You fish
out your car keys to hand over, but he stops you.
There’s no need, he says. “The bank decided to cover your back
payments. In fact, we’ve paid off the entire loan. The car is yours,
free and clear. I just wanted to tell you the good news.”
He hands you the car’s title, smiles, and turns to leave.
You stand in the doorway, speechless. Somehow, for some rea-

son you can’t begin to understand, your debt has been paid. In full.
As a gift.
And that knot in your stomach that’s kept you awake at night
slowly unclenches. There’s no longer a need to worry about how
you’ll get to job interviews without a car.
A sense of peace takes hold in you as the bank employee
pauses to give you a cheery wave before climbing into his car and
driving away.
Peace. You’d almost forgotten how it feels.

2. Sharing the story.
If someone suddenly paid off your entire car loan—or mortgage or
student debt—you’d tell someone. You’d tell everyone. You couldn’t wait to
share the good news.
Now imagine that the banker at your door didn’t just say the bank
would take care of your car loan. Let’s say he added, “And we’ll do the

same thing for all your friends.”
You’d burn through your contact list with a blitz of calls and texts.
Most of your friends wouldn’t believe you at first—at least, not until
they met the banker. They’d be rushing to the bank, eager to take advan-
tage of the offer.

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