“There is a time for everything” so it says in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible.  The word Ecclesiastes is most often translated as “the preacher.”  Preach on my friend.

For those of us preparing to sprint to the post office in the coming days to pay our taxes in the United States, it is truly a time to pay.  Although we all probably have a strong opinion about whether these tax dollars are spend efficiently or not, regardless, it is a time to pay.

However, the reality is that there is always a time to pay.  As we continue on our journey to build and strengthen our character, we will come to realize there is a need to consistently, day by day, make a payment to reach our full potential.

In the ebb and flow of our closest relationships, we usually don’t realize we have been missing a few payments until something really blows up.  We then realize there was a pattern of missed payments that could have strengthened the foundation instead of weakened it.

In our chosen profession, we usually don’t realize we have been missing a few payments towards our professional growth to remain competitive in the marketplace, until the pink slip arrives at the next downsizing. We then realize there was a pattern of missed payments that could have kept us competitively in the game longer.

In our own personal finances or while we are on the subject of taxes, in our nation’s finances, we usually don’t worry too much about the occasional use of credit to carry us through some lean times.  We then realize there was a pattern of missed payments and the remedy is painful to get our financial house in order.

Similar to the quote from Ernest Hemingway’s book, The Sun Also Rises, in which a character is asked, “How did you go bankrupt?”  He responds, “Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.”

Our payment always seems enormous when the proverbial dam breaks.  However, our real opportunity to reach our full potential in all areas of life, is to make the habit of small and manageable, daily payments.

Making daily, consistent payments to build health in our close relationships is the most effective time to pay.

Making daily, consistent payments to our personal and professional growth is the most effective time to pay.

Making daily, consistent payments in overseeing our personal finances is the most effective time to pay.

These daily payments form helpful habits that focus on prevention rather than the massive payments we will make when the problem is out of control.

As we make daily payments in the important areas of life, we will build and strengthen our character and Character Creates Opportunity® for us to build a strong foundation for a bright future.