AND FINALLY …
A summary of the last six (what, six?) posts on this topic .
- Our thoughts influence our behaviour, which influences our results.
- It’s vitally important to stay positive when facing a debt crisis.
- Act as if you’ll be able to work your way out of this – and act this way consistently and persistently – and your behaviour will influence your creditors.
- Henry Ford: “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.”
- “The Harvard Experiment”: the students were chosen at random, so were the teachers. The improved results were achieved because the teachers believed the children were more gifted than average.
- The traveller at the gate: “I think you’ll find they are the same here.”
- To minimise stress: create a clear positive picture of the result you want. Then keep it in the forefront of your mind.
- Create your own space: Seve Ballesteros and the bubble. Eliminate the negative influences of other people’s thoughts.
- Conduct all negotiations in writing. Avoid discussing on the phone: if you must answer it, simply note what is said, refer to previous correspondence, if any, and then respond … but in writing, not on the phone.
- Beware: letters apparently from “solicitors” and “debt collection companies” are sometimes really from the creditor. A neat tactic to put extra pressure on you without their going to the trouble and cost of involving third parties.
- Harassing debtors is illegal. If it happens to you, get help immediately. You can make a complaint to Trading Standards (via Consumer Direct, 08454 04 05 06), to the police if the harassment is severe or, if it is your landlord demanding money, your local council.
- Rules for correspondence: Prompt (replying). Polite, Professional & Persistent. (“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again”)
***
The above is the concluding extract from Chapter 2 (“Mind Over Matter”) of “Back to the Black: how to become debt-free and stay that way”. [LINK]