Today, I am going to be talking about checkpoints. Whenever we were running our operations in Iraq, we always had to call into our command center to let them know whenever we crossed various checkpoints. The idea behind that was so when we were out away from base, if we called into our TOC (Tactical Operation Center), we would let them know, “Hey, we’ve just crossed checkpoint 1-4.” They could look on the map and know, “Okay, here’s where 2-2 Alpha team is at.” That was our call sign. That way whenever we had multiple operations going out, they could always keep track of where we were just in case we had to support another mission, another team that was out. It was very imperative that we always acknowledged to our command center where we were at so that they were always abreast of what was going on.
When it comes to your own financial life, when you cross various checkpoints you want to be able to record that and keep track of that. By hitting these various checkpoints, these are pivotal points in your life that you need to have documented, not only to have a record of it, but also to have momentum going forward.
What kind of checkpoints would I be talking about?
Well, let’s say that one of the checkpoints you have is paying off one of your credit cards or paying off one of your student loans or having a savings account set up for your kids college tuition or a kid’s braces fund, just as an example. By hitting these check points and having that acknowledgment, it is one of those checks off your to do list, your accomplishments list, that now you can have a record of, but also have that satisfaction of knowing,
“Yes, we’ve finally crossed that checkpoint.”
That is why it is so pivotal to have these checkpoints.
Whenever you are in the soldier-of-finance process, whenever you are accomplishing these feats, you’re going to have tons of checkpoints that you’re going to accomplish. There is a bunch of these that you are going to be crossing off and be able to celebrate and be able to enjoy, and that is a good thing. You want to have a lot of checkpoints because you want to have a lot of these successes that you can enjoy in and bask in and just be,
“Awesome! Yes, we’ve done this! Now to move on to the next checkpoint.”
Whenever you begin the process, remember that you are going to have these checkpoints. You need to assign these checkpoints and know what these things are that you are trying to accomplish and to be able to cross them off the list and to celebrate it. Checkpoints are a good thing. Have lots of them. Whenever you actually cross one, check it off, celebrate it, enjoy it, and move on.
