Theres only one great way of interpreting the fact that youre not living within your means.

You mean to live differently!

Youre intention is to live abundantly, but your financial resources havent kept pace.

Is this a crime? (Once, sadly it was; in the age of debtors prisons!)

No, lots of people owe money, and if you look at most successful investors and companies, many of them are leveraged, as well. Their debt-to-equity ratios are astonishing, yet theyre respected, and their accountants, for tax reasons, may even encourage them to NOT pay off their obligations.

So, should you feel guilty about being leveraged?

Once, I was having a chat with the president of an auto leasing company, a very smart guy, and a graduate of The University of Chicago.

Jim asked me: Gary, do you know how to make a good salesman great?

Put him into debt, he beamed.

The logic is simple. We earn money somewhat like our metabolisms burn calories.

We have set points, which are levels of equilibrium. Our bodies strive to stay at certain points of fat and muscle and poundage, and our incomes stay within narrow ranges, too.

By taking on more debt, the salesman sees he must earn more to keep up with his payments, and most will do so. Theyll sell more when theyre financially challenged by debt. They change their set points.

You can, too.

Dont waste another minute worrying about debt. Interpret it correctly, as a motivation to be more, to do more, and to earn more.

Then, take care of business!