CedisPay

Ever felt like you were making great financial progress—only to doubt yourself the moment you see someone ahead of you? You’ve been saving consistently, paying off debt, and building better money habits. Then, you see a friend who just bought their dream house, took an extravagant vacation, or hit a financial milestone you haven’t reached yet—and suddenly, your progress feels small. That’s the danger of financial comparison. And I’ve felt it too.

The Moment Comparison Almost Stole My Financial Confidence

I’m Emmanuel Akrong, CEO and Founder of CedisPay, and I want to share my story. When I started CedisPay in 2021, I was fully committed to building a financial wellbeing platform that would transform lives. But in those early months, I found myself constantly comparing our monthly loan disbursement volume to other fintech and lending institutions. Some were disbursing millions every month while we were just getting started.

Instead of celebrating the foundation we were building, I started questioning if we were moving fast enough. I lost sight of our unique mission and got caught in the trap of measuring success by someone else’s metrics.

Why Financial Comparison Is the Ultimate Wealth Killer

Nothing about my financial strategy had changed. My goals were still clear. But the second I shifted my focus from my progress to someone else’s achievements, I felt small. Here’s the truth:

👉 Financial energy isn’t just about money—it’s about mindset.

If building wealth was just about income, we’d all feel financially secure once we hit a certain number. But think about it—why do some high earners still feel broke, while some people with modest incomes feel financially free? Because focus determines financial energy. When you focus on progress, you feel empowered. When you focus on lack, you feel stuck.

The Key to Financial Growth: Focus on What Pulls You Forward

Most people rely on push energy—forcing themselves to save, budget, and cut back. But that kind of discipline only lasts for so long. Push energy feels like hard work. It’s when you make yourself save, invest, or budget because you “have to.” Pull energy feels natural. It’s when your financial goals are so clear and exciting that you’re naturally drawn to act. You’re not just “saving” because you should—you’re saving because you see a future that excites you. When you focus on what you’re building, not who’s ahead, you create financial momentum that sustains itself. And the best part? When you’re pulled by a vision, you don’t just reach your goals—you surpass them.

5 Ways to Shift from Push to Pull Energy in Your Finances

Reclaim Your Financial Focus: Where focus goes, energy flows. Stop measuring yourself against someone else’s chapter 20 when you’re on chapter 5. Ask yourself: Am I focused on my progress—or someone else’s finish line? One way to stay on track is to track your own financial progress. The CedisPay Financial Wellbeing App helps you measure your financial milestones so you stay motivated by your own journey.
Turn Comparison into Financial Fuel: When you see someone ahead of you, don’t shrink—learn. Instead of thinking, “I’m not there yet,” ask: 💡 What can I learn from their financial habits? 💡 How can this inspire my next money move? With CedisPay’s budgeting and savings tracking tools, you can create a financial plan that fits your life—ensuring that your success is built on solid financial habits rather than external comparisons.
Set Exciting & Meaningful Financial Goals: It’s not enough to say, “I want to save more.” You need goals that ignite you. Instead of: ❌ “I should save 20% of my income.” Try: ✅ “I’m saving for a 3-month sabbatical to travel and recharge.” Instead of: ❌ “I need to invest more.” Try: ✅ “I’m investing so my family never has to struggle financially.” When your financial goals are connected to something exciting and meaningful, they pull you forward effortlessly.
Automate Your Financial Habits: Willpower is unreliable. If you have to remind yourself to save, invest, or budget every month, you’re relying on push energy. Instead, automate your savings, debt payments, and investments so they happen without effort. 💡 Set up automatic transfers to your savings and investment accounts. 💡 Use CedisPay’s Budgeting App to track expenses and keep spending in check. When good financial habits run on autopilot, your future self will thank you.
Surround Yourself with Financially Positive Influences: Your environment shapes your financial mindset more than you realize. ❌ If you’re constantly around people who overspend, live paycheck to paycheck, or complain about money, it’s easy to adopt the same mindset. ✅ But if you follow people who are making smart financial moves, read books about wealth-building, and engage in communities focused on financial growth, your mindset shifts naturally. 💡 Join financial literacy groups. 💡 Follow experts who break down money concepts in simple, actionable ways. 💡 Engage with financial tools (like CedisPay) that keep you focused on progress instead of comparison.

What’s Pulling You Forward Financially?

That moment I compared myself to other fintech lenders? It taught me something I’ll never forget: Never judge your financial journey too soon. The small habits you build today—consistent savings, debt reduction, smart investments—could be the very things that lead you to financial freedom. Not sure where to start? Check your financial wellbeing score in the CedisPay app to get a clear picture of your financial journey and set goals that keep you moving forward. So, I’ll ask you: 👉 What financial vision is pulling you forward today? Drop a comment—I want to know!