富爸爸穷爸爸-第17部分

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　these　bullies。　They　pay　them　and　never　pay　themselves。　You　know　the　story　of　the　96pound　weakling　who　gets　sand　kicked　in　his　face？〃
I　nodded。　　〃I　see　that　ad　for　weightlifting　and　bodybuilding　lessons　in　the　ic　books　all　the　time。〃
〃Well；　most　people　let　the　bullies　kick　sand　in　their　faces。　I　decided　to　use　the　fear　of　the　bully　to　make　me　stronger。　Others　get　weaker。　Forcing　myself　to　think　about　how　to　make　extra　money　is　like　going　to　the　gym　and　working　out　with　weights。　The　more　I　work　my　mental　money　muscles　out；　the　stronger　I　get。　Now；　I'm　not　afraid　of　those　bullies。
I　liked　what　rich　dad　was　saying。　　〃So　if　I　pay　myself　first；　I　get　financially　stronger；　mentally　and　fiscally。〃
Rich　dad　nodded。
〃And　if　I　pay　myself　last；　or　not　at　all；　I　get　weaker。　So　people　like　bosses；　managers；　tax　collectors；　bill　collectors　and　landlords　push　me　around　all　my　life。　Just　because　I　don't　have　good　money　habits。〃
Rich　dad　nodded。　　〃Just　like　the　96pound　weakling。〃
Reason　No。　5。　Arrogance。　Arrogance　is　ego　plus　ignorance。　I　〃What　I　know　makes　me　money。　What　I　don't　know　loses　me　money。　Every　time　I　have　been　arrogant；　I　have　lost　money。　Because　when　I'm　arrogant；　I　truly　believe　that　what　I　don't　know　is　not　important；〃　rich　dad　would　often　tell　me。
I　have　found　that　many　people　use　arrogance　to　try　to　hide　their　own　ignorance。　It　often　happens　when　I　am　discussing　financial　statements　with　accountants　or　even　other　investors。
They　try　to　bluster　their　way　through　the　discussion。　It　is　clear　to　me　that　they　don't　know　what　they're　talking　about。　They're　not　lying；　but　they　are　not　telling　the　truth。
There　are　many　people　in　the　world　of　money；　finances　and　investments　who　have　absolutely　no　idea　what　they're　talking　about。　Most　people　in　the　money　industry　are　just　spouting　off　sales　pitches　like　usedcar　salesmen。
When　you　know　you　are　ignorant　in　a　subject；　start　educating　yourself　by　finding　an　expert　in　the　field　or　find　a　book　on　the　subject。

CHAPTER　NINE
Getting　Started

I　wish　I　could　say　acquiring　wealth　was　easy　for　me；　but　it　wasn't。
So　in　response　to　the　question　〃How　do　I　start？〃　I　offer　the　thought　process　I　go　through　on　a　daybyday　basis。　It　really　is　easy　to　find　great　deals。　I　promise　you　that。　It's　just　like　riding　a　bike。　After　a　little　wobbling；　it's　a　piece　of　cake。　But　when　it　es　to　money；　it's　the　determination　to　get　through　the　wobbling　that's　a　personal　thing。
To　find　milliondollar　〃deals　of　a　lifetime〃　requires　us　to　call　on　our　financial　genius。　I　believe　that　each　of　us　has　a　financial　genius　within　us。　The　problem　is；　our　financial　genius　lies　asleep；　waiting　to　be　called　upon。　It　lies　asleep　because　our　culture　has　educated　us　into　believing　that　the　love　of　money　is　the　root　of　all　evil。　It　has　encouraged　us　to　learn　a　profession　so　we　can　work　for　money；　but　failed　to　teach　us　how　to　have　money　work　for　us。　It　taught　us　not　to　worry　about　our　financial　future；　our　pany　or　the　government　would　take　care　of　us　when　our　working　days　are　over。　However；　it　is　our　children；　educated　in　the　same　school　system；　who　will　end　up　paying　for　it。　The　message　is　still　to　work　hard；　earn　money　and　spend　it；　and　when　we　run　short；　we　can　always　borrow　more。
Unfortunately；　90　percent　of　the　Western　world　subscribes　to　the　above　dogma；　simply　because　it's　easier　to　find　a　job　and　work　for　money。　If　you　are　not　one　of　the　masses；　I　offer　you　the　following　ten　steps　to　awaken　your　financial　genius。　I　simply　offer　you　the　steps　I　have　personally　followed。　　If　you　want　to　follow　some　of　them；　great。　If　you　don't；　make　up　your　own。　Your　financial　genius　is　smart　enough　to　develop　its　own　list。
While　in　Peru；　with　a　gold　miner　of　45　years；　I　asked　him　how　he　was　so　confident　about　finding　a　gold　mine。　He　replied；　〃There　is　gold　everywhere。　Most　people　are　not　trained　to　see　it。〃
And　I　would　say　that　is　true。　In　real　estate；　I　can　go　out　and　in　a　day　e　up　with　four　or　five　great　potential　deals；　while　the　average　person　will　go　out　and　find　nothing。　　Even　looking　in　the　same　neighborhood。　The　reason　is　they　have　not　taken　the　time　to　develop　their　financial　genius。
I　offer　you　the　following　ten　steps　as　a　process　to　develop　your　Godgiven　powers。　Powers　only　you　have　control　over。

1。　　I　NEED　A　REASON　GREATER　THAN　REALITY：　The　power　of　spirit。　　If　you　ask　most　people　if　they　would　like　to　be　rich　or　financially　free；　they　would　say　〃yes。〃　But　then　reality　sets　in。　The　road　seems　too　long　with　too　many　hills　to　climb。　It's　easier　to　just　work　for　money　and　hand　the　excess　over　to　your　broker。　I　once　met　a　young　woman　who　had　dreams　of　swimming　for　the　U。S　Olympic　team。　The　reality　was；　she　had　to　get　up　every　morning　at　4　a。m。　to　swim　for　three　hours　before　going　to　school。　She　did　not　party　with　her　friends　on　Saturday　night。　　She　had　to　study　and　keep　her　grades　up；　just　like　everyone　else。
When　I　asked　her　what　pelled　her　with　such　superhuman　ambition　and　sacrifice；　she　simply　said；　〃I　do　it　for　myself　and　the　people　I　love。　It's　love　that　gets　me　over　the　hurdles　and　sacrifices。〃
A　reason　or　a　purpose　is　a　bination　of　〃wants〃　and　〃don't　wants。〃　When　people　ask　me　what　my　reason　for　wanting　to　be　rich　is；　it　is　a　bination　of　deep　emotional　〃wants〃　and　〃don't　wants。〃
I　will　list　a　few。　First　the　〃don't　wants；〃　for　they　create　the　〃wants。〃　I　don't　want　to　work　all　my　life。　　I　don't　want　what　my　parents　aspired　for；　which　was　job　security　and　a　house　in　the　suburbs。　　I　don't　like　being　an　employee。　I　hated　that　my　dad　always　missed　my　football　games　because　he　was　so　busy　working　on　his　career。　　I　hated　it　when　my　dad　worked　hard　all　his　life　and　the　government　took　most　of　what　he　worked　for　at　his　death。　He　could　not　even　pass　on　what　he　worked　so　hard　for　when　he　died。　The　rich　don't　do　that。　They　work　hard　and　pass　it　on　to　their　children。
Now　the　wants。　　I　want　to　be　free　to　travel　the　world　and　live　in　the　lifestyle　I　love。　I　want　to　be　young　when　I　do　this。　I　want　to　simply　be　free。　I　want　control　over　my　time　and　my　life。　　I　want　money　to　work　for　me。
Those　are　my　deepseated；　emotional　reasons。　What　are　yours？　If　they　are　not　strong　enough；　then　the　reality　of　the　road　ahead　may　be　greater　than　your　reasons。　I　have　lost　money　and　been　set　back　many　times；　but　it　was　the　deep　emotional　reasons　that　kept　me　standing　up　and　going　forward。　I　wanted　to　be　free　by　age　40；　but　it　took　me　until　I　was　4？　with　many　learning　experiences　along　the　way。
As　I　said；　I　wish　I　could　say　it　was　easy。　It　wasn't；　but　it　wasn't　hard　either。　But　without　a　strong　reason　or　purpose；　anything　in　life　is　hard。

IF　YOU　DO　NOT　HAVE　A　STRONG　REASON；　THERE　IS　NO　SENSE　READING　FURTHER。　IT　WILL　SOUND　LIKE　TOO　MUCH　WORK。

2。　I　CHOOSE　DAILY：　The　power　of　choice。　That　is　the　main　reason　people　want　to　live　in　a　free　country。　We　want　the　power　to　choose。
Financially；　with　every　dollar　we　get　in　our　hands；　we　hold　the　power　to　choose　our　future　to　be　rich；　poor　or　middle　class。　　Our　spending　habits　reflect　who　we　are。　　Poor　people　simply　have　poor　spending　habits。
The　benefit　I　had　as　a　boy　was　that　I　loved　playing　Monopoly　constantly。　　Nobody　told　me　Monopoly　was　only　for　kids；　so　I　just　kept　playing　the　game　as　an　adult。　I　also　had　a　rich　dad　who　pointed　out　to　me　the　difference　between　an　asset　and　a　liability。　　So　a　long　time　ago；　as　a　little　boy；　I　chose　to　be　rich；　and　I　knew　that　all　I　had　to　do　was　learn　to　acquire　assets；　real　assets。　My　best　friend；　Mike；　had　an　asset　column　handed　to　him；　but　he　still　had　to　choose　to　learn　to　keep　it。　Many　rich　families　lose　their　assets　in　the　next　generation　simply　because　there　was　no　one　trained　to　be　a　good　steward　over　their　assets。
Most　people　choose　not　to　be　rich。　For　90　percent　of　the　population；　being　rich　is　〃too　much　of　a　hassle。〃　　So　they　invent　sayings　that　go；　〃I'm　not　interested　in　money。〃　　Or　〃I'll　never　be　rich。〃　Or　〃I　don't　have　to　worry；　I'm　still　young。〃　　Or　〃When　I　make　some　money；　then　I'll　think　about　my　future。〃　　Or　〃My　husband/wife　handles　the　finances。〃　The　problem　with　those　statements　is　they　rob　the　person　who　chooses　to
　
think　such　thoughts　of　two　things：　one　is　time；　which　is　your　most　precious　asset；　and　two　is　learning。　Just　because　you　have　no　money；　should　not　be　an　excuse　to　not　learn。　But　that　is　a　choice　we　all　make　daily；　the　choice　of　what　we　do　with　our　time；　our　money　and　what　we　put　in　our　heads。　That　is　the　power　of　choice。　All　of　us　have　choice。　I　just　choose　to　be　rich；　and　I　make　that　choice　every　day。
INVEST　FIRST　IN　EDUCATION：　　In　reality；　the　only　real　asset　you　have　is　your　mind；　the　most　powerful　tool　we　have　dominion　over。　Just　as　I　said　about　the　power　of　choice；　each　of　us　has　the　choice　of　what　we　put　in　our　brain　once　we're　old　enough。　You　can　watch　MTV　all　day；　or　read　golf　magazines；　or　go　to　ceramics　class　or　a　class　on　financial　planning。　You　choose。　Most　people　simply　buy　investments　rather　than　
first　invest　in　learning　about　investing。
A　friend　of　mine；　who　is　a　rich　woman；　recently　had　her　apartment　burglarized。　The　thieves　took　her　TV　and　VCR　and　left　all　the　books　she　reads。　And　we　all　have　that　choice。　Again；　90　percent　of　the　population　buys　TV　sets　and　only　about　10　percent　buy　books　on　business　or　tapes　on　investments。
So　what　do　I　do？　I　go　to　seminars。　I　like　it　when　they　are　at　least　two　days　long　because　I　like　to　immerse　myself　in　a　subject。　In　1973；　I　was　watching　TV　and　this　guy　came　on　advertising　a　threeday　seminar　on　how　to　buy　real　estate　for　nothing　down。　I　spent　385　and　that　course　has　made　me　at　least　2　million；　if　not　more。　But　more　importantly；　it　bought　me　life。　I　don't　have　to　work　for　the　rest　of　my　life　because　of　that　one　course。　I　go　to　at　least　two　such　courses　every　year。
I　love　audio　tapes。　The　reason：　I　can　rewind　quickly。　I　was　listening　to　a　tape　by　Peter　Lynch；　and　he　said　something　I　pletely　disagreed　with。　　Instead　of　being　arrogant　and　critical；　I　simply　pushed　〃rewind〃　and　I　listened　to　that　fiveminute　stretch　of　tape　at　least　twenty　times。　Possibly　more。　But　suddenly；　by　keeping　my　mind　open；　I　understood　why　he　said　what　he　said。　It　was　like　magic。　I　felt　like　I　had　a　window　into　the　mind　of　one　of　the　greatest　investors　of　our　time。　I　gained　tremendous　depth　and　insight　into　the　vast　resources　of　his　education　and　experience。
The　net　result：　I　still　have　the　old　way　I　used　to　think；　and　I　have　Peter's　way　of　looking　at　the　same　problem　or　situation。　I　have　two　thoughts　instead　of　one。　　One　more　way　to　analyze　a　problem　or　trend；　and　that　is　priceless。　Today；　I　often　say；　〃How　would　Peter　Lynch　do　this；　or　Donald　Trump　or　Warren　Buffett　or　Gee　Soros？〃　The　only　way　I　can　access　their　vast　mental　power　is　to　be　humble　enough　to　read　or　listen　to　what　they　have　to　say。　Arrogant　or　critical　people　are　often　people　with　low　selfesteem　who　are　afraid　of　taking　risks。　You　see；　if　you　learn　something　new；　you　are　then　required　to　make　mistakes　in　order　to　fully　understand　what　you　have　learned。
If　you　have　read　this　far；　arrogance　is　not　one　of　your　problems。　Arrogant　people　rarely　read　or　buy　tapes。　Why　should　they？　They　are　the　center　of　the　universe。
There　are　so　many　〃intelligent〃　people　who　argue　or　defend　when　a　new　idea　clashes　with　the　way　they　think。　In　this　case；　their　socalled　〃intelligence〃　bined　with　〃arrogance〃　equals　〃ignorance〃。　Each　of　us　knows　people　who　are　highly　educated；　or　believe　they　are　smart；　but　their　balance　sheet　paints　a　different　picture。　A　truly　intelligent　person　weles　new　ideas；　for　new　ideas　can　add　to　the　synergy　of　other　accumulated　ideas。　Listening　is　more　important　than　talking。　If　that　was　not　true；　God　would　not　have　given　us　two　ears　and　only　one　mouth。　Too　many　people　think　with　their　mouth　instead　of　listening　to　absorb　new　ideas　and　possibilities。　They　argue　instead　of　asking　questions。
I　take　a　long　view　on　my　wealth。　I　do　not　subscribe　to　the　〃Get　rich　quick〃　mentality　most　lottery　players　or　casino　gamblers　have。　I　may　go　in　and　out　of　stocks；　but　I　am　long　on　education。　If　you　want　to　fly　an　airplane；　I　advise　taking　lessons　first。　I　am　always　shocked　at　people　who　buy　stocks　or　real　estate；　but　never　invest　in　their　greatest　asset；　their　mind。　Just　because　you　bought　a　house　or　two　does　not　make　you　an　expert　at　real　estate。

3。　CHOOSE　FRIENDS　CAREFULLY：　The　power　of　association。　First　of　all；　I　do　not　choose　my　friends　by　their　financial　statements。　I　have　friends　who　have　actually　taken　the　vow　of　poverty　as　well　as　friends　who　earn　millions　every　year。　The　point　is　I　learn　from　all　of　them；　and　I　consciously　make　the　effort　to　learn　from　them。
Now　I　will　admit　that　there　are　people　I　have　actually　sought　out　because　they　had　money。　But　I　was　not　after　their　money；　I　was　seeking　their　knowledge。　In　some　cases；　these　people　who　had　money　have　bee　dear　friends；　but　not　all。
But　there　is　one　distinction　that　I　would　like　to　point　out。　I've　noticed　that　my　friends　with　money　talk　about　money。　And　I　do　not　mean　brag。　They're　interested　in　the　subject。　　So　I　learn　from　them；　and　they　learn　from　me。　My　friends；　whom　I　know　are　in　dire　straits　financially；　do　not　like　talking　about　money；　business　or　investing。　They　often　think　it　rude　or　unintellectual。　So　I　also　learn　from　my　friends　who　struggle　financially。　I　find　out　what　not　to　do。
I　have　several　friends　who　have　generated　over　a　billion　dollars　in　their　short　lifetimes。　The　three　of　them　report　the　same　phenomenon：　Their　friends　who　have　no　money　have　never　e　to　them　to　ask　them　how　they　did　it。　But　they　do　e　asking　for　one　of　two　things；　or　both：　1。　a　loan；　or　2。　a　job。

A　WARNING：　Don't　listen　to　poor　or　frightened　people。　I　have　such　friends；　and　I　love　them　dearly；　but　they　are　the　〃Chicken　Littles〃　of　life。　　When　it　es　to　money；　especially　investments；　〃The　sky　is　always　falling。〃　They　can　always　tell　you　why　something　won't　work。　The　problem　is；　people　listen　to　them；　but　people　who　blindly　accept　doomandgloom　information　are　also　〃Chicken　Littles。〃　As　that　old　saying　goes；　〃Chickens　of　a　feather　agree　together。〃
If　you　watch　CNBC；　which　is　a　goldmine　of　investment　information；　they　often　have　a　panel　of　socalled　〃experts。〃　One　expert　will　say　the　market　is　going　to　crash；　and　the　other　will　say　it's　going　to　boom。　If　you're　smart；　you　listen　to　both。　Keep　your　mind　open　because　both　have　valid　points。　Unfortunately；　most　poor　people　listen　to　〃Chicken　Little。〃
I　have　had　more　close　friends　try　to　talk　me　out　of　a　deal　or　an　investment。　A　few　years　ago；　a　friend　told　me　he　was　excited　because　he　found　a　6　percent　certificate　of　deposit。　I　told　him　I　earn　16　percent　from　the　state　government。　The　next　day　he　sent　me　an　article　about　why　my　investment　was　dangerous。　I　have　received　16　percent　for　years　now；　and　he　still　receives　6　percent。
I　would　say　that　one　of　the　hardest　things　about　wealth　building　is　to　be　true　to　yourself　and　be　willing　to　not　go　along　with　the　crowd。　For　in　the　market；　it　is　usually　the　crowd　that　shows　up　late　and　is　slaughtered。　If　a　great　deal　is　on　the　front　page；　it's　too　late　in　most　instances。　　Look　for　a　new　deal。　As　we　used　to　say　as　surfers：　〃There　is　always　another　wave。〃　People　who　hurry　and　catch　a　wave　late　usually　are　the　ones　who　wipe　out。
Smart　investors　don't　time　markets。　If　they　miss　a　wave；　they　search
　
for　the　next　one　and　get　the