富爸爸穷爸爸-第14部分

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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　three…day　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　five…minute　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　George　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　self…esteem　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　so…called　〃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　doom…and…gloom　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　so…called　〃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　themselves　in　position。　Why　this　is　hard　for　most　investors　is　because　buying　what　is　not　popular　is　frightening　to　them。　Timid　investors　are　like　sheep　going　along　with　the　crowd。　Or　their　greed　gets　them　in　when　wise　investors　have　already　taken　their　profits　and　moved　on。　Wise　investors　buy　an　investment　when　it's　not　popular。　They　know　their　profits　are　made　when　they　buy；　not　when　they　sell。　They　wait　patiently。　As　I　said；　they　do　not　time　the　market。　Just　like　a　surfer；　they　get　in　position　for　the　next　big　swell。
It's　all　〃insider　trading。〃　There　are　forms　of　insider　trading　that　are　illegal；　and　there　are　forms　of　insider　trading　that　are　legal。　But　either　way；　it's　insider　trading。　The　only　distinction　is　how　far　away　from　the　inside　are　you？　The　reason　you　want　to　have　rich　friends　who　are　close　to　the　inside　is　because　that　is　where　the　money　is　made。　It's　made　on　information。　You　want　to　hear　about　the　next　boom；　get　in　and　get　out　before　the　next　bust。　I'm　not　saying　do　it　illegally；　but　the　sooner　you　know；　the　better　your　chances　are　for　profits　with　minimal　risk。　That　is　what　friends　are　for。　And　that　is　financial　intelligence。

4。　MASTER　A　FORMULA　AND　THEN　LEARN　A　NEW　ONE：　The　power　of　learning　quickly。　In　order　to　make　bread；　every　baker　follows　a　recipe；　even　if　it's　only　held　in　their　head。　The　same　is　true　for　making　money。　That's　why　money　is　often　called　〃dough。〃
Most　of　us　have　heard　the　saying　〃You　are　what　you　eat。〃　I　have　a　different　slant　on　the　same　saying。　I　say；　〃You　bee　what　you　study。〃　In　other　words；　be　careful　what　you　study　and　learn；　because　your　mind　is　so　powerful　that　you　bee　what　you　put　in　your　head。　For　example；　if　you　study　cooking；　you　then　tend　to　cook。　You　bee　a　cook。　If　you　don't　want　to　be　a　cook　anymore；　then　you　need　to　study　something　else。　　Let's　say；　a　schoolteacher。　After　studying　teaching；　you　often　bee　a　teacher。　And　so　on。　Choose　what　you　study　carefully。
When　it　es　to　money；　the　masses　generally　have　one　basic　formula　they　learned　in　school。　And　that　is；　work　for　money。　The　formula　I　see　that　is　predominant　in　the　world　is　that　every　day　millions　of　people　get　up　and　go　to　work；　earn　money；　pay　bills；　balance　checkbooks；　buy　some　mutual　funds　and　go　back　to　work。　That　is　the　basic　formula；　or　recipe。
If　you're　tired　of　what　you're　doing；　or　you're　not　making　enough；　it's　simply　a　case　of　changing　the　formula　via　which　you　make　money。
Years　ago；　when　I　was　26；1　took　a　weekend　class　called　〃How　to　Buy　Real　Estate　Foreclosures。〃　I　learned　a　formula。　The　next　trick　was　to　have　the　discipline　to　actually　put　into　action　what　I　had　learned。　That　is　where　most　people　stop。　For　three　years；　while　working　for　Xerox；　I　spent　my　spare　time　learning　to　master　the　art　of　buying　foreclosures。　I've　made　several　million　dollars　using　that　formula；　but　today；　it's　too　slow　and　too　many　other　people　are　doing　it。
So　after　I　mastered　that　formula；　I　went　in　search　of　other　formulas。　For　many　of　the　classes；　I　did　not　use　the　information　I　learned　directly；　'i｜　but　I　always　learned　something　new。
I　have　attended　classes　designed　for　only　derivative　traders；　also　a　class　for　modity　option　traders　and　a　class　for　Chaologists。　I　was　way　out　of　my　league；　being　in　a　room　full　of　people　with　doctorates　in　nuclear　physics　and　space　science。　Yet；　I　learned　a　lot　that　made　my　stock　and　real　estate　investing　more　meaningful　and　lucrative。　Most　junior　colleges　and　munity　colleges　have　classes　on　financial　planning　and　buying　of　traditional　investments。　They　are　great　places　to　start。
So　I　always　search　for　a　faster　formula。　That　is　why；　on　a　fairly　regular　basis；　I　make　more　in　a　day　than　many　people　will　make　in　their　lifetime。
Another　side　note。　In　today's　fast…changing　world；　it's　not　so　much　what　you　know　anymore　that　counts；　because　often　what　you　know　is　old。　　It　is　how　fast　you　learn。　That　skill　is　priceless。　　It's　priceless　in　finding　faster　formulas…recipes；　if　you　will；　for　making　dough。　Working　hard　for　money　is　an　old　formula　born　in　the　day　of　cave　men。

5。　PAY　YOURSELF　FIRST：　The　power　of　self…discipline。　If　you　cannot　get　control　of　yourself；　do　not　try　to　get　rich。　You　might　first　want　to　join　the　Marine　Corps　or　some　religious　order　so　you　can　get　control　of　yourself。　It　makes　no　sense　to　invest；　make　money　and　blow　it。　It　is　the　lack　of　self…discipline　that　causes　most　lottery　winners　to　go　broke　soon　after　winning　millions。　　It　is　the　lack　of　self…discipline　that　causes　people　who　get　a　raise　to　immediately　go　out　and　buy　a　new　car　or　take　a　cruise。
It　is　difficult　to　say　which　of　the　ten　steps　is　the　most　important。　　But　of　all　the　steps；　this　step　is　probably　the　most　difficult　to　master　if　it　is　not　already　a　part　of　your　makeup。　I　would　venture　to　say　that　it　is　the　lack　of　personal　self…discipline　that　is　the　No。　1　delineating　factor　between　the　rich；　the　poor　and　the　middle　class。
Simply　put；　people　who　have　low　self…esteem　and　low　tolerance　for　financial　pressure　can　never；　and　I　mean　never；　be　rich。　As　I　have　said；　a　lesson　learned　from　my　rich　dad　was　that　〃the　world　will　push　you　around。〃　The　world　pushes　people　around　not　because　other　people　are　bullies；　but　because　the　individual　lacks　internal　control　and　discipline。　People　who　lack　internal　fortitude　often　bee　victims　of　those　who　have　self…discipline。
In　the　entrepreneur　classes　I　teach；　I　constantly　remind　people　to　not　focus　on　their　product；　service　or　widget；　but　to　focus　on　developing　management　skills。　The　three　most　important　management　skills　necessary　to　start　your　own　business　are：

1。 Management　of　cash　flow。
2。 Management　of　people。
3。　Management　of　personal　time。

I　would　say；　the　skills　to　manage　these　three　apply　to　anything；　not　just　entrepreneurs。　The　three　matter　in　the　way　you　live　your　life　as　an　individual；　or　as　part　of　a　family；　a　business；　a　charitable　organization；　a　city　or　a　nation。
Each　of　these　skills　is　enhanced　by　the　mastery　of　self　discipline。　I　do　not　take　the　saying　〃pay　yourself　first〃　lightly。
The　Richest　Man　in　Babylon；　by　George　Classen；　is　where　the　statement　〃pay　yourself　first〃　es　from。　Millions　of　copies　have　been　sold。　　But　while　millions　of　people　freely　repeat　that　powerful　statement；　few　follow　the　advice。　As　I　said；　financial　literacy　allows　one　to　read　numbers；　and　numbers　tell　the　story。　　By　looking　at　a　person's　ine　statement　and　balance　sheet；　I　can　readily　see　if　people　who　spout　the　words　〃pay　yourself　first〃　actually　practice　what　they　preach。
A　picture　is　worth　a　thousand　words。　　So　let's　again　pare　the　financial　statements　of　people　who　pay　themselves　first　against　someone　who　doesn't。
　
People　who　pay　themselves　first

　　　　　　　　　　　　　＋＋
　Job………》｜Ine 　　　　　｜
　　　^　　 ｜…　　　　　｜
　　　｜　 ｜　Expense 　　　　　｜　　　　　｜
　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　＋＋　　　　｜
　　　　　　　　　　　　＋……《　　　
…｜＋
｜　　　　Assets　　　　｜　　　　　Liabilities　　｜
｜　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　｜　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　｜
｜_________｜____________｜

Someone　who　pays　everyone　else　first…　Often　there　is　nothing　left

　　　　　　　　　　　　　＋＋
　Job………》｜Ine 　　　　　｜
　　　　　　 ｜…　　　　　
　　　　 ｜　Expense 　　　　　｜　》　Nothing　left！
　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　＋＋　　　　
………＋
｜　　　　Assets　　　　｜　　　　　Liabilities　　｜
｜　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　｜　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　｜
｜_________｜____________｜

Study　the　diagrams　and　notice　if　you　can　pick　up　some　distinctions。　　Again；　it　has　to　do　with　understanding　cash　flow；　which　tells　the　story。　Most　people　look　at　the　numbers　and　miss　the　story。　If　you　can　truly　begin　to　understand　the　power　of　cash　flow；　you　will　soon　realize　what　is　wrong　with　the　picture　on　the　next　page；　or　why　90　percent　of　most　people　work　hard　all　their　lives　and　need　government　support　like　Social　Security　when　they　are　no　longer　able　to　work。
Do　you　see　it？　The　diagram　above　reflects　the　actions　of　an　individual　who　chooses　to　pay　himself　first。　Each　month；　they　allocate　money　to　their　asset　column　before　they　pay　their　monthly　expenses。　Although　millions　of　people　have　read　Classen's　book　and　understand　the　words　〃pay　yourself　first；〃　in　reality　they　pay　themselves　last。
Now　I　can　hear　the　howls　from　those　of　you　who　sincerely　believe　in　paying　your　bills　first。　And　I　can　hear　all　the　〃responsible〃　people　who　pay　their　bills　on　time。　I　am　not　saying　be　irresponsible　and　not　pay　your　bills。　All　I　am　saying　is　do　what　the　book　says；　which　is　〃pay　yourself　first。〃　And　the　diagram　above　is　the　correct　accounting　picture　of　that　action。　Not　the　one　that　follows。
My　wife　and　I　have　had　many　bookkeepers　and　accountants　and　bankers　who　have　had　a　major　problem　with　this　way　of　looking　at　〃pay　yourself　first。〃　The　reason　is　that　these　financial　professionals　actually　do　what　the　masses　do；　which　is　pay　themselves　last。　They　pay　everyone　else　first。
There　have　been　months　in　my　life；　when　for　whatever　reason；　cash　flow　was　far　less　than　my　bills。　I　still　paid　myself　first。　My　accountant　and　bookkeeper　screamed　in　panic。　　〃They're　going　to　e　after　you。　The　IRS　is　going　to　put　you　in　jail。〃　　〃You're　going　to　ruin　your　credit　rating。〃　〃They'll　cut　off　the　electricity。〃　I　still　paid　myself　first。
〃Why？〃　you　ask。　Because　that's　what　the　story　The　Richest　Man　In　Babylon　was　all　about。　The　power　of　self…discipline　and　the　power　of　internal　fortitude。　　〃Guts；〃　in　less　elegant　terms。　As　my　rich　dad　taught　me　the　first　month　I　worked　for　him；　most　people　allow　the　world　to　push　them　around。　A　bill　collector　calls　and　you　〃pay　or　else。〃　So　you　pay　and　not　pay　yourself。　A　sales　clerk　says；　〃Oh；　just　put　it　on　your　charge　card。〃　Your　real　estate　agent　tells　you　to　〃go　ahead…the　government　allows　you　a　tax　deduction　on　your　home。〃　That　is　what　the　book　is　really　about。　Having　the　guts　to　go　against　the　tide　and　get　rich。　You　may　not　be　weak；　but　when　it　es　to　money；　many　people　get　wimpy。
I　am　not　saying　be　irresponsible。　The　reason　I　don't　have　high　credit　card　debt；　and　doodad　debt；　is　because　I　want　to　pay　myself　first。　The　reason　I　minimize　my　ine　is　because　I　don't　want　to　pay　it　to　the　government。　That　is　why；　for　those　of　you　who　have　watched　the　video　The　Secrets　of　the　Rich；　my　ine　es　from　my　asset　column；　through　a　Nevada　corporation。　If　I　work　for　money；　the　government　takes　it。
Although　I　pay　my　bills　last；　I　am　financially　astute　enough　to　not　get　into　a　tough　financial　situation。　I　don't　like　consumer　debt。　I　actually　have　liabilities　that　are　higher　than　99　percent　of　the　population；　but　I　don't　pay　for　them；　other　people　pay　for　my　liabilities。　They're　called　tenants。　　So　rule　No。　1　in　paying　yourself　first　is　don't　get　into　debt　in　the　first　place。　Although　I　pay　my　bills　last；　I　set　it　up　to　have　only　small　unimportant　bills；　that　I　will　have　to　pay。
Secondly；　when　I　occasionally　e　up　short；　I　still　pay　myself　first。　I　let　the　creditors　and　even　the　gov