Rich Dad Poor Dad
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About this ebook
Anyone stuck in the rat-race of living paycheck to paycheck, enslaved by the house mortgage and bills, will appreciate this breath of fresh air. Learn about the methods that have created more than a few millionaires. This is the first abridged miniature edition of Rich Dad Poor Dad. The full-length edition has sold millions as a New York Times bestseller. As proven by the runaway success of The Secret and like titles, changing one’s thinking to influence one’s fortune sells big, and forms the basis of rich dad’s advice. Learn to think like a rich dad and let your money work for you!
Editor's Note
Buck conventional wisdom…
“You’re either a master of money or a slave to it,” Kiyosaki asserts in his landmark book that challenges conventional middle-class wisdom about hard work and saving money. Learn to make your money do the work for you.
Robert Kiyosaki
Robert Kiyosaki Educational Entrepreneur, creator of the CASHFLOW® board game, founder of the financial education-based Rich Dad Company and author of New York Times Bestsellers Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money and Rich Dad Poor Dad. Robert Kiyosaki is best known as the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad – the #1 personal finance book of all time – which has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money. Rich Dad titles hold four of the top ten spots on Nielsen Bookscan List's Life-to-Date Sales from 2001-2008 alone. Robert has been featured on shows such as Larry King Live, Oprah, The Doctors, Bloomberg International Television and CNN. With perspectives on money and investing that often contradict conventional wisdom, Robert has earned a reputation for straight talk, irreverence and courage. His point of view that 'old' advice - get a good job, save money, get out of debt, invest for the long term, and diversify - is 'bad' (both obsolete and flawed) advice, challenges the status quo. His assertion that "your house is not an asset" has stirred controversy but has been proven to be accurate in our economy's current financial crisis. A documentary film based on the contradictions of 'old financial advice' is planned for release in 2010. In 2006 Robert teamed up with Donald Trump to co-author Why We Want You To Be Rich - Two Men - One Message. It debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestsellers list.
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Reviews for Rich Dad Poor Dad
1,119 ratings161 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to be a life-changing book that provides valuable insights and motivation for improving financial literacy. The book emphasizes the importance of changing one's mindset and taking action to achieve financial independence. Readers appreciate the author's enthusiasm and find the book easy to understand. It has helped them gain a new perspective on money and has inspired them to start investing. Overall, readers highly recommend this book for anyone interested in personal finance and improving their financial situation.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What else could I ask for for financial success...it's all here!!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I think that this book is great in opening your mind to the possibilities. It is a great starting point for those that want to get started learning in investing. While it gives some examples, it really is just a basis for the reader to decide if which direction they want to go.On the recommendation of one of my preceptors I read this book, and realized with my approach to being stuck in the middle class. Now I have started looking into other options how to grow my assets instead of liabilities. I am still young so hopefully I will find my way...
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Well I have tried to read this numerous times, but last week I made the effort. On reflection it was what I thought it would be in the first place. We all need more education when it comes to money so write another book, the message is a good one for me.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A great book to read.very encouraging and full of examples
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very American in that it repeats itself at least three times. Expect to finish this book in 3 hours tops. Given its popular theme and style, it still is an interesting read. How one applies his/her life, has a direct result on the fruits one reaps. What I liked most about this book is the idea of building a money machine. Put your creativity into building something that will keep generating income on its own and irrespective of how little time you invest in it. Because this for me is essential in business. You 'child' needs to be taken care of initially, but increasingly it will stand on its own feet. And eventually it will take care of you. If that potential is lacking, leave it be and invest your times differently. An easy and quick read with good retention and practical value.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This changed thinking about wealth generation in many ways. The math is flawless and simple enough for everyone to understand. Perhaps the consistent example of owning homes and renting them out, and some other examples, are too focused. I wouldn't be surprised if many readers of this ran out to buy a 2nd home to rent out and slowly gain equity on an asset, funded by renters. The backstory of having a second father is a bit of a stretch and I found this a bit smarmy, and detracting from the main value, and distracting. Once beyond the 'two fathers' backstory however, it becomes not only factual, but motivational. The last third of the book talks a lot about why readers of the book won't use its principles to create wealth, and ways to break through them. I would say this is a must read, and the earlier in life and more consistently, the better.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A parable type approach to explaining finances.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One of the best book. I recommend it.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5I've wanted to read this book for quite a while, so when I saw that it was available on NetGalley, I decided to give it a go.
I rated it as 1-star because, to me, there weren't any actionable recommendations. I suggest only reading it if you want to challenge your thinking about finance and how to look at money, but only if you pair it with other finance books that make better recommendations.
*This arc was kindly provided by Plata Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was sugggested to me by my Finical Coach quite a few months ago. I finally got around to getting the abridged audio book version. I really wish I had got a full version because the info was good. Kiyosaki is even tougher than Dave Ramsey. I think its a good complement to Ramsey as without Dave's direction fo getting out of debth, Kiyosaki's direciton on investing and ensuring you don't work for money would seem out of reach. I'm still not clear on how I'm going to get there but I am at least motivated in hand. Kiyosaki's poor dad isn't someone I would call poor. He's his real dad. An educated teacher, and later administrator, working in the public school system. Poor Dad, like myself, didn't want to make money, because rich people are evil. His Rich Dad is his friend Mike's Dad who taught him how to get money to work for him, but not lecturing but making him work for nothing. Starting with a story about how ot make money where young Robert and Mike counterfeit nickels out of old lead toothpaste tubes. Mike's Rich dad says that having no money is the root of all evil because it is what makes people do stupid things. The moor money poor dad made, the less he is at home (this has been me as of late) while the more money rich dad made, the more he was home with family. This is something that is worth working for. I'm still scared of Risk. When I still struggle to pay bills its hard to think past the end of the month, but I'll make it. I really will.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I read this book while at a friends house for the day- and it gripped me until I finished it. It wasnt in my genre but after my recommendations I decided to check it out and I must say I loved the advice given.Not only did it change my outlook on money and spending but it also changed my outlook on life. It was so bad I filled my facebook status with a new quote every couple hours it was that good. Im not sure if I'll be wealthy after putting these theories to work but I will say that itll change the way I pursue all of my endeavors. The writing style is approachable and its a quick read. Certainly worth a day of your time41/2 out of 5
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finally finished this book. Not that it was a chore to read, it was more that the information in it was so facinating that I needed to go back and re-read sections. This book is a permanent collection book for sure! Also, to truly be able to execute on the premises laid out in this book I will need to go back again and again to feed the ideas into my subconcious mind.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter do an excellent job of describing Robert's experiences with handling money. This book was a 30,000 foot overview of handling money however and does not go into too many detailed specifics. It focuses more on a positive mental attitude and ideas that are risky but if executed correctly and with persistence, can make one wealthy. I also plan on investing in Robert's other works as I feel he will expound on these ideas. Robert, loosley bases the premise of having two dads with oposing views on handling money. If I can fault Robert for anything in this book, it would be that he assumes the fact that having money will make you happy. This fault is dicey at best because if you are of the mind that you are happy financially where you are, then go read something else. Robert makes no judgement call on anyone's particular lifestyle, he is just answering the question he probably gets asked most of the time, "How did you get so rich?". - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I read this book while in an Entrepreneur phase. On one hand, it is rather inspiring, in a John Madden sort of way. You see, John Madden (American football broadcaster) always makes everything sound easy, which may be how he coached the Raiders to the superbowl. He'll say something like "now what they need to do here is score a touchdown. I think that if they can do that, they will turn this game around".I still recall a memorable game where a quarterback's contact fell out, and while he and the refs looked for it, Madden said "now here's a guy who when he wears glasses, he can see better". When it's explained in such a simple way, it really seems like the easiest thing in the world. Unfortunately, one must remember that the 6'5 defensive line is not just going to roll over and say 'uncle'.And real estate isn't any easier. There's always some conflict around the corner to trip you up and send you back to square one (or even square negative one). So, while this book gives you such excellent advice as "learn from failure", "make profitable deals", and "work hard for yourself", it doesn't actually give you a system or method to make money.This seems a strange irony to me, as this book is clearly marketed to people who are not smart enough to realize that they should 'work hard and not give up' if they want to succeed, but who are smart enough to be able to figure all the rest of the logistics out by themselves.Now, there are supplementary books that give a lot more in-depth information, but they still tend to fall into similar traps. It seems to me that you are either the self-motivated entrepreneur-type, or you aren't, and that difference will show itself often and early. The self-made may use this book, but to continue projects they are already working on, not to start their 'dream business' from scratch.There is another option for the marketability of this book, but it is not one I like to think about: depressed people who feel their lives going nowhere and stave off depression by clinging to untenable dreams. For these types, self-help and new age books act like a surrogate (or additional) religion: bolstering their self-esteem and making them feel as if their dreams are truly within reach.Then, years go by and the dream draws no nearer. They get depressed. Then they whip out this book (or another one) and suddenly feel like their millionaire retirement is only 6 months away! Then they do nothing again.I'm not saying people shouldn't have dreams, and I'm definitely not saying not to follow them, and I know people get attached to their denial, but it's not going to make your life any better.Now, I know that most people who (don't say 'peddle', don't say 'peddle') market these self-help (or new age) products are not usually scam artists. Most of them believe in what they do; they believe that they are helping people; and I hope sometimes they do.However, there is a difference between being a doctor and telling someone they have cancer to help them move on and lying that there is no cancer because it seems more 'kind' or 'uplifting'. The latter, is, of course, morally reprehensible (said the atheist).Kiyosaki has built an empire off of this book, and made himself a pretty penny. He has also been researched by some critics who have challenged his assertions about his wealth, real estate successes, and the very premise of the book. There is no evidence that his 'rich dad' ever actually existed, and Kiyosaki has said in interviews that the character is, at best, a combination of people. However, at other times he has stated that he definitely does exist. And that doesn't even go into his support of Casey Serin.Maybe I'm wrong, maybe you will buy this book and it will turn your life around, maybe Kiyosaki is relating a true story of struggle and inspiration, but maybe not, maybe it will just be another $5 in his pocket and less room on your bookshelf for Chekhov.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is one of my favorite finance books.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very inspiration, if not just a spur to get one to understand the importance of financial eduction. Some simplistic catchphrases "Not 'I can't afford this,' but 'how can I afford this." He asserts people are lazy in their financial thinking. His Solution is learning about tax loopholes and other ways to keep your income going into your assets and not liabilities. He ends with the insightful, if you need something; be it friendship, money, or the like.. give that away to someone else.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A worth while read; full of examples and enthusiasm
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One of the most stimulating books read, during my teens. Kiyosaki showed the possibilities of getting rich with a change of mindset. It also affirms what I've suspected about: "go to school, get a good grade, get a good job, and enjoy life".
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I can quote many parts of this book! This teaches need verses want. Teaches you if its not an asset to your life then loose it. It's direct and to the point and makes so much sense. Everyone should read this book once in their life. I've lended out every copy and let them keep it because they loved it like I did. I need to get another copy again. It's a book you can go back and reference over and over. This book isn't a story it's learning what you've always known however it's written in a way you can relate and think" wow I always had the feeling I shoudve done that"
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Great advice
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Phenomenal writing. Maybe the best financial advice offered in a century. Kiyosaki is articulate as he weaves his tale of life experience from mediocre living to great wealth. I know from experience his information is true, because I was taught this when I was young. Rich Dad, Poor Dad should be required reading for all teenagers and adults alike who do not understand how to read the financial pages in the newspaper. He breaks the complexities of economists and bankers down into bite sized pieces for the layman.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Investor describes how he learned about money from his PhD father, who could never retain wealth, and also from his friend's father, who was a millionaire with an eighth grade education. Explains how to make your money work for you by mastering financial literacy and taking charge.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I think for a novice financial person this is a good motivational book. There is nothing really new or enterprising given as advice. It is extremely redundant and could easily have been half the size. But, some people need redundancy for a concept to sink in so take it as you will.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Gives a great picture of what a financially successful life should look like in terms of investment, income, and pursuit of continuing success. An excellent read overall, but would benefit by offering a bit more advice on daily, down-to-Earth changes that the typical individual can make to start on the path described in the book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A very interesting book with a new perspective in what constitute wealth and what is really an asset for a person. Kiyosaki may be optimistic and make it sound just too easy, so the book may lose perspective, but as he recognizes, being rich is an attitude but you need also education, and he ping points other resources to get that education.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very inspiring and eye opening. This book is one of the things I have been searching for. Answers to my questions that has been bothering me for more than a decade has been finally made clear. This book should be read by many a student to be able to face a future where employment seems to be the only answer to financial problems in life. It's very easy to understand and very easy to follow. I hope to read more of Kiyoaki's works in the future--especially those that concern the sophisticated subjects of investment and business management. It's a book that one should never miss reading in a lifetime.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book about changing habits and mindsets towards accumulating wealth
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very practical advice, straightforward and encouraging. It does not point in the direction of an easy path, but one less-travelled and worthwhile.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5it was Very precise and realistic,I loved it thanks so much.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Read it while listening to the audio version at 2x speed. Certainly helped
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wish I would have read this a long time ago!
Book preview
Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki
RICH DAD POOR DAD
What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money—
That The Poor And Middle Class Do Not!
By Robert T. Kiyosaki
Published by Plata Publishing, LLC at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 Plata Publishing, LLC
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
*****
"Rich Dad Poor Dad is a starting point for anyone looking to gain control of their financial future."
- USA TODAY
RICH DAD POOR DAD
What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money—
That The Poor And Middle Class Do Not!
By Robert T. Kiyosaki
This book is dedicated to all parents everywhere, a child’s most important teachers.
Acknowledgements
How does a person say thank you
when there are so many people to thank? Obviously this book is a thank you to my two fathers, who were powerful role models, and to my mom, who taught me love and kindness.
Yet the people most directly responsible for this book becoming a reality include my wife Kim, who makes my life complete. Kim is my partner in marriage, business, and in life. Without her I would be lost. To Kim’s parents, Winnie and Bill Meyer, for raising such a great daughter; Larry and Lisa Clark, for the gift of friendship and encouragement; Rolf Parta, for technical genius; Anne Nevin, Bobbi DePorter, and Joe Chapon, for insights into learning; DC and John Harrison, Jannie Tay, Sandy Khoo, Richard and Veronica Tan, Jacqueline Seow, Nyhl Henson, Michael and Monette Hamlin, Edwin and Camilla Khoo, K. C. See and Jessica See, for professional support; Bill and Cindy Shopoff, Van Tharp, C. W. Allen, Marilu Deignan, Kim Arries, and Tom Weisenborn, for their financial intelligence; Sam Georges, Anthony Robbins, Enid Vien, Lawrence and Jayne Johnson, Alan Wright, Zig Ziglar, for mental clarity; J. W. Wilson, Marty Weber, Randy Craft, Don Mueller, Brad Walker, Blair and Eileen Singer, Wayne and Lynn Morgan, Mimi Brennan, Jerome Summers, Dr. Peter Powers, Will Hepburn, Dr. Enrique Teuscher, Dr. Robert Marin, Betty Oyster, Julie Belden, Jamie Danforth, Cherie Clark, Rick Merica, Joia Jitahide, Jeff Bassett, Dr. Tom Burns, and Bill Galvin, for being great friends and supporters of the projects; and to Frank Crerie, Clint Miller, Thomas Allen, and Norman Long, for being great partners in business.
Introduction - Rich Dad Poor Dad
Having two dads offered me the choice of contrasting points of view: one of a rich man and one of a poor man.
I had two fathers, a rich one and a poor one. One was highly educated and intelligent. He had a Ph.D. and completed four years of undergraduate work in less than two years. He then went on to Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern University to do his advanced studies, all on full financial scholarships. The other father never finished the eighth grade.
Both men were successful in their careers, working hard all their lives. Both earned substantial incomes. Yet one always struggled financially. The other would become one of the richest men in Hawaii. One died leaving tens of millions of dollars to his family, charities, and his church. The other left bills to be paid.
Both men were strong, charismatic, and influential. Both men offered me advice, but they did not advise the same things. Both men believed strongly in education but did not recommend the same course of study.
If I had had only one dad, I would have had to accept or reject his advice. Having two dads offered me the choice of contrasting points of view: one of a rich man and one of a poor man.
Instead of simply accepting or rejecting one or the other, I found myself thinking more, comparing, and then choosing for myself. The problem was that the rich man was not rich yet, and the poor man was not yet poor. Both were just starting out on their careers, and both were struggling with money and families. But they had very different points of view about money.
For example, one dad would say, The love of money is the root of all evil.
The other said, The lack of money is the root of all evil.
As a young boy, having two strong fathers both influencing me was difficult. I wanted to be a good son and listen, but the two fathers did not say the same things. The contrast in their points of view, particularly about money, was so extreme that I grew curious and intrigued. I began to start thinking for long periods of time about what each was saying.
Much of my private time was spent reflecting, asking myself questions such as, Why does he say that?
and then asking the same question of the other dad’s statement. It would have been much easier to simply say, Yeah, he’s right. I agree with that.
Or to simply reject the point of view by saying, The old man doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Instead, having two dads whom I loved forced me to think and ultimately choose a way of thinking for myself. As a process, choosing for myself turned out to be much more valuable in the long run than simply accepting or rejecting a single point of view.
One of the reasons the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class struggles in debt is that the subject of money is taught at home, not in school. Most of us learn about money from our parents. So what can poor parents tell their child about money? They simply say, Stay in school and study hard.
The child may graduate with excellent grades, but with a poor person’s financial programming and mind-set.
Sadly, money is not taught in schools. Schools focus on scholastic and professional skills, but not on financial skills. This explains how smart bankers, doctors, and accountants who earned excellent grades may struggle financially all of their lives. Our staggering national debt is due in large part to highly educated politicians and government officials making financial decisions with little or no training in the subject of money.
Today I often wonder what will soon happen when we have millions of people who need financial and medical assistance. They will be dependent upon their families or the government for financial support. What will happen when Medicare and Social Security run out of money? How will a nation survive if teaching children about money continues to be left to parents—most of whom will be, or already are, poor?
Because I had two influential fathers, I learned from both of them. I had to think about each dad’s advice, and in doing so, I gained valuable insight into the power and effect of one’s thoughts on one’s life. For example, one dad had a habit of saying, I can’t afford it.
The other dad forbade those words to be used. He insisted I ask, How can I afford it?
One is a statement, and the other is a question. One lets you off the hook, and the other forces you to think. My soon-to-be-rich dad would explain that by automatically saying the words I can’t afford it,
your brain stops working. By asking the question How can I afford it?
your brain is put to work. He did not mean that you should buy everything you want. He was fanatical about exercising your mind, the most powerful computer in the world. He’d say, My brain gets stronger every day because I exercise it. The stronger it gets, the more money I can make.
He believed that automatically saying I can’t afford it
was a sign of mental laziness.
Although both dads worked hard, I noticed that one dad had a habit of putting his brain to sleep when it came to finances, and the other had a habit of exercising his brain. The long-term result was that one dad grew stronger financially, and the other grew weaker. It is not much different from a person who goes to the gym to exercise on a regular basis versus someone who sits on the couch watching television. Proper physical exercise increases your chances for health, and proper mental exercise increases your chances for wealth.
My two dads had opposing attitudes and that affected the way they thought. One dad thought that the rich should pay more in taxes to take care of those less fortunate. The other said, Taxes punish those who produce and reward those who don’t produce.
One dad recommended, Study hard so you can find a good company to work for.
The other recommended, Study hard so you can find a good company to buy.
One dad said, The reason I’m not rich is because I have you kids.
The other said, The reason I must be rich is because I have you kids.
One encouraged talking about money and business at the dinner table, while the other forbade the subject of money to be discussed over a meal.
One said, When it comes to money, play it safe. Don’t take risks.
The other said, Learn to manage risk.
One believed, Our home is our largest investment and our greatest asset.
The other believed, My house is a liability, and if your house is your largest investment, you’re in trouble.
Both dads paid their bills on time, yet one paid his bills first while the other paid his bills last.
One dad believed in a company or the government taking care of you and your needs. He was always concerned about pay raises, retirement plans, medical benefits, sick leave, vacation days, and other perks. He was impressed with two of his uncles who joined the military and earned a retirement-and-entitlement package for life after twenty years of active service. He loved the idea of medical benefits and PX privileges the military provided its retirees. He also loved the tenure system available through the university. The idea of job protection for life and job benefits seemed more important, at times, than the job. He would often say, I’ve worked hard for the government, and I’m entitled to these benefits.
The other believed in total financial self-reliance. He spoke out against the entitlement mentality and how it created weak and financially needy people. He was emphatic about being financially competent.
One dad struggled to save a few dollars. The other created investments. One dad taught me how to write an impressive resumé so I could find a good job. The other taught me how to write strong business and financial plans so I could create jobs.
Being a product of two strong dads allowed me the luxury of observing the effects different thoughts have on one’s life. I noticed that people really do shape their lives through their thoughts.
For example, my poor dad always said, I’ll never be rich.
And that prophecy became reality. My rich dad, on the other hand, always referred to himself as rich. He would say things like, I’m a rich man, and rich people don’t do this.
Even when he was flat broke after a major financial setback, he continued to refer to himself as a rich man. He would cover himself by saying, There is a difference between being poor and being broke. Broke is temporary. Poor is eternal.
My poor dad would say, I’m not interested in money,
or Money doesn’t matter.
My rich dad always said, Money is power.
The power of our thoughts may never be measured or appreciated, but it became obvious to me as a young boy that it was important to be aware of my thoughts and how I expressed myself. I noticed that my poor dad was poor, not because of the amount of money he earned, which was significant, but because of his thoughts and actions. As a young boy having two fathers, I became acutely aware of being careful about which thoughts I chose to adopt as my own. Should I listen to my rich dad or to my poor dad?
Although both men had tremendous respect for education and learning, they disagreed about what they thought was important to learn. One wanted me to study hard, earn a degree, and get a good job to earn money. He wanted me to study to become a professional, an attorney or an accountant, and to go to business school for my MBA. The other encouraged me to study to be rich, to understand how money works, and to learn how to have it work for me. I don’t work for money!
were words he would repeat over and over. Money works for me!
At the age of nine, I decided to listen to and learn from my rich dad about money. In doing so, I chose not to listen to my poor dad, even though he was the one with all the college degrees.
There is a difference between being poor and being broke. Broke is temporary. Poor is eternal.
A Lesson from Robert Frost
Robert Frost is my favorite poet. Although I love many of his poems, my favorite is The Road Not Taken.
I use its lesson almost daily.
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
And that has made all the difference.
Over the years, I have often reflected upon Robert Frost’s poem. Choosing not to listen to my highly educated dad’s advice and attitude about money was a painful decision, but it was a decision that shaped the rest of my life.
Once I made up my mind about whom to listen to, my education about money began. My rich dad taught me over a period of 30 years until I was 39 years old. He stopped once he realized that I knew and fully understood what he had been trying to drum into my often-thick skull.
Money is one form of power. But what is more powerful is financial education. Money comes and goes, but if you have the education about how money works, you gain power over it and can begin building wealth. The reason positive thinking alone does not work is because most people went to school and never learned how money works, so they spend their lives working for money.
Because I was only nine years old when I started, the lessons my rich dad taught me were simple. And when it was all said and done, there were only six main lessons, repeated over 30 years. This book is about those six lessons, put as simply as possible, just as simply as my rich dad put forth those lessons to me. The lessons are meant not to be answers, but guideposts that will assist you and your children to grow wealthier no matter what happens in a world of increasing change and uncertainty.
Chapter One - LESSON 1: THE RICH DON’T WORK FOR MONEY
The poor and the middle class work for money.
The rich have money work for them.
Dad, can you tell me how to get rich?
My dad put down the evening paper. Why do you want to get rich, Son?
Because today Jimmy’s mom drove up in their new Cadillac, and they were going to their beach house for the weekend. He took three of his friends, but Mike and I weren’t invited. They told us we weren’t invited because we were poor kids.
They did?
my dad asked incredulously.
Yeah, they did,
I replied in a hurt tone.
My dad silently shook his head, pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and went back to reading the paper. I stood waiting for an answer.
The year was 1956. I was nine years old. By some twist of fate, I attended the same public school where the rich people sent their kids. We were primarily a sugar-plantation town. The managers of the plantation and the other affluent people, such as doctors, business owners, and bankers, sent their children to this elementary school. After grade six, their children were generally sent off to private schools. Because my family lived on one side of the street, I went to this school.
Had I lived on