I recently received an e-mail from a young lady who had doubts about the principles of wealth found in "Rich Dad, Poor Dad". She mentioned a couple of past failed investments, and wanted to know what I thought about investing and financial freedom - whether it was just a myth, or whether it could be acquired. I thought I'd share it here for the benefit of those who have struggled with investing, or perhaps from ventures that didn't quite pan out. Here's what I wrote back to her:
"Dear ________,
I want to address your point below - because I think you make a very interesting point about money. I do believe that most people have a great opportunity to put Rich Dad's principles into practice to create wealth for themselves. You said "the rich get richer"...but remember, many who are rich did not start that way (many who have a large inheritance don't stay rich for long). In fact, they started very poor, with little to no money, and worked their way to freedom. HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES between those who achieve financial freedom and those who don't:
1) They have different beliefs about money.
The person who becomes wealthy believes differently about money than the person who doesn't. Example: The wealthy BELIEVE that "money should work hard for you" while the poor and middle class BELIEVE that "you should work hard for your money". These are opposite beliefs - so, the rich keep FINDING WAYS to have money work for them, while the poor and middle class keep FINDING WAYS to work harder for money. See the difference in beliefs, that ultimately effects the person's behavior and their results? Another example: If I believe that every person is valuable, then what happens? I treat every person I meet with respect. What about the person who believes that a particular race - African-Americans, or Asians, or Hispanics, or Americans are INFERIOR to their own race, or "bad" - how will that person treat them? With disrespect, or hatred, or both. You see? What someone believes in his/her heart correlates with how they will behave.
2) Those who become financially free never, ever give up - even after failing numerous times.
You mentioned trying a few investments that didn't work out. Why didn't they work out? I'm sure the reason comes from this one simple reason: you did not have enough information to evaluate the investment. So, even if you say "The opportunity was a scam", or "My friend made me do it", or "It wasn't the right time to invest" - all these reasons come from the fact that you did not adequately EVALUATE THE INVESTMENT. Evaluating an investment includes understanding the risks, having a contingency plan, and getting expert help to best make your decision.
3) Those who become wealthy never stop learning.
If you mess up in an investment, it doesn't mean give up. It means you look at the mistake and figure out why it happened to make sure you don't get yourself in that situation again - when you do this, you become WISER. The poor and middle class try something, and when they fail, they either blame a person or circumstances AND THEY NEVER HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT AGAIN. That's not good! Just because I mess up one real estate investment DOES NOT mean real estate is a bad investment!
I hope this helps - I'd like your opinions on what I've shared -
To your future.
Jim"
I'm still waiting to hear back from her - in the meantime, I hope this helps you.
(C) 2005 RadiusEnterprises.com. All Rights Reserved.
Jim Young is a published author, successful real estate investor, web developer, and internet marketer. He shows people how to actually generate substantial income on-line using very simple, easily modeled systems. An example of such a system that you can study and duplicate is at: http://www.RadiusEnterprises.com
AP - President-elect Barack Obama picked a national security team headed by former campaign rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bush administration holdover Robert Gates on Monday, and said he wants to consult with military commanders before settling on a firm timetable to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq.
AP - The U.S. economy has been in a recession since December 2007, the National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday.
AP - Barack Obama says the U.S.-Iraq security agreement approved by Iraq's parliament puts the U.S. on a "glide path" toward reducing forces there.
AP - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Monday that further interest-rate cuts are "certainly feasible," but he warned there are limits to how much such action would revive an economy likely to stay weak well into next year.
AP - Retailers who saw Thanksgiving holiday sales drop off as the weekend progressed stepped up online promotions on the day known as "Cyber Monday" to try to get consumers tired of the crowds at stores to keep shopping.
AP - India demanded Pakistan take "strong action" against those behind the 60-hour siege that left at least 172 people dead, as new details emerged Monday about the gunmen and the survival training that enabled them to thwart Indian commandos.
AP - Tina Fey's husband is talking about something the "30 Rock" actress would rather not discuss: the scar on her left cheek.
AP - Plaxico Burress was led out of a police precinct in handcuffs Monday after surrendering on a weapons possession charge, and authorities said that teammate Antonio Pierce is being investigated over his role in an accidental shooting at a Manhattan nightclub.
Reuters - U.S. President-elect Barack Obama named former rival Hillary Clinton as secretary of state on Monday and said Robert Gates would remain defense secretary in a national security team charged with recasting America's leadership role in the world.
Reuters - Stocks stayed near session lows on Monday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the U.S. economy remained under considerable stress.
Reuters - India on Monday demanded Pakistan take swift action over deadly attacks in Mumbai it said were carried out by militants from its rival neighbor.
Reuters - President George W. Bush said the biggest regret of his presidency was flawed intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and told ABC "World News" in an interview airing on Monday that he was unprepared for war when he took office.
Reuters - Thai protesters prepared to end their three-month occupation of the Prime Minister's office on Monday to consolidate their grip on the main airport ahead of a court verdict that could dissolve the elected government.
Reuters - The U.S. economy has slumped into a recession, the nation's business cycle arbiter declared on Monday, while European leaders clashed over how much public money to spend tackling a deepening downturn.
Reuters - Democrats in the House of Representatives likely will seek passage next month of an economic stimulus bill costing about $500 billion, a House Democratic aide said on Monday.
Reuters - Federal authorities arrested the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, on Monday in a corruption probe surrounding a massive sewer bond debt that has forced Jefferson County to the brink of bankruptcy.
AFP - Barack Obama on Monday nominated Hillary Clinton to be his "tough," "smart" secretary of state and his former foe vowed to give her all to steer America through a perfect storm of global crises.
AFP - India on Monday formally accused "elements" in Pakistan of being behind the devastating Islamic militant attacks in Mumbai and demanded that Islamabad take "strong action".
They're real, but few survive. High risk investing is dangerous to your... Read More
There are three important differences between investing and trading. Overlooking them can... Read More
One important aspect of trading the markets is to understand how to... Read More
It is important to answer the following questions before you begin to... Read More
You all know what CYA stands for. Of course, Cover Your Assets.And... Read More
If you do not have an investment plan in the stock market... Read More
You know all the articles you read about annuities that have extremely... Read More
I am good at a few things. I can certainly market well... Read More
Investments are scary for some people, especially those who have never invested... Read More
The syntax is tortured, the grammar mutilated, but the message - sent... Read More
As a precious metals investor, you may heard much about numismatic and... Read More
A strategic question. Why indeed?1. A penny share would usually refer to... Read More
The technology boom of the '90s romanticized the "rags-to-riches" ideal that all... Read More
For a successful retirement investment plan to work in the stock market,... Read More
Let's see, he had some oats, fresh alfalfa and his vitamins. I... Read More
About thirty years ago, statisticians armed with all of their statistical theories... Read More
Have you considered buying a franchise instead of trying to start a... Read More
To create momentum in your options trading you need to understand the... Read More
There is a lot to know about investing. It all depends on... Read More
(Please have a glass of water within reach before reading this article.)Your... Read More
A way that investors get ripped off and in a sense rip... Read More
No matter how much money you make, it pays to keep on... Read More
Are you ready to open your pathway to financial independence?Well you should... Read More
Here is a sample of the last newsletter:SP500 Last Signal Comment ... Read More
"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action!" Johann Wolfgang von... Read More
Have you ever noticed how some words in the English language are... Read More
You wouldn't build your home on anything less than a solid foundation.... Read More
An option is a derivative trading product that is best used by... Read More
If you own a company that sells complicated products and you want... Read More
Financial Spread Betting (or Trading) offers a tax free method of speculating... Read More
Over the course of the past two months, readers have brought to... Read More
Q. What is a basket?A basket is a group of up to... Read More
While a U.S. Representative to the Asian Development Bank Executive Board of... Read More
It always amazes me how much stock market investors resemble horse track... Read More
As a trader, one of the key things that I try to... Read More
The forex market is what is called an international exchange currency market,... Read More
Do you think you need an Investment Advisor? Hold on before you... Read More
The word 'investments' is one that most of us are familiar with... Read More
Options are good investing and speculative instruments. But options terminology may confuse... Read More
If you are doing your own investing in the stock market, what... Read More
Angel investors are individuals who invest in emerging business ventures. Angels typically... Read More
JewelryThe advantages are:? Gold Jewelry is the easiest of the gold to... Read More
Everyone knows T Rex was the most fearsome of all dinosaurs. He... Read More
The Perfect Mutual Fund is the one you build yourself!The perfect Mutual... Read More
In part 1 of this article I started to look at the... Read More
In 1519, Hernando Cortes, beached on the shores of unexplored Mexico, made... Read More
If you are looking for a safe investment and you have between... Read More
When we think of investing we probably conjure images in our minds... Read More
It is a common question when investors review their retirement plan-should we... Read More
I love to collect quotes as they concisely promote a philosophy which... Read More
Here is a sample of the last newsletter:SP500 Last Signal Comment ... Read More
Before every protective put trade it is possible to calculate your anticipated... Read More
If you know next to nothing, how do you go about the... Read More
Ready to start playing with your money? Not interested in complicated businesses... Read More
Market timing systems are based on patterns of activity in the past.... Read More
First of all, I want to give everyone the disclaimer that I... Read More
One of the fundamental principles of finance is the concept that $1... Read More
Have you considered buying a franchise instead of trying to start a... Read More
The financial characteristics of the automobile dealership are attractive:". . . moderate... Read More
Stock trading strategies are as rampant today, as they were during the... Read More
The Light Crude Continuous Contract fell from $67.70 a barrel on Monday... Read More
How many books have you read about successful traders? How they did... Read More
Have you ever noticed how some words in the English language are... Read More
Throughout the discussion of speculation and stability, we emphasized that uncertainty theorists... Read More
The communication innovations we have around us today like the internet, financial... Read More
This article attempts to help give the investor a broader basis upon... Read More
Rolling is defined in options online trading as moving a position from... Read More
How many of you out there think that the market is performing... Read More
It is important to answer the following questions before you begin to... Read More
Gearing is where you borrow money to invest. As already mentioned, it... Read More
With visions of an ATM in every neighborhood in China, foreign banks... Read More
In this day and age of online brokers for virtually every market... Read More
Investing and Trading are not the same thing. The returns you seek,... Read More
Penny stocks and options are high volatility investments that attract both the... Read More
Find out everything you need to know about buy to let. Learn... Read More
The trading method you employ to approach the stock market can make... Read More
Many people have, at one time or another, taken some of their... Read More
Based on consistent results I think Buy & Hold should be renamed... Read More
Have you often wished you could have got in on a tremendous... Read More
Typical day traders and swing traders look for stocks with quick, short... Read More
Expectations drive the market. Every stock price is driven by what people... Read More
The Foreign Exchange Market, better known as FOREX, is a worldwide market... Read More
Of the 75 million baby boomers nearing retirement today, many are:* Debt... Read More
If you're like many people, your retirement savings have not been growing... Read More
College Savings Plans ? are they the best choice for my child?College... Read More
Six or seven years ago, the stock market was booming, Internet companies... Read More
With the stock market in steep decline, people are looking for safe... Read More
Non-indexed mutual funds try to keep it secret that actively managed mutual... Read More
You might think that if you win the lottery or get a... Read More
Purpose: Expose Opportunities for Smart InvestorsThe move by China's central bank to... Read More
You all know what CYA stands for. Of course, Cover Your Assets.And... Read More
Do you think you need an Investment Advisor? Hold on before you... Read More
If you've decided to stock some money away in a certificate of... Read More
Do you rule your superannuation or does it rule you?It's easy to... Read More
Investing Investing |