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ng； the words 〃I can't afford it〃 shut down your brain。 It didn't have to think anymore。 〃How can I afford it'〃 opened up the brain。 Forced it to think and search for answers。
But most importantly； he felt the words 〃I can't afford it〃 were a lie。 And the human spirit knew it。 〃The human spirit is very； very； powerful；〃 he would say。 〃It knows it can do anything。〃 By having a lazy mind that says； 〃I can't afford it；〃 a war breaks out inside you。 Your spirit is angry； and your lazy mind must defend its lie。 The spirit is screaming； 〃e on。 Let's go to the gym and work out。〃 And the lazy mind says； 〃But I'm tired。 I worked really hard today。〃 Or the human spirit says； 〃I'm sick and tired of being poor。 Let's get out there and get rich。〃 To which the lazy mind says； 〃Rich people are greedy。 Besides it's too much bother。
It's not safe。 I might lose money。 I'm working hard enough as it is。 I've got too much to do at work anyway。 Look at what I have to do tonight。 My boss wants it finished by the morning。〃
〃I can't afford it〃 also brings up sadness。 A helplessness that leads to ' despondency and often depression。 〃Apathy〃 is another word。 〃How can I afford it？〃 opens up possibilities； excitement and dreams。 So rich dad ； was not so concerned about what you wanted to buy； but that 〃How can 'f j I afford it？〃 created a stronger mind and a dynamic spirit。
Thus； he rarely gave Mike or me anything。 Instead he would ask； 〃How can you afford it？〃 and that included college； which we paid for ourselves。 It was not the goal but the process of attaining the goal we desired that he wanted us to learn。 The problem I sense today is that there are millions of people who feel guilty about their greed。 It's an old conditioning from their childhood。 Their desire to have the finer things that life offers。 Most have been conditioned subconsciously to say； 〃You can't have that；〃 or ；
〃You'll never afford that。〃
When I decided to exit the rat race； it was simply a question。 〃How can I afford to never work again？〃 And my mind began to kick out answers and solutions。 The hardest part was fighting my real parents' dogma of 〃We can't afford that。〃 Or 〃Stop thinking only about yourself。〃 Or 〃Why don't you think about others？〃 and other such words designed to instill guilt to suppress my greed。
So how do you beat laziness？ The answer is a little greed。 It's that radio station WII…FM； which stands for 〃What's In It…For Me？〃 A person needs to sit down and ask； 〃What's in it for me if I'm healthy； sexy and good looking？〃 Or 〃What would my life be like if I never had to work again？〃 Or 〃What would I do if I had all the money I needed？〃 Without that little greed； the desire to have something better； progress is not made。 Our world progresses because we all desire a better life。 New inventions are made because we desire something better。 We go to school and study hard because we want something better。 So whenever you find yourself avoiding something you know you should be doing； then the only thing to ask yourself is 〃What's in it for me？〃 Be a little greedy。 It's the best cure for laziness。
Too much greed； however； as anything in excess can be； is not good。 But just remember what Michael Douglas said in the movie Wall Street。 〃Greed is good。〃 Rich dad said it differently： 〃Guilt is worse than greed。
For guilt robs the body of its soul。〃 And to me； Eleanor Roosevelt said it best： 〃Do what you feel in your heart to be right…for you'll be criticized anyway。 You'll be damned if you do； and damned if you don't。〃
Reason No。 4。 Habits。 Our lives are a reflection of our habits more than our education。 After seeing the movie Conan； starring Arnold Schwarzenegger； a friend said； 〃I'd love to have a body like Schwarzenegger。〃 Most of the guys nodded in agreement。
〃I even heard he was really puny and skinny at one time；〃 another friend added。
〃Yeah； I heard that too；〃 another one added。 〃I heard he has a habit of working out almost every day in the gym。〃
〃Yeah； I'll bet he has to。〃
〃Nah；〃 said the group cynic。 〃I'll bet he was born that way。 Besides； let's stop talking about Arnold and get some beers。〃
This is an example of habits controlling behavior。 I remember asking my rich dad about the habits of the rich。 Instead of answering me outright； he wanted me to learn through example； as usual。
〃When does your dad pay his bills？〃 rich dad asked。
〃The first of the month；〃 I said。
〃Does he have anything left over？〃 he asked。
〃Very little；〃 I said。
〃That's the main reason he struggles；〃 said rich dad。 〃He has bad habits。〃
〃Your dad pays everyone else first。 He pays himself last； but only if he has anything left over。〃
〃Which he usually doesn't；〃 I said。 〃But he has to pay his bills； doesn't he？ You're saying he shouldn't pay his bills？〃
〃Of course not；〃 said rich dad。 〃I firmly believe in paying my bills on time。 I just pay myself first。 Before I pay even the government。〃
〃But what happens if you don't have enough money？〃 I asked。 〃What do you do then？〃
〃The same；〃 said rich dad。 〃I still pay myself first。 Even if I'm short of money。 My asset column is far more important to me than the government。〃
〃But；〃 I said。 〃Don't they e after you？〃
〃Yes； if you don't pay；〃 said rich dad。 〃Look； I did not say not to pay。 I just said I pay myself first； even if I'm short of money。〃
〃But；〃 I replied。 〃How do you do that'〃
〃It's not how。 The question is 'Why；'〃 rich dad said。
〃OK； why？〃
〃Motivation；〃 said rich dad 〃Who do you think will plain louder if I don't pay them…me or my creditors？〃
〃Your creditors will definitely scream louder than you；〃 I said； responding to the obvious。 〃You wouldn't say anything if you didn't pay yourself。〃
〃So you see； after paying myself； the pressure to pay my taxes and the other creditors is so great that it forces me to seek other forms of ine。 The pressure to pay bees my motivation。 I've worked extra jobs； started other panies； traded in the stock market； anything just to make sure those guys don't start yelling at me。 That pressure made me work harder； forced me to think； and all in all made me smarter and more active when it es to money。 If I had paid myself last； I would have felt no pressure； but I'd be broke。〃
〃So it is the fear of the government or other people you owe money I to that motivates you？〃
〃That's right；〃 said rich dad。 〃You see； government bill collectors are big bullies。 So are bill collectors in general。 Most people give into these bullies。 They pay them and never pay themselves。 You know the story of the 96…pound 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 96…pound 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 used…car 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 day…by…day 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 million…dollar 〃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 God…given 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 super…human 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 deep…seated； 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；