富爸爸,穷爸爸(英文版)-第6章

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I　nodded　my　head　slowly。
〃As　I　said；　there　is　a　lot　to　learn。　Learning　how　to　have　money　work　for　you　is　a　lifetime　study。　Most　people　go　to　college　for　four　years；　and　their　education　ends。　I　already　know　that　my　study　of　money　will　continue　over　my　lifetime；　simply　because　the　more　I　Find　out；　the　more　I　find　out　I　need　to　know。　Most　people　never　study　the　subject。　They　go　to　work；　get　their　paycheck；　balance　their　checkbooks；　and　that's　it。　On　top　of　that；　they　wonder　why　they　have　money　problems。　Then；　they　think　that　more　money　will　solve　the　problem。　Few　realize　that　it's　their　lack　of　financial　education　that　is　the　problem。〃
〃So　my　dad　has　tax　problems　because　he　doesn't　understand　money？〃　I　asked；　confused。
〃Look；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Taxes　are　just　one　small　section　on　learning　how　to　have　money　work　for　you。　Today；　I　just　wanted　to　find　out　if　you　still　have　the　passion　to　learn　about　money。　Most　people　don't。　They　want　to　go　to　school；　learn　a　profession；　have　fun　at　their　work；　and　earn　lots　of　money。　One　day　they　wake　up　with　big　money　problems；　and　then　they　can't　stop　working。　That's　the　price　of　only　knowing　how　to　work　for　money　instead　of　studying　how　to　have　money　work　for　you。　So　do　you　still　have　the　passion　to　learn？〃　asked　rich　dad。
I　nodded　my　head。
〃Good；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Now　get　back　to　work。　This　time；　I　will　pay　you　nothing。〃
〃What？〃　I　asked　in　amazement。
〃You　heard　me。　Nothing。　You　will　work　the　same　three　hours　every
Saturday；　but　this　time　you　will　not　be　paid　10　cents　per　hour。　You　said　you　wanted　to　learn　to　not　work　for　money；　so　I'm　not　going　to　pay　you　anything。〃
I　couldn't　believe　what　I　was　hearing。
〃I've　already　had　this　conversation　with　Mike。　He's　already　working；　dusting　and　stacking　canned　goods　for　free。　You'd　better　hurry　and　get　back　there。〃
〃That's　not　fair；〃　I　shouted。　〃You've　got　to　pay　something。〃
〃You　said　you　wanted　to　learn。　If　you　don't　learn　this　now；　you'll　grow　up　to　be　like　the　two　women　and　the　older　man　sitting　in　my　living　room；　working　for　money　and　hoping　I　don't　fire　them。　Or　like　your　dad；　earning　lots　of　money　only　to　be　in　debt　up　to　his　eyeballs；　hoping　more　money　will　solve　the　problem。　If　that's　what　you　want；　I'll　go　back　to　our　original　deal　of　10　cents　an　hour。　Or　you　can　do　what　most　people　grow　up　to　do。　plain　that　there　is　not　enough　pay；　quit　and　go　looking　for　another　job。〃
〃But　what　do　I　do？〃　I　asked。
Rich　dad　tapped　me　on　the　head。　〃Use　this；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　use　it　well；　you　will　soon　thank　me　for　giving　you　an　opportunity；　and　you　will　grow　into　a　rich　man。〃
I　stood　there　still　not　believing　what　a　raw　deal　I　had　been　handed。　Here　I　came　to　ask　for　a　raise；　and　now　I　was　being　told　to　keep　working　for　nothing。
Rich　dad　tapped　me　on　the　head　again　and　said；　〃Use　this。　Now　get　out　of　here　and　get　back　to　work。〃
LESSON　#l：　The　Rich　Don't　Work　For　Money

I　didn't　tell　my　poor　dad　I　wasn't　being　paid。　He　would　not　have　understood；　and　I　did　not　want　to　try　to　explain　something　that　I　did　not　yet　understand　myself。
For　three　more　weeks；　Mike　and　I　worked　for　three　hours；　every　Saturday；　for　nothing。　The　work　didn't　bother　me；　and　the　routine　got　easier。　It　was　the　missed　baseball　games　and　not　being　able　to　afford　to　buy　a　few　ic　books　that　got　to　me。
Rich　dad　stopped　by　at　noon　on　the　third　week。　We　heard　his　truck　pull　up　in　the　parking　lot　and　sputter　when　the　engine　was　turned　off。　He　entered　the　store　and　greeted　Mrs。　Martin　with　a　hug。　After　finding　out　how　things　were　going　in　the　store；　he　reached　into　the　ice…cream　freezer；　pulled　out　two　bars；　paid　for　them；　and　signalled　to　Mike　and　me。
〃Let's　go　for　a　walk　boys。〃
We　crossed　the　street；　dodging　a　few　cars；　and　walked　across　a　large　grassy　field；　where　a　few　adults　were　playing　softball。　Sitting　down　at　a　remote　picnic　table；　he　handed　Mike　and　me　the　ice…cream　bars。
〃How's　it　going　boys？〃
〃OK；〃　Mike　said。
I　nodded　in　agreement。
〃Learn　anything　yet？〃　rich　dad　asked。
Mike　and　I　looked　at　each　other；　shrugged　our　shoulders　and　shook　our　heads　in　unison。

Avoiding　One　of　Life's　Biggest　Traps

〃Well；　you　boys　had　better　start　thinking。　You're　staring　at　one　of　life's　biggest　lessons。　If　you　learn　the　lesson；　you'll　enjoy　a　life　of　great　freedom　and　security。　If　you　don't　learn　the　lesson；　you'll　wind　up　like　Mrs。　Martin　and　most　of　the　people　playing　softball　in　this　park。　They　work　very　hard；　for　little　money；　clinging　to　the　illusion　of　job　security；　looking　forward　to　a　three…week　vacation　each　year　and　a　skimpy　pension　after　forty…five　years　of　work。　If　that　excites　you；　I'll　give　you　a　raise　to　25　cents　an　hour。〃
〃But　these　are　good　hard…working　people。　Are　you　making　fun　of　them？〃　I　demanded。
A　smile　came　over　rich　dad's　face。
〃Mrs。　Martin　is　like　a　mother　to　me。　I　would　never　be　that　cruel。　I　may　sound　cruel　because　I'm　doing　my　best　to　point　something　out　to　the　two　of　you。　I　want　to　expand　your　point　of　view　so　you　can　see　something。　Something　most　people　never　have　the　benefit　of　seeing　because　their　vision　is　too　narrow。　Most　people　never　see　the　trap　they　are　in。〃
Mike　and　I　sat　there　uncertain　of　his　message。　He　sounded　cruel；　yet　we　could　sense　he　was　desperately　wanting　us　to　know　something。
With　a　smile；　rich　dad　said；　〃Doesn't　that　25　cents　an　hour　sound　good？　Doesn't　it　make　your　heart　beat　a　little　faster。〃
I　shook　my　head　〃no；〃　but　it　really　did。　Twenty　five　cents　an　hour　would　be　big　bucks　to　me。
〃OK；　I'll　pay　you　a　dollar　an　hour；〃　rich　dad　said；　with　a　sly　grin。
Now　my　heart　was　beginning　to　race。　My　brain　was　screaming；
An
〃Take　it。　Take　it。〃　I　could　not　believe　what　I　was　hearing。　Still；　I　said　nothing。
〃OK；　2　an　hour。〃
My　little　9…year…old　brain　and　heart　nearly　exploded。　After　all；　it　was　1956　and　being　paid　2　an　hour　would　have　made　me　the　richest　kid　in　the　world。　I　couldn't　imagine　earning　that　kind　of　money。　I　wanted　to　say　〃yes。〃　I　wanted　the　deal。　I　could　see　a　new　bicycle；　new　baseball　glove；　and　adoration　of　my　friends　when　I　flashed　some　cash。　On　top　of　that；　Jimmy　and　his　rich　friends　could　never　call　me　poor　again。　But　somehow　my　mouth　stayed　silent。
Maybe　my　brain　had　overheated　and　blown　a　fuse。　But　deep　down；　I　badly　wanted　that　2　an　hour。
The　ice　cream　had　melted　and　was　running　down　my　hand。　The　ice…cream　stick　was　empty；　and　under　it　was　a　sticky　mess　of　vanilla　and　chocolate　that　ants　were　enjoying。　Rich　dad　was　looking　at　two　boys　staring　back　at　him；　eyes　wide　open　and　brains　empty。　He　knew　he　was　testing　us；　and　he　knew　there　was　a　part　of　our　emotions　that　wanted　to　take　the　deal。　He　knew　that　each　human　being　has　a　weak　and　needy　part　of　their　soul　that　can　be　bought。　And　he　knew　that　each　human　being　also　had　a　part　of　their　soul　that　was　strong　and　filled　with　a　resolve　that　could　never　be　bought。　It　was　only　a　question　of　which　one　was　stronger。　He　had　tested　thousands　of　souls　in　his　life。　He　tested　souls　every　time　he　interviewed　someone　for　a　job。
〃OK；　5　an　hour。〃
Suddenly　there　was　a　silence　from　inside　me。　Something　had　changed。　The　offer　was　too　big　and　had　gotten　ridiculous。　Not　too　many　grownups　in　1956　made　more　than　5　an　hour。　The　temptation　disappeared；　and　a　calm　set　in。　Slowly　I　turned　to　my　left　to　look　at　Mike。　He　looked　back　at　me。　The　part　of　my　soul　that　was　weak　and　needy　was　silenced。　The　part　of　me　that　had　no　price　took　over。　There　was　a　calm　and　a　certainty　about　money　that　entered　my　brain　and　my　soul。　I　knew　Mike　had　gotten　to　that　point　also。

〃Good；〃　rich　dad　said　softly。　〃Most　people　have　a　price。　And　they　have　a　price　because　of　human　emotions　named　fear　and　greed。　First；　the　fear　of　being　without　money　motivates　us　to　work　hard；　and　then　once　we　get　that　paycheck；　greed　or　desire　starts　us　thinking　about　all　the　wonderful　things　money　can　buy。　The　pattern　is　then　set。〃
〃What　pattern？〃　I　asked。
〃The　pattern　of　get　up；　go　to　work；　pay　bills；　get　up；　go　to　work；　pay　bills。。。　Their　lives　are　then　run　forever　by　two　emotions；　fear　and　greed。　Offer　them　more　money；　and　they　continue　the　cycle　by　also　increasing　their　spending。　This　is　what　I　call　the　Rat　Race。〃
〃There　is　another　way？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Yes；〃　said　rich　dad　slowly。　〃But　only　a　few　people　find　it。〃
〃And　what　is　that　way？〃　Mike　asked。
〃That's　what　I　hope　you　boys　will　find　out　as　you　work　and　study　with　me。　That　is　why　I　took　away　all　forms　of　pay。〃
〃Any　hints？〃　Mike　asked。　〃We're　kind　of　tired　of　working　hard；　especially　for　nothing。〃
〃Well；　the　first　step　is　telling　the　truth；〃　said　rich　dad。
〃We　haven't　been　lying。〃　I　said。
〃I　did　not　say　you　were　lying。　I　said　to　tell　the　truth；〃　rich　dad　came
back。
〃The　truth　about　what？〃　I　asked。
〃How　you're　feeling；〃　rich　dad　said。　〃You　don't　have　to　say　it　to　anyone　else。　Just　yourself。〃
〃You　mean　the　people　in　this　park；　the　people　who　work　for　you；　Mrs。　Martin；　they　don't　do　that？〃　I　asked。
〃I　doubt　it；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Instead；　they　feel　the　fear　of　not　having　money。　Instead　of　confronting　the　fear；　they　react　instead　of　think。　They　react　emotionally　instead　of　using　their　heads；〃　rich　dad　said；　tapping　us　on　our　heads。　〃'Then；　they　get　a　few　bucks　in　their　hands；　and　again　the　emotion　of　joy　and　desire　and　greed　take　over；　and　again　they　react；　instead　of　think。〃
〃So　their　emotions　do　their　thinking；〃　Mike　said。
〃That's　correct；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Instead　of　telling　the　truth　about　how　they　feel；　they　react　to　their　feeling；　fail　to　think。　They　feel　the　fear；　they　go　to　work；　hoping　that　money　will　soothe　the　fear；　but　it　doesn't。　That　old　fear　haunts　them；　and　they　go　back　to　work；　hoping　again　that　money　will　calm　their　fears；　and　again　it　doesn't。　Fear　has　them　in　this　trap　of　working；　earning　money；　working；　earning　money；　hoping　the　fear　will　go　away。　But　every　day　they　get　up；　and　that　old　fear　wakes　up　with　them。　For　millions　of　people；　that　old　fear　keeps　them　awake　all　night；　causing　a　night　of　turmoil　and　worry。　So　they　get　up　and　go　to　work；　hoping　that　a　paycheck　will　kill　that　fear　gnawing　at　their　soul。　Money　is　running　their　lives；　and　they　refuse　to　tell　the　truth　about　that。
Money　is　in　control　of　their　emotions　and　hence　their　souls。〃
Rich　dad　sat　quietly；　letting　his　words　sink　in。　Mike　and　I　heard　what　he　said；　but　really　did　not　understand　fully　what　he　was　talking　about。　I　just　knew　that　I　often　wondered　why　grownups　hurried　off　to　work。　It　did　not　seem　like　much　fun；　and　they　never　looked　that　happy；　but　something　kept　them　hurrying　off　to　work。
Realizing　we　had　absorbed　as　much　as　possible　of　what　he　was　talking　about；　rich　dad　said；　〃I　want　you　boys　to　avoid　that　trap。　That　is　really　what　I　want　to　teach　you。　Not　just　to　be　rich；　because　being　rich　does　not　solve　the　problem。〃
〃It　doesn't？〃　I　asked；　surprised。
〃No；　it　doesn't。　Let　me　finish　the　other　emotion；　which　is　desire。　Some　call　it　greed；　but　I　prefer　desire。　It　is　perfectly　normal　to　desire　something　better；　prettier；　more　fun　or　exciting。　So　people　also　work　for　money　because　of　desire。　They　desire　money　for　the　joy　they　think　it　can　buy。　But　the　joy　that　money　brings　is　often　short　lived；　and　they　soon　need　more　money　for　more　joy；　more　pleasure；　more　fort；　more　security。　So　they　keep　working；　thinking　money　will　soothe　their　souls　that　is　troubled　by　fear　and　desire。　But　money　cannot　do　that。〃
〃Even　rich　people？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Rich　people　included；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃In　fact；　the　reason　many　rich　people　are　rich　is　not　because　of　desire　but　because　of　fear。　They　actually　think　that　money　can　eliminate　that　fear　of　not　having　money；　of　being　poor；　so　they　amass　tons　of　it　only　tofind　out　the　fear　gets　worse。　They　now　fear　losing　it。　I　have　friends　who　keep　working　even　though　they　have　plenty。　I　know　people　who　have　millions　who　are　more　afraid　now　than　when　they　were　poor。　They're　terrified　of　losing　all　their　money。　The　fears　that　drove　them　to　get　rich　got　worse。　That　weak　and　needy　part　of　their　soul　is　actually　screaming　louder。　They　don't　want　to　lose　the　big　houses；　the　cars；　the　high　life　that　money　has　bought　them。　They　worry　about　what　their　friends　would　say　if　they　lost　all　their　money。　Many　are　emotionally　desperate　and　neurotic；　although　they　look　rich　and　have　more　money。〃
〃So　is　a　poor　man　happier？〃　I　asked。
〃No；　I　don't　think　so；〃　replied　rich　dad。　〃The　avoidance　of　money　is　just　as　psychotic　as　being　attached　to　money。〃
As　if　on　cue；　the　town　derelict　went　past　our　table；　stopping　by　the　large　rubbish　can　and　rummaging　around　in　it。　The　three　of　us　watched　him　with　great　interest；　when　before　we　probably　would　have　just　ignored　him。
Rich　dad　pulled　a　dollar　out　of　his　wallet　and　gestured　to　the　older　man。　Seeing　the　money；　the　derelict　came　over　immediately；　took　the　bill；　thanked　rich　dad　profusely　and　hurried　off　ecstatic　with　his　good　fortune。
〃He's　not　much　different　from　most　of　my　employees；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃I've　met　so　many　people　who　say；　‘Oh；　I'm　not　interested　in　money。'　Yet　they'll　work　at　a　job　for　eight　hours　a　day。　That's　a　denial　of　truth。　If　they　weren't　interested　in　money；　then　why　are　they　working？　That　kind　of　thinking　is　probably　more　psychotic　than　a　person　who　hoards　money。〃
As　I　sat　there　listening　to　my　rich　dad；　my　mind　was　flashing　back　to　the　countless　times　my　own　dad　said；　〃I'm　not　interested　in　money。〃　He　said　those　words　often。　He　also