富爸爸,穷爸爸(英文版)-第7章

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　also　covered　himself　by　always　saying；　〃I　work　because　I　love　my　job。〃
〃So　what　do　we　do？〃　I　asked。　〃Not　work　for　money　until　all　traces　of　fear　and　greed　are　gone？〃
〃No；　that　would　be　a　waste　of　time；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Emotions　are　what　make　us　human。　Make　us　real。　The　word　‘emotion'　stands　for　energy　in　motion。　Be　truthful　about　your　emotions；　and　use　your　mind　and　emotions　in　your　favor；　not　against　yourself。〃
〃Whoa！〃　said　Mike。
〃Don't　worry　about　what　I　just　said。　It　will　make　more　sense　in　years　to　e。　just　be　an　observer；　not　a　reactor；　to　your　emotions。　Most　people　do　not　know　that　it's　their　emotions　that　are　doing　the　thinking。　Your　emotions　are　your　emotions；　but　you　have　got　to　learn　to　do　your　own　thinking。〃
〃Can　you　give　me　an　example？〃　I　asked。
〃Sure；〃　replied　rich　dad。　〃When　a　person　says；　‘I　need　to　find　a　job；'　it's　most　likely　an　emotion　doing　the　thinking。　Fear　of　not　having　money　generates　that　thought。〃
〃But　people　do　need　money　if　they　have　bills　to　pay；〃　I　said。
〃Sure　they　do；〃　smiled　rich　dad。　〃All　I'm　saying　is　that　it's　fear　that　is　all　too　often　doing　the　thinking。〃
〃I　don't　understand；〃　said　Mike。
〃For　example；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃If　the　fear　of　not　having　enough　money　arises；　instead　of　immediately　running　out　to　get　a　job　so　they　can　earn　a　few　bucks　to　kill　the　fear；　they　instead　might　ask　themselves　this　question。　‘Will　a　job　be　the　best　solution　to　this　fear　over　the　long　run？'　In　my　opinion；　the　answer　is　‘no。'　Especially　when　you　look　over　a　person's　lifetime。　A　job　is　really　a　short…term　solution　to　a　long…term　problem。〃
〃But　my　dad　is　always　saying；　‘Stay　in　school；　get　good　grades；　so　you　can　find　a　safe；　secure　job。'　I　spoke　out；　somewhat　confused。
〃Yes；　I　understand　he　says　that；〃　said　rich　dad；　smiling。　〃Most　people　remend　that；　and　it's　a　good　idea　for　most　people。　But　people　make　that　remendation　primarily　out　of　fear。〃
〃You　mean　my　dad　says　that　because　he's　afraid？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃He's　terrified　that　you　won't　be　able　to　earn　money　and　won't　fit　into　society。　Don't　get　me　wrong。　He　loves　you　and　wants　the　best　for　you。　And　I　think　his　fear　is　justified。　An　education　and　a　job　are　important。　But　it　won't　handle　the　fear。　You　see；　that　same　fear　that　makes　him　get　up　in　the　morning　to　earn　a　few　bucks　is　the　fear　that　is　causing　him　to　be　so　fanatical　about　you　going　to　school。〃
〃So　what　do　you　remend？〃　I　asked。
〃I　want　to　teach　you　to　master　the　power　of　money。　Not　be　afraid　of　it。　And　they　don't　teach　that　in　school。　If　you　don't　learn　it；　you　bee　a　slave　to　money。〃
It　was　finally　making　sense。　He　did　want　us　to　widen　our　views。　To　。　see　what　Mrs。　Martin　could　not　see；　his　employees　could　not　see；　or　my　dad　for　that　matter。　He　used　examples　that　sounded　cruel　at　the　time；　but　I've　never　forgotten　them。　My　vision　widened　that　day；　and　I　could　begin　to　see　the　trap　that　lay　ahead　for　most　people。
〃You　see；　we're　all　employees　ultimately。　We　just　work　at　different　levels；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃I　just　want　you　boys　to　have　a　chance　to　avoid　the　trap。　The　trap　caused　by　those　two　emotions；　fear　and　desire。　Use　them　in　your　favor；　not　against　you。　That's　what　I　want　to　teach　you。　I'm　not　interested　in　just　teaching　you　to　make　a　pile　of　money。　That　won't　handle　the　fear　or　desire。　If　you　don't　first　handle　fear　and　desire；　and　you　get　rich；　you'll　only　be　a　high…paid　slave。〃
〃So　how　do　we　avoid　the　trap？〃　I　asked。
〃The　main　cause　of　poverty　or　financial　struggle　is　fear　and　ignorance；　not　the　economy　or　the　government　or　the　rich。　It's　selfinflicted　fear　and　ignorance　that　keeps　people　trapped。　So　you　boys　go　to　school　and　get　your　college　degrees。　I'll　teach　you　how　to　stay　out　of　the　trap。〃
The　pieces　of　the　puzzle　were　appearing。　My　highly　educated　dad　had　a　great　education　and　a　great　career。　But　school　never　told　him　how　to　handle　money　or　his　fears。　It　became　clear　that　I　could　learn　different　and　important　things　from　two　fathers。
〃So　you've　been　talking　about　the　fear　of　not　having　money。　How　does　the　desire　of　money　affect　our　thinking？〃　Mike　asked。
〃How　did　you　feel　when　I　tempted　you　with　a　pay　raise？　Did　you　notice　your　desires　rising？〃
We　nodded　our　heads。
〃By　not　giving　in　to　your　emotions；　you　were　able　to　delay　your　reactions　and　think。　That　is　most　important。　We　will　always　have　emotions　of　fear　and　greed。　From　here　on　in；　it　is　most　important　for　you　to　use　those　emotions　to　your　advantage　and　for　the　long　term；　and　not　simply　let　your　emotions　run　you　by　controlling　your　thinking。　Most　people　use　fear　and　greed　against　themselves。　That's　the　start　of　ignorance。　Most　people　live　their　lives　chasing　paychecks；　pay　raises　and　job　security　because　of　the　emotions　of　desire　and　fear；　not　really　questioning　where　those　emotion…driven　thoughts　are　leading　them。　It's　just　like　the　picture　of　a　donkey；　dragging　a　cart；　with　its　owner　dangling　a　carrot　just　in　front　of　the　donkey's　nose。　The　donkey's　owner　may　be　going　where　he　wants　to　go；　but　the　donkey　is　chasing　an　illusion。　Tomorrow　there　will　only　be　another　carrot　for　the　donkey。〃
〃You　mean　the　moment　I　began　to　picture　a　new　baseball　glove；　candy　and　toys；　that's　like　a　carrot　to　a　donkey？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Yeah。　And　as　you　get　older；　your　toys　get　more　expensive。　A　new　car；　a　boat　and　a　big　house　to　impress　your　friends；〃　said　rich　dad　with　a　smile。　〃Fear　pushes　you　out　the　door；　and　desire　calls　to　you。　Enticing　you　toward　the　rocks。　That's　the　trap。〃
〃So　what's　the　answer；〃　Mike　asked。
〃What　intensifies　fear　and　desire　is　ignorance。　That　is　why　rich　people　with　lots　of　money　often　have　more　fear　the　richer　they　get。　Money　is　the　carrot；　the　illusion。　If　the　donkey　could　see　the　whole　picture；　it　might　rethink　its　choice　to　chase　the　carrot。〃
Rich　dad　went　on　to　explain　that　a　human's　life　is　a　struggle　between　ignorance　and　illumination。
He　explained　that　once　a　person　stops　searching　for　information　and　knowledge　of　one's　self；　ignorance　sets　in。　That　struggle　is　a　moment…to…moment　decision…to　learn　to　open　or　close　one's　mind。
〃Look；　school　is　very；　very　important。　You　go　to　school　to　learn　a　skill　or　profession　so　as　to　be　a　contributing　member　of　society。　Every　culture　needs　teachers；　doctors；　mechanics；　artists；　cooks；　business　people；　police　officers；　firefighters；　soldiers。　Schools　train　them　so　our　culture　can　thrive　and　flourish；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Unfortunately；　for　many　people；　school　is　the　end；　not　the　beginning。〃
There　was　a　long　silence。　Rich　dad　was　smiling。　I　did　not　prehend　everything　he　said　that　day。　But　as　with　most　great　teachers；　whose　words　continue　to　teach　for　years；　often　long　after　they're　gone；　his　words　are　still　with　me　today。
〃I've　been　a　little　cruel　today；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Cruel　for　a　reason。　I　want　you　to　always　remember　this　talk。　I　want　you　to　always　think　of　Mrs。　Martin。　I　want　you　always　to　think　of　the　donkey。　Never　forget；　because　your　two　emotions；　fear　and　desire；　can　lead　you　into　life's　biggest　trap；　if　you're　not　aware　of　them　controlling　your　thinking。　To　spend　your　life　living　in　fear；　never　exploring　your　dreams；　is　cruel。　To　work　hard　for　money；　thinking　that　money　will　buy　you　things　that　will　make　you　happy　is　also　cruel。　To　wake　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night　terrified　about　paying　bills　is　a　horrible　way　to　live。　To　live　a　life　dictated　by　the　size　of　a　paycheck　is　not　really　a　life。　Thinking　that　a　job　will　make　you　feel　secure　is　lying　to　yourself。　That's　cruel；　and　that's　the　trap　I　want　you　to　avoid；　if　possible。　I've　seen　how　money　runs　people's　lives。　Don't　let　that　happen　to　you。　Please　don't　let　money　run　your　life。〃
A　softball　rolled　under　our　table。　Rich　dad　picked　it　up　and　threw　it　back。
〃So　what　does　ignorance　have　to　do　with　greed　and　fear？〃　I　asked。
〃Because　it　is　ignorance　about　money　that　causes　so　much　greed　and　so　much　fear；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Let　me　give　you　some　examples。　A　doctor；　wanting　more　money　to　better　provide　for　his　family；　raises　his　fees。　By　raising　his　fees；　it　makes　health　care　more　expensive　for　everyone。　Now；　it　hurts　the　poor　people　the　most；　so　poor　people　have　worse　health　than　those　with　money。
〃Because　the　doctors　raise　their　rates；　the　attorneys　raise　their　rates。　Because　the　attorneys'　rates　have　gone　up；　schoolteachers　want　a　raise；　which　raises　our　taxes；　and　on　and　on　and　on。　Soon；　there　will　be　such　a　horrifying　gap　between　the　rich　and　the　poor　that　chaos　will　break　out　and　another　great　civilization　will　collapse。　Great　civilizations　collapsed　when　the　gap　between　the　haves　and　havenots　was　too　great。　America　is　on　the　same　course；　proving　once　again　that　history　repeats　itself；　because　we　do　not　learn　from　history。　We　only　memorize　historical　dates　and　names；　not　the　lesson。
〃Aren't　prices　supposed　to　go　up？〃　I　asked。
〃Not　in　an　educated　society　with　a　well…run　government。　Prices　should　actually　e　down。　Of　course；　that　is　often　only　true　in　theory。　Prices　go　up　because　of　greed　and　fear　caused　by　ignorance。　If　schools　taught　people　about　money；　there　would　be　more　money　and　lower　prices；　but　schools　focus　only　on　teaching　people　to　work　for　money；　not　how　to　harness　money's　power。〃
〃But　don't　we　have　business　schools？〃　Mike　asked。　〃Aren't　you　encouraging　me　to　go　to　business　school　for　my　master's　degree？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃But　all　too　often；　business　schools　train　employees　who　are　sophisticated　bean　counters。　Heaven　forbid　a　bean　counter　takes　over　a　business。　All　they　do　is　look　at　the　numbers；　fire　people　and　kill　the　business。　I　know　because　I　hire　bean　counters。　All　they　think　about　is　cutting　costs　and　raising　prices；　which　cause　more　problems。　Bean　counting　is　important。　I　wish　more　people　knew　it；　but　it；　too；　is　not　the　whole　picture；〃　added　rich　dad　angrily。
〃So　is　there　an　answer？〃　asked　Mike。
〃Yes；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Learn　to　use　your　emotions　to　think；　not　think　with　your　emotions。　When　you　boys　mastered　your　emotions；　first　by　agreeing　to　work　for　free；　I　knew　there　was　hope。　When　you　again　resisted　your　emotions　when　I　tempted　you　with　more　money；　you　were　again　learning　to　think　in　spite　of　being　emotionally　charged。　That's　the　first　step。〃
〃Why　is　that　step　so　important〃　I　asked。
〃Well；　that's　up　to　you　to　find　out。　If　you　want　to　learn；　I'll　take　you　boys　into　the　briar　patch。　That　place　where　almost　everyone　else　avoids。　I'll　take　you　to　that　place　where　most　people　are　afraid　to　go。　If　you　go　with　me；　you'll　let　go　of　the　idea　of　working　for　money　and　instead　learn　to　have　money　work　for　you。〃
〃And　what　will　we　get　if　we　go　with　you。　What　if　we　agree　to　learn　from　you？　What　will　we　get？〃　I　asked。
〃The　same　thing　Briar　Rabbit　got；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Freedom　from　the　Tar　Baby。〃
〃Is　there　a　briar　patch？〃　I　asked。
〃Yes；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃The　briar　patch　is　our　fear　and　our　greed。　Going　into　our　fear　and　confronting　our　greed；　our　weaknesses；　our　neediness　is　the　way　out。　And　the　way　out　is　through　the　mind；　by　choosing　our　thoughts。〃
〃Choosing　our　thoughts？〃　Mike　asked；　puzzled。
〃Yes。　Choosing　what　we　think　rather　than　reacting　to　our　emotions。　Instead　of　just　getting　up　and　going　to　work　to　solve　your　problems；　just　because　the　fear　of　not　having　the　money　to　pay　your　bills　is　scaring　you。　Thinking　would　be　taking　the　time　to　ask　yourself　a　question。　A　question　like；　‘Is　working　harder　at　this　the　best　solution　to　this　problem？'　Most　people　are　so　terrified　at　not　telling　themselves　the　truth…that　fear　is　in　control…that　they　cannot　think；　and　instead　run　out　the　door。　Tar　baby　is　in　control。　That's　what　I　mean　by　choosing　your　thoughts。〃
〃And　how　do　we　do　that？〃　Mike　asked。
〃That's　what　I　will　be　teaching　you。　I'll　be　teaching　you　to　have　a　choice　of　thoughts　to　consider；　rather　than　knee…jerk　reacting；　like　gulping　down　your　morning　coffee　and　running　out　the　door。
〃Remember　what　I　said　before：　A　job　is　only　a　short…term　solution　to　a　long…term　problem。　Most　people　have　only　one　problem　in　mind；　and　it's　short　term。　It's　the　bills　at　the　end　of　the　month；　the　Tar　Baby。　Money　now　runs　their　lives。　Or　should　I　say　the　fear　and　ignorance　about　money。　So　they　do　as　their　parents　did；　get　up　every　day　and　go　work　for　money。　Not　having　the　time　to　say；　‘Is　there　another　way？'　Their　emotions　now　control　their　thinking；　not　their　heads。〃
〃Can　you　tell　the　difference　between　emotions　thinking　and　the　head　thinking？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Oh；　yes。　I　hear　it　all　the　time；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃I　hear　things　like；　‘Well；　everyone　has　to　work。'　Or　‘The　rich　are　crooks。'　Or　‘I'll　get　another　job。　I　deserve　this　raise。　You　can't　push　me　around。'　Or　‘I　like　this　job　because　it's　secure。'　Instead　of；　‘Is　there　something　I'm　missing　here？'　which　breaks　the　emotional　thought；　and　gives　you　time　to　think　clearly。〃
I　must　admit；　it　was　a　great　lesson　to　be　getting。　To　know　when　someone　was　speaking　out　of　emotions　or　out　of　clear　thought。　It　was　a　lesson　that　served　me　well　for　life。　Especially　when　I　was　the　one　speaking　out　of　reaction　and　not　from　clear　thought。
As　we　headed　back　to　the　store；　rich　dad　explained　that　the　rich　really　did　〃make　money。〃　They　did　not　work　for　it。　He　went　on　to　explain　that　when　Mike　and　I　were　casting　5…cent　pieces　out　of　lead；　thinking　we　were　making　money；　we　were　very　close　to　thinking　the　way　the　rich　think。　The　problem　was　that　it　was　illegal　for　us　to　do　it。　It　was　legal