富爸爸,穷爸爸(英文版)-第8章

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　thinking　the　way　the　rich　think。　The　problem　was　that　it　was　illegal　for　us　to　do　it。　It　was　legal　for　the　government　and　banks　to　do　it；　but　not　us。　He　explained　that　there　are　legal　ways　to　make　money　and　illegal　ways。
Rich　dad　went　on　to　explain　that　the　rich　know　that　money　is　an　illusion；　truly　like　the　carrot　for　the　donkey。　It's　only　out　of　fear　and　greed　that　the　illusion　of　money　is　held　together　by　billions　of　people　thinking　that　money　is　real。　Money　is　really　made　up。　It　was　only　because　of　the　illusion　of　confidence　and　the　ignorance　of　the　masses　that　the　house　of　cards　stood　standing。　〃In　fact；〃　he　said；　〃in　many　ways　the　donkey's　carrot　was　more　valuable　than　money。〃
He　talked　about　the　gold　standard　that　America　was　on；　and　that　each　dollar　bill　was　actually　a　silver　certificate。　What　concerned　him　was　the　rumor　that　we　would　someday　go　off　the　gold　standard　and　our　dollars　would　no　longer　be　silver　certificates。
〃When　that　happens；　boys；　all　hell　is　going　to　break　loose。　The　poor；　the　middle　class　and　the　ignorant　will　have　their　lives　ruined　simply　because　they　will　continue　to　believe　that　money　is　real　and　that　the　pany　they　work　for；　or　the　government；　will　look　after　them。〃
We　really　did　not　understand　what　he　was　saying　that　day；　but　over　the　years　it　made　more　and　more　sense。
Seeing　What　Others　Miss

As　he　climbed　into　his　pickup　truck；　outside　of　his　little　convenience　store；　he　said；　〃Keep　working　boys；　but　the　sooner　you　forget　about　needing　a　paycheck；　the　easier　your　adult　life　will　be。　Keep　using　your　brain；　work　for　free；　and　soon　your　mind　will　show　you　ways　of　making　money　far　beyond　what　I　could　ever　pay　you。　You　will　see　things　that　other　people　never　see。　Opportunities　right　in　front　of　their　noses。　Most　people　never　see　these　opportunities　because　they're　looking　for　money　and　security；　so　that's　all　they　get。　The　moment　you　see　one　opportunity；　you　will　see　them　for　the　rest　of　your　life。　The　moment　you　do　that；　I'll　teach　you　something　else。　Learn　this；　and　you'll　avoid　one　of　life's　biggest　traps。　You'll　never；　ever；　touch　that　Tar　Baby。〃
Mike　and　I　picked　up　our　things　from　the　store　and　waved　goodbye　to　Mrs。　Martin。　We　went　back　to　the　park；　to　the　same　picnic　bench；　and　spent　several　more　hours　thinking　and　talking。
We　spent　the　next　week　at　school；　thinking　and　talking。　For　two　more　weeks；　we　kept　thinking；　talking；　and　working　for　free。
At　the　end　of　the　second　Saturday；　I　was　again　saying　goodbye　to　Mrs。　Martin　and　looking　at　the　ic…book　stand　with　a　longing　gaze。　The　hard　thing　about　not　even　getting　30　cents　every　Saturday　was　that　I　didn't　have　any　money　to　buy　ic　books。　Suddenly；　as　Mrs。　Martin　was　saying　goodbye　to　Mike　and　me；　I　saw　something　she　was　doing　that　I　had　never　seen　her　do　before。　I　mean；　I　had　seen　her　do　it；　but　I　never　took　notice　of　it。
Mrs。　Martin　was　cutting　the　front　page　of　the　ic　book　in　half。　She　was　keeping　the　top　half　of　the　ic　book　cover　and　throwing　the　rest　of　the　ic　book　into　a　large　brown　cardboard　box。　When　I　asked　her　what　she　did　with　the　ic　books；　she　said；　〃I　throw　them　away。　I　give　the　top　half　of　the　cover　back　to　the　ic…book　distributor　for　credit　when　he　brings　in　the　new　ics。　He's　ing　in　an　hour。〃
Mike　and　I　waited　for　an　hour。　Soon　the　distributor　arrived　and　I　asked　him　if　we　could　have　the　ic　books。　To　which　he　replied；　〃You　can　have　them　if　you　work　for　this　store　and　do　not　resell　them。〃
Our　partnership　was　revived。　Mike's　mom　had　a　spare　room　in　the　basement　that　no　one　used。　We　cleaned　it　out；　and　began　piling　hundreds　of　ic　books　in　that　room。　Soon　our　ic…book　library　was　open　to　the　public。　We　hired　Mike's　younger　sister；　who　loved　to　study；　to　be　head　librarian。　She　charged　each　child　10　cents　admission　to　the　library；　which　was　open　from　2：30　to　4：30　p。m。　every　day　after　school。　The　customers；　the　children　of　the　neighborhood；　could　read　as　many　ics　as　they　could　in　two　hours。　It　was　a　bargain　for　them　since　a　ic　costs　10　cents　each；　and　they　could　read　five　or　six　in　two　hours。
Mike's　sister　would　check　the　kids　as　they　left；　to　make　sure　they　weren't　borrowing　any　ic　books。　She　also　kept　the　books；　logging　in　how　many　kids　showed　up　each　day；　who　they　were；　and　any　ments　they　might　have。　Mike　and　I　averaged　9。50　per　week　over　a　threemonth　period。　We　paid　his　sister　1　a　week　and　allowed　her　to　read　the　ics　for　free；　which　she　rarely　did　since　she　was　always　studying。
Mike　and　F　kept　our　agreement　by　working　in　the　store　every　Saturday　and　collecting　all　the　ic　books　from　the　different　stores。　We　kept　our　agreement　to　the　distributor　by　not　selling　any　ic　books。　We　burned　them　once　they　got　too　tattered。　We　tried　opening　a　branch　office；　but　eone　as　dedicated　as　Mike's　sister　we　could　trust。
At　an　early　age；　we　found　out　how　hard　it　was　to　find　good　staff。
Three　months　after　the　library　first　opened；　a　fight　broke　out　in　the　room。　Some　bullies　from　another　neighborhood　pushed　their　way　in　and　started　it。　Mike's　dad　suggested　we　shut　down　the　business。　So　our　ic…book　business　shut　down；　and　we　stopped　working　on　Saturdays　at　the　convenience　store。　Anyway；　rich　dad　was　excited　because　he　had　new　things　he　wanted　to　teach　us。　He　was　happy　because　we　had　learned　our　first　lesson　so　well。　We　had　learned　to　have　money　work　for　us。　By　not　getting　paid　for　our　work　at　the　store；　we　were　forced　to　use　our　imaginations　to　identify　an　opportunity　to　make　money。　By　starting　our　own　business；　the　ic…book　library；　we　were　in　control　of　our　own　finances；　not　dependent　on　an　employer。　The　best　part　was　that　our　business　generated　money　for　us；　even　when　we　weren't　physically　there。　Our　money　worked　for　us。　Instead　of　paying　us　money；　rich　dad　had　given　us　so　much　more。

CHAPTER　THREE　
Lesson　Two：Why　Teach　Financial　Literacy？

In　1990；　my　best　friend；　Mike；　took　over　his　father's　empire　and　is；　in　fact；　doing　a　better　job　than　his　dad　did。　We　see　each　other　once　or　twice　a　year　on　the　golf　course。　He　and　his　wife　are　wealthier　than　you　could　imagine。　Rich　dad's　empire　is　in　great　hands；　and　Mike　is　now　grooming　his　son　to　take　his　place；　as　his　dad　had　groomed　us。
In　1994；　I　retired　at　the　age　of　47；　and　my　wife；　Kim；　was　37。　Retirement　does　not　mean　not　working。　To　my　wife　and　me；　it　means　that　barring　unforeseen　cataclysmic　changes；　we　can　work　or　not　work；　and　our　wealth　grows　automatically；　staying　way　ahead　of　inflation。　I　guess　it　means　freedom。　The　assets　are　large　enough　to　grow　by　themselves。　It's　like　planting　a　tree。　You　water　it　for　years　and　then　one　day　it　doesn't　need　you　anymore。　It's　roots　have　gone　down　deep　enough。　Then；　the　tree　provides　shade　for　your　enjoyment。
Mike　chose　to　run　the　empire　and　I　chose　to　retire。
Whenever　I　speak　to　groups　of　people；　they　often　ask　what　I　would　remend　or　what　could　they　do？　〃How　do　they　get　started？〃　〃Is　there　a　good　book　I　would　remend？〃　〃What　should　they　do　to　prepare　their　children？〃　〃What　is　the　secret　to　success？〃　〃How　do　I　make　millions？〃　I　am　always　reminded　of　this　article　I　was　once　given。　It　goes　as　follows。

THE　RICHEST　BUSINESSMEN

In　1923　a　group　of　our　greatest　leaders　and　richest　businessmen　held　a　meeting　at　the　Edgewater　Beach　hotel　in　Chicago。　Among　them　were　Charles　Schwab；　head　of　the　largest　independent　steel　pany；　Samuel　Instill；　president　of　the　world's　largest　utility；　Howard　Hopson；　head　of　the　largest　gas　pany；　Ivar　Kreuger　president　of　the　International　Match　Co。；　one　of　the　world's　largest　panies　at　that　time；　Leon　Frazier；　president　of　the　Bank　of　International　Settlements；　Richard　Whitney；　president　of　the　New　York　Stock　Exchange；　Arthur　Cotton　and　Jesse　Livermore；　two　of　the　biggest　stock　speculators；　and　Albert　Fall；　a　member　of　President　Harding's　cabi。　Twenty　five　years　later　nine　of　them　（those　listed　above）　ended　as　follows。　Schwab　died　penniless　after　living　for　five　years　on　borrowed　money。　Instill　died　broke　living　in　a　foreign　land。　Kreuger　and　Cotton　also　died　broke。　Hopson　went　insane。　Whitney　and　Albert　Fall　were　just　released　from　prison。　Fraser　and　Livermore　mitted　suicide。

I　doubt　if　anyone　can　say　what　really　happened　to　these　men。　If　you　look　at　the　date；　1923；　it　was　just　before　the　1929　market　crash　and　the　Great　Depression；　which　I　suspect　had　a　great　impact　on　these　men　and　their　lives。　The　point　is　this：　Today　we　live　in　times　of　greater　and　faster　change　than　these　men　did。　I　suspect　there　will　be　many　booms　and　busts　in　the　next　25　years　that　will　parallel　the　ups　and　downs　these　men　faced。　I　am　concerned　that　too　many　people　are　focused　too　much　on　money　and　not　their　greatest　wealth；　which　is　their　education。　If　people　are　prepared　to　be　flexible；　keep　an　open　mind　and　learn；　they　will　grow　richer　and　richer　through　the　changes。　If　they　think　money　will　solve　problems；　I　am　afraid　those　people　will　have　a　rough　ride。　Intelligence　solves　problems　and　produces　money。　Money　without　financial　intelligence　is　money　soon　gone。

Most　people　fail　to　realize　that　in　life；　it's　not　how　much　money　you　make；　it's　how　much　money　you　keep。　We　have　all　heard　stories　of　lottery　winners　who　are　poor；　then　suddenly　rich；　then　poor　again。　They　win　millions　and　are　soon　back　to　where　they　started。　Or　stories　of　professional　athletes；　who；　at　the　age　of　24；　are　earning　millions　of　dollars　a　year；　and　are　sleeping　under　a　bridge　by　age　34。　In　the　paper　this　morning；　as　I　write　this；　there　is　a　story　of　a　young　basketball　player　who　a　year　ago　had　millions。　Today；　he　claims　his　friends；　attorney　and　accountant　took　his　money；　and　now　he　works　at　a　car　wash　for　minimum　wage。

He　is　only　29。　He　was　fired　from　the　car　wash　because　he　refused　to　take　off　his　championship　ring　as　he　was　wiping　off　the　cars；　so　his　story　made　the　newspaper。　He　is　appealing　his　termination；　claiming　hardship　and　discrimination　and　that　the　ring　is　all　he　has　left。　He　claims　that　if　you　take　that　away；　he'll　crumble。

In　1997；　I　know　so　many　people　who　are　being　instant　millionaires。　It's　the　Roaring　'20s　one　more　time。　And　while　I　am　glad　people　have　been　getting　richer　and　richer；　I　only　caution　that　in　the　long　run；　it's　not　how　much　you　make；　it's　how　much　you　keep；　and　how　many　generations　you　keep　it。

So　when　people　ask；　〃Where　do　I　get　started？〃　or　〃Tell　me　how　to　get　rich　quick；〃　they　often　are　greatly　disappointed　with　my　answer。　I　simply　say　to　them　what　my　rich　dad　said　back　to　me　when　I　was　a　little　kid。　〃If　you　want　to　be　rich；　you　need　to　be　financially　literate。〃

That　idea　was　drummed　into　my　head　every　time　we　were　together。　As　I　said；　my　educated　dad　stressed　the　importance　of　reading　books；　while　my　rich　dad　stressed　the　need　to　master　financial　literacy。

If　you　are　going　to　build　the　Empire　State　Building；　the　first　thing　you　need　to　do　is　dig　a　deep　hole　and　pour　a　strong　foundation。　If　you　are　going　to　build　a　home　in　the　suburbs；　all　you　need　to　do　is　pour　a　6…inch　slab　of　concrete。　Most　people；　in　their　drive　to　get　rich；　are　trying　to　build　an　Empire　State　Building　on　a　6…inch　slab。

Our　school　system；　having　been　created　in　the　Agrarian　Age；　still　believes　in　homes　with　no　foundation。　Dirt　floors　are　still　the　rage。　So　kids　graduate　from　school　with　virtually　no　financial　foundation。　One　day；　sleepless　and　deep　in　debt　in　suburbia；　living　the　American　Dream；　they　decide　that　the　answer　to　their　financial　problems　is　to　find　a　way　to　get　rich　quick。

Construction　on　the　skyscraper　begins。　It　goes　up　quickly；　and　soon；　instead　of　the　Empire　State　Building；　we　have　the　Leaning　Tower　of　Suburbia。　The　sleepless　nights　return。

As　for　Mike　and　me　in　our　adult　years；　both　of　our　choices　were　possible　because　we　were　taught　to　pour　a　strong　financial　foundation　when　we　were　just　kids。

Now；　accounting　is　possibly　the　most　boring　subject　in　the　world。　It　also　could　be　the　most　confusing。　But　if　you　want　to　be　rich；　long　term；　it　could　be　the　most　important　subject。　The　question　is；　how　do　you　take　a　boring　and　confusing　subject　and　teach　it　to　kids？　The　answer　is；　make　it　simple。　Teach　it　first　in　pictures。
My　rich　dad　poured　a　strong　financial　foundation　for　Mike　and　me。　Since　we　were　just　kids；　he　created　a　simple　way　to　teach　us。　For　years　he　only　drew　pictures　and　used　words。　Mike　and　I　understood　the　simple　drawings；　the　jargon；　the　movement　of　money；　and　then　in　later　years；　rich　dad　began　adding　numbers。　Today；　Mike　has　gone　on　to　master　much　more　plex　and　sophisticated　accounting　analysis　because　he　has　had　to。　He　has　a　billion…dollar　empire　to　run。　I　am　not　as　sophisticated　because　my　empire　is　smaller；　yet　we　e　from　the　same　simple　foundation。　In　the　following　pages；　I　offer　to　you　the　same　simple　line　drawings　Mike's　dad　created　for　us。　Though　simple；　those　drawings　helped　guide　two　little　boys　in　building　great　sums　of　wealth　on　a　solid　and　deep　foundation。
Rule　One。　You　must　know　the　difference　between　an　asset　and　a　liability；　and　buy　assets。　If　you　want　to　be　rich；　this　is　all　you　need　to　know。　It　is　Rule　No。　1。　It　is　the　only　rule。　This　may　sound　absurdly　simple；　but　most　people　have　no　idea　how　profound　this　rule　is。　Most　people　struggle　financially　because　they　do　not　know　the　difference　between　an　asset　and　a　liability。
〃Rich　people　acquire　assets。　The　poor　and　middle　class　acquire　liabilities；　but　they　think　th