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r largest investment； you're in trouble。〃
Both dads paid their bills on time； yet one paid his bills first while the other paid his bills last。
One dad believed in a pany or the government taking care of you and your needs。 He was always concerned about pay raises； retirement plans； medical benefits； sick leave； vacation days and other perks。 He was impressed with two of his uncles who joined the military and earned a retirement and entitlement package for life after twenty years of active service。 He loved the idea of medical benefits and PX privileges the military provided its retirees。 He also loved the tenure system available through the university。 The idea of job protection for life and job benefits seemed more important； at times； than the job。 He would often say； 〃I've worked hard for the government； and I'm entitled to these benefits。〃
The other believed in total financial self…reliance。 He spoke out against the 〃entitlement〃 mentality and how it was creating weak and financially needy people。 He was emphatic about being financially petent。
One dad struggled to save a few dollars。 The other simply created investments。
One dad taught me how to write an impressive resume so I could find a good job。 The other taught me how to write strong business and financial plans so I could create jobs。
Being a product of two strong dads allowed me the luxury of observing the effects different thoughts have on one's life。 I noticed that people really do shape their life through their thoughts。
For example； my poor dad always said； 〃I'll never be rich。〃 And that prophesy became reality。 My rich dad； on the other hand； always referred to himself as rich。 He would say things like； 〃I'm a rich man； and rich people don't do this。〃 Even when he was flat broke after a major financial setback； he continued to refer to himself as a rich man。 He would cover himself by saying； 〃There is a difference between being poor and being broke。 … Broke is temporary； and poor is eternal。〃
My poor dad would also say； 〃I'm not interested in money；〃 or 〃Money doesn't matter。〃 My rich dad always said； 〃Money is power。〃
The power of our thoughts may never be measured or appreciated； but it became obvious to me as a young boy to be aware of my thoughts and how I expressed myself。 I noticed that my poor dad was poor not because of the amount of money he earned； which was significant； but
because of his thoughts and actions。 As a young boy； having two fathers； I became acutely aware of being careful which thoughts I chose to adopt as my own。 Whom should I listen to…my rich dad or my poor dad？
Although both men had tremendous respect for education and learning； they disagreed in what they thought was important to learn。 One wanted me to study hard； earn a degree and get a good job to work for money。 He wanted me to study to bee a professional； an attorney or an accountant or to go to business school for my MBA。 The other encouraged me to study to be rich； to understand how money works and to learn how to have it work for me。 〃I don't work for money！〃 were words he would repeat over and over； 〃Money works for me！〃
At the age of 9； I decided to listen to and learn from my rich dad about money。 In doing so； I chose not to listen to my poor dad； even though he was the one with all the college degrees。
A Lesson From Robert Frost
Robert Frost is my favourite poet。 Although I love many of his poems； my favorite is The Road Not Taken。 I use its lesson almost daily：
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood； And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler； long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth；
Then took the other； as just as fair； And having perhaps the better claim； Because it was grassy and wanted wear Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same；
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black。 Oh； I kept the first for another day！ Yet knowing how way leads onto way； I doubted if I should ever e back。
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence； Two roads diverged in a wood； and I took the one less traveled by； And that has made all the difference。
Robert Frost（1916）
And that made all the difference。
Over the years； I have often reflected upon Robert Frost's poem。 Choosing not to listen to my highly educated dad's advice and attitude about money was a painful decision； but it was a decision that shaped the rest of my life。
Once I made up my mind whom to listen to； my education about money began。 My rich dad taught me over a period of 30 years； until I was age 39。 He stopped once he realized that I knew and fully understood what he had been trying to drum into my often thick skull。
Money is one form of power。 But what is more powerful is financial education。 Money es and goes； but if you have the education about how money works； you gain power over it and can begin building wealth。 The reason positive thinking alone does not work is because most people went to school and never learned how money works； so they spend their lives working for money。
Because I was only 9 years old when I started； the lessons my rich dad taught me were simple。 And when it was all said and done； there were only six main lessons； repeated over 30 years。 This book is about those six lessons； put as simply as possible as my rich dad put forth those lessons to me。 The lessons are not meant to be answers but guideposts。 Guideposts that will assist you and your children to grow wealthier no matter what happens in a world of increasing change and uncertainty。
Lesson #1 The Rich Don't Work for Money
Lesson #2 Why Teach Financial Literacy？
Lesson #3 Mind Your own Business
Lesson #4 The History of Taxes and the Power of Corporations
Lesson #5 The Rich Invent Money
Lesson #6 Work to Learn Don't Work for Money
CHAPTER TWO
Lesson One： The Rich Don't Work For Money
〃Dad； Can You Tell Me How to Get Rich？〃
My dad put down the evening paper。 〃Why do you want to get rich； son？〃
〃Because today Jimmy's mom drove up in their new Cadillac； and they were going to their beach house for the weekend。 He took three of his friends； but Mike and I weren't invited。 They told us we weren't invited because we were ‘poor kids'。〃
〃They did？〃 my dad asked incredulously。
〃Yeah； they did。〃 I replied in a hurt tone。
My dad silently shook his head； pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and went back to reading the paper。 I stood waiting for an answer。
The year was 1956。 I was 9 years old。 By some twist of fate； I attended the same public school where the rich people sent their kids。 We were primarily a sugar plantation town。 The managers of the plantation and the other affluent people of the town； such as doctors； business owners； and bankers； sent their children to this school； grades 1 to 6。 After grade 6； their children were generally sent off to private schools。 Because my family lived on one side of the street； I went to this school。 Had I lived on the other side of the street； I would have gone to a different school； with kids from families more like mine。 After grade 6；these kids and I would go on to the public intermediate and