Rich Dad, Poor Dad – who did you listen to?
For those who may not be aware, ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ is a book about financial education and intelligence written by Robert Kiyosaki. In the book he explains the advice given to him by his real father (Poor Dad) and his friend’s father (Rich Dad). It’s not a new book and more have joined the series but this is the first time I’ve sat down to read it on the advice of my other half. It’s an eye opener.
What’s especially strange for me is that some of his advice relates to things I’ve already done (or attempted) but on a slightly different scale. For example, he says you should learn sales, either by going on a course or choosing a job that will train you – even if it means taking a pay cut. Shortly after joining the ‘rat race’ I did just that, taking a job with a pay cut to learn about sales. After a while, I felt that the job wasn’t getting me to where I wanted to be and the lack of oportunity drove me elsewhere. I viewed this as a failure. According to Kiyosaki, this was a success. I just have to keep a different goal in mind.
What is the goal? To achieve financial freedom and make money work for you. To get out of the rat race!
My personal history and culture have taught me to strive for a steady job, to work hard and climb the career ladder. Kiyosaki poses the question people often forget to ask: “What do I want?” Is the clear career path and steady employment going to achieve my aims? Or should I be looking elsewhere?
The ideas are not a ’to do’ list, or even a ‘what to think’ list. It’s about making your own decisions, getting an education and really thinking about what you want to achieve in life and how your financial plans relate to that. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to make money (so long as you’re not one of those ‘get rich quick’ enthusiasts or anyone with a ‘can’t do’ attitude).
As I said, it’s an eye opener, and some of the advice and opinions may be hard to swallow. I’m not saying you should take Kiyosaki’s word as gospel – just keep an open mind!
