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There　have　been　months　in　my　life；　when　for　whatever　reason；　cash　flow　was　far　less　than　my　bills。　I　still　paid　myself　first。　My　accountant　and　bookkeeper　screamed　in　panic。　　〃They're　going　to　e　after　you。　The　IRS　is　going　to　put　you　in　jail。〃　　〃You're　going　to　ruin　your　credit　rating。〃　〃They'll　cut　off　the　electricity。〃　I　still　paid　myself　first。
〃Why？〃　you　ask。　Because　that's　what　the　story　The　Richest　Man　In　Babylon　was　all　about。　The　power　of　self…discipline　and　the　power　of　internal　fortitude。　　〃Guts；〃　in　less　elegant　terms。　As　my　rich　dad　taught　me　the　first　month　I　worked　for　him；　most　people　allow　the　world　to　push　them　around。　A　bill　collector　calls　and　you　〃pay　or　else。〃　So　you　pay　and　not　pay　yourself。　A　sales　clerk　says；　〃Oh；　just　put　it　on　your　charge　card。〃　Your　real　estate　agent　tells　you　to　〃go　ahead…the　government　allows　you　a　tax　deduction　on　your　home。〃　That　is　what　the　book　is　really　about。　Having　the　guts　to　go　against　the　tide　and　get　rich。　You　may　not　be　weak；　but　when　it　es　to　money；　many　people　get　wimpy。
I　am　not　saying　be　irresponsible。　The　reason　I　don't　have　high　credit　card　debt；　and　doodad　debt；　is　because　I　want　to　pay　myself　first。　The　reason　I　minimize　my　ine　is　because　I　don't　want　to　pay　it　to　the　government。　That　is　why；　for　those　of　you　who　have　watched　the　video　The　Secrets　of　the　Rich；　my　ine　es　from　my　asset　column；　through　a　Nevada　corporation。　If　I　work　for　money；　the　government　takes　it。
Although　I　pay　my　bills　last；　I　am　financially　astute　enough　to　not　get　into　a　tough　financial　situation。　I　don't　like　consumer　debt。　I　actually　have　liabilities　that　are　higher　than　99　percent　of　the　population；　but　I　don't　pay　for　them；　other　people　pay　for　my　liabilities。　They're　called　tenants。　　So　rule　No。　1　in　paying　yourself　first　is　don't　get　into　debt　in　the　first　place。　Although　I　pay　my　bills　last；　I　set　it　up　to　have　only　small　unimportant　bills；　that　I　will　have　to　pay。
Secondly；　when　I　occasionally　e　up　short；　I　still　pay　myself　first。　I　let　the　creditors　and　even　the　government　scream。　I　like　it　when　they　get　tough。　Why？　Because　those　guys　do　me　a　favor。　They　inspire　me　to　i　go　out　and　create　more　money。　So　I　pay　myself　first；　invest　the　money；　and　let　the　creditors　yell。　I　generally　pay　them　right　away　anyway。　My　wife　and　I　have　excellent　credit。　We　just　don't　cave　into　the　pressure　and　spend　our　savings　or　liquidate　stocks　to　pay　for　consumer　debt。　That　is　not　too　financially　intelligent。
So　the　answer　is：

1。　Don't　get　into　large　debt　positions　that　you　have　to　pay　for。　　Keep　your　expenses　low。　Build　up　assets　first。　Then；　buy　the　big　house　or　nice　car。　Being　stuck　in　the　rat　race　is　not　intelligent。
2。　When　you　e　up　short；　let　the　pressure　build　and　don't　dip　into　your　savings　or　investments。　　Use　the　pressure　to　inspire　your　financial　genius　to　e　up　with　new　ways　of　making　more　money　and　then　pay　your　bills。　You　will　have　increased　your　ability　to　make　more　money　as　well　as　your　financial　intelligence。　；　：　So　many　times　I　have　gotten　into　financial　hot　water；　and　used　my　brain　to　create　more　ine；　while　staunchly　defending　the　assets　in　my　asset　column。　My　bookkeeper　has　screamed　and　dived　for　cover；　but　I　was　like　a　good　trooper　defending　the　fort；　Fort　Assets。
Poor　people　have　poor　habits。　A　mon　bad　habit　is　innocently　called　〃Dipping　into　savings。〃　The　rich　know　that　savings　are　only　used　to　create　more　money；　not　to　pay　bills。
I　know　that　sounds　tough；　but　as　I　said；　if　you're　not　tough　inside；　the　world　will　always　push　you　around　anyway。
If　you　do　not　like　financial　pressure；　then　find　a　formula　that　works　for　you。　A　good　one　is　to　cut　expenses；　put　your　money　in　the　bank；　pay　more　than　your　fair　share　of　ine　tax；　buy　safe　mutual　funds　and　take　the　vow　of　the　average。　　But　this　violates　the　〃pay　yourself　first〃　rule。
The　rule　does　not　encourage　self…sacrifice　or　financial　abstinence。　It　doesn't　mean　pay　yourself　first　and　starve。　Life　was　meant　to　be　enjoyed。　If　you　call　on　your　financial　genius；　you　can　have　all　the　goodies　of　life；　get　rich　and　pay　bills；　without　sacrificing　the　good　life。　And　that　is　financial　intelligence。

6。　PAY　YOUR　BROKERS　WELL：　The　power　of　good　advice。　I　often　see　people　posting　a　sign　in　front　of　their　house　that　says；　〃For　Sale　by　Owner。〃　Or　I　see　on　TV　today　many　people　claiming　to　be　〃Discount　Brokers。〃
My　rich　dad　taught　me　to　take　the　opposite　tack。　He　believed　in　paying　professionals　well；　and　I　have　adopted　that　policy　also。　Today；　I　have　expensive　attorneys；　accountants；　real　estate　brokers　and　stockbrokers。　Why？　Because　if；　and　I　do　mean　if；　the　people　are　professionals；　their　services　should　make　you　money。　And　the　more　money　they　make；　the　more　money　I　make。
We　live　in　the　Information　Age。　Information　is　priceless。　A　good　broker　should　provide　you　with　information　as　well　as　take　the　time　to　educate　you。　I　have　several　brokers　who　are　willing　to　do　that　for　me。　Some　taught　me　when　I　had　little　or　no　money；　and　I　am　still　with　them　today。
What　I　pay　a　broker　is　tiny　in　parison　with　what　kind　of　money　I　can　make　because　of　the　information　they　provide。　　I　love　it　when　my　real　estate　broker　or　stockbroker　makes　a　lot　of　money。　　Because　it　usually　means　I　made　a　lot　of　money。
A　good　broker　saves　me　time　in　addition　to　making　me　money…as　when　I　bought　the　piece　of　vacant　land　for　9；000　and　sold　it　immediately　for　over　25；000；　so　I　could　buy　my　Porsche　quicker。
A　broker　is　your　eyes　and　ears　to　the　market。　They're　there　every　day　so　I　do　not　have　to　be。　I'd　rather　play　golf。
Also；　people　who　sell　their　house　on　their　own　must　not　value　their　time　much。　Why　would　I　want　to　save　a　few　bucks　when　I　could　use　that　time　to　make　more　money　or　spend　it　with　those　I　love？　What　I　find　funny　is　that　so　many　poor　and　middle　class　people　insist　on　tipping　restaurant　help　15　to　20　percent　even　for　bad　service　and　plain　about　paying　a　broker　3　to　7　percent。　They　enjoy　tipping　people　in　the
expense　column　and　stiffing　people　in　the　asset　column。　That　is　not　financially　intelligent。
All　brokers　are　not　created　equal。　Unfortunately；　most　brokers　are　only　salespeople。　I　would　say　the　real　estate　salespeople　are　the　worst。
They　sell；　but　they　themselves　own　little　or　no　real　estate。　There　is　a　tremendous　difference　between　a　broker　who　sells　houses　and　a　broker　who　sells　investments。　And　that　is　true　for　stock；　bond；　mutual　fund　and　insurance　brokers　who　call　themselves　financial　planners。　As　in　the　fairy　tale；　you　kiss　a　lot　of　frogs　to　find　one　prince。　Just　remember　the　old　saying；　〃Never　ask　an　encyclopedia　salesperson　if　you　need　an　encyclopedia。〃
When　I　interview　any　paid　professional；　I　first　find　out　how　much　property　or　stocks　they　personally　own　and　what　percentage　they　pay　in　taxes。　And　that　applies　to　my　tax　attorney　as　well　as　my　accountant。　I　have　an　accountant　who　minds　her　own　business。　Her　profession　is　accounting；　but　her　business　is　real　estate。　I　used　to　have　an　accountant　that　was　a　small　business　accountant；　but　he　had　no　real　estate。　I　switched　because　we　did　not　love　the　same　business。
Find　a　broker　who　has　your　best　interests　at　heart。　Many　brokers　will　。'；　spend　the　time　educating　you；　and　they　could　be　the　best　asset　you　find。　Just　be　fair；　and　most　of　them　will　be　fair　to　you。　If　all　you　can　think　about　is　cutting　their　missions；　then　why　should　they　want　to　be　around　you？　It's　just　simple　logic。
As　I　said　earlier；　one　of　the　management　skills　is　the　management　of　people。　Many　people　only　manage　people　they　feel　smarter　than　and　they　have　power　over；　such　as　subordinates　in　a　work　situation。　Many　middle　managers　remain　middle　managers；　failing　to　get　promoted　because　they　know　how　to　work　with　people　below　them；　but　not　with　people　above　them。　The　real　skill　is　to　manage　and　pay　well　the　people　who　are　smarter　than　you　in　some　technical　area。　That　is　why　panies　have　a　board　of　directors。　You　should　have　one；　too。　And　that　is　financial　intelligence。

7。　BE　AN　〃INDIAN　GIVER〃：　This　is　the　power　of　getting　something　for　nothing。　When　the　first　white　settlers　came　to　America；　they　were　taken　aback　by　a　cultural　practice　some　American　Indians　had。　For　example；　if　a　settler　was　cold；　the　Indian　would　give　the　person　a　blanket。　Mistaking　it　for　a　gift；　the　settler　was　often　offended　when　the　Indian　asked　for　it　back。
The　Indians　also　got　upset　when　they　realized　the　settlers　did　not　want　to　give　it　back。　That　is　where　the　term　〃Indian　giver〃　came　from。　A　simple　cultural　misunderstanding。
In　the　world　of　the　〃asset　column；〃　being　an　Indian　giver　is　vital　to　wealth。　The　sophisticated　investor's　first　question　is；　〃How　fast　do　I　get　my　money　back？〃　They　also　want　to　know　what　they　get　for　free；　also　called　a　piece　of　the　action。　That　is　why　the　ROI；　or　return　of　and　on　investment；　is　so　important。
For　example；　I　found　a　small　condominium；　a　few　blocks　from　where　I　live；　that　was　in　foreclosure。　The　bank　wanted　60；000；　and　I　submitted　a　bid　for　50；000；　which　they　took；　simply　because；　along　with　my　bid；　was　a　cashier's　check　for　50；000。　They　realized　I　was　serious。　Most　investors　would　say；　aren't　you　tying　up　a　lot　of　cash？　Would　it　not　be　better　to　get　a　loan　on　it？　The　answer　is；　not　in　this　case。　My　investment　pany　uses　this　as　a　vacation　rental　in　the　winter　months；　when　the　〃snowbirds〃　e　to　Arizona；　and　rent　it　for　2；500　a　month　for　four　months　out　of　the　year。　For　rental　during　the　off…season；　it　rents　for　only　1；000　a　month。　I　had　my　money　back　in　about　three　years。　　Now　I　own　this　asset；　which　pumps　money　out　for　me；　month　in　and　month　out。
The　same　is　done　y　broker　will　call　me　and　remend　I　move　a　sizable　amount　of　money　into　the　stock　of　a　pany　that　he　feels　is　just　about　to　make　a　move　that　will　add　value　to　the　stock；　like　announcing　a　new　product。　　I　will　move　my　money　in　for　a　week　to　a　month　while　the　stock　moves　up。　Then；　I　pull　my　initial　dollar　amount　out；　and　stop　worrying　about　the　fluctuations　of　the　market；　because　my　initial　money　is　back　and　ready　to　work　on　another　asset。　So　my　money　goes　in；　and　then　it　es　out；　and　I　own　an　asset　that　was　technically　free。
True；　I　have　lost　money　on　many　occasions。　　But　I　only　play　with　money　I　can　afford　to　lose。　I　would　say；　on　an　average　ten　investments；　I　hit　home　runs　on　two　or　three；　while　five　or　six　do　nothing；　and　I　lose　on　two　or　three。　But　I　limit　my　losses　to　only　the　money　I　have　in　at　that　time。
For　people　who　hate　risk；　they　put　their　money　in　the　bank。　And　in　the　long　run；　savings　are　better　than　no　savings。　　But　it　takes　a　long　time　to　get　your　money　back　and；　in　most　instances；　you　don't　get　anything　for　free　with　it。　They　used　to　hand　out　toasters；　but　they　rarely　do　that　these　days。
On　every　one　of　my　investments；　there　must　be　an　upside；　something　for　free。　A　condominium；　a　mini…storage；　a　piece　of　free　land；　a　house；　stock　shares；　office　building。　And　there　must　be　limited　risk；　or　a　low…risk　idea。　There　are　books　devoted　entirely　to　this　subject　that　I　will　not　get　into　here。　Ray　Kroc；　of　McDonald's　fame；　sold　hamburger　franchises；　not　because　he　loved　hamburgers；　but　because　he　wanted　the　real　estate　；　under　the　franchise　for　free。
So　wise　investors　must　look　at　more　than　ROI；　it's　the　assets　you　get　for　free　once　you　get　your　money　back。　That　is　financial　intelligence。　　　　　　：

8。　ASSETS　BUY　LUXURIES：　The　power　of　focus。　A　friend's　child　has　been　developing　a　nasty　habit　of　burning　a　hole　in　his　pocket。　Just　16；　he　naturally　wanted　his　own　car。　The　excuse；　〃All　his　friends'　parents　gave　their　kids　cars。〃　The　child　wanted　to　go　into｜
his　savings　and　use　it　for　a　down　payment。　That　was　when　his　father　called　me。　〃Do　you　think　I　should　let　him　do　it；　or　should　I　just　do　as　other　parents　do　and　just　buy　him　a　car？〃
To　which　I　answered。　　〃It　might　relieve　the　pressure　in　the　short　term；　but　what　have　you　taught　him　in　the　long　term？　Can　you　use　this　desire　to　own　a　car　and　inspire　your　son　to　learn　something？〃　Suddenly　the　lights　went　on；　and　he　hurried　home。
Two　months　later　I　ran　into　my　friend　again。　　〃Does　your　son　have　his　new　car？〃　I　asked。
〃No；　he　doesn't。　But　I　went　and　handed　him　3；000　for　the　car。　I　told　him　to　use　my　money　instead　of　his　college　money。〃　〃Well；　that's　generous　of　you；〃　I　said。
〃Not　really。　The　money　came　with　a　hitc