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Poor　dad　wanted　me　to　specialize。　That　was　his　view　on　how　to　be　paid　more。　Even　after　being　told　by　the　governor　of　Hawaii　that　he　could　no　longer　work　in　state　government；　my　educated　dad　continued　to　encourage　me　to　get　specialized。　Educated　dad　then　took　up　the　cause　of　the　teachers　union；　campaigning　for　further　protection　and　benefits　for　I　these　highly　skilled　and　educated　professionals。　We　argued　often；　but　I　know　he　never　agreed　that　overspecialization　is　what　caused　the　need　for　union　protection。　He　never　understood　that　the　more　specialized　you　bee；　the　more　you　are　trapped　and　dependent　on　that　specialty。　
Rich　dad　advised　that　Mike　and　I　〃groom〃　ourselves。　Many　corporations　do　the　same　thing。　They　find　a　young　bright　student　out　of　business　school　and　begin　〃grooming〃　that　person　to　someday　take　over　the　pany。　　So　these　bright　young　employees　do　not　specialize　in　one　department；　they　are　moved　from　department　to　department　to　learn　all　the　aspects　of　business　systems。　The　rich　often　〃groom〃　their　children　or　the　children　of　others。　　By　doing　so；　their　children　gain　an　overall　knowledge　of　the　operations　of　the　business　and　how　the　various　departments　interrelate。
For　the　World　War　II　generation；　it　was　considered　〃bad〃　to　skip　from　pany　to　pany。　Today；　it　is　considered　smart。　　Since　people　will　skip　from　pany　to　pany；　rather　than　seek　greater　specialization；　why　not　seek　to　〃learn〃　more　than　〃earn。〃　In　the　short　term；　it　may　earn　you　less。　　In　the　long　term；　it　will　pay　off　in　large　dividends。
The　main　management　skills　needed　for　success　are：
　
1。　The　management　of　cash　flow
2。　The　management　of　systems　（including　yourself　and　time　with　family）。
3。　The　management　of　people。

The　most　important　specialized　skills　are　sales　and　understanding　marketing。　It　is　the　ability　to　sell……therefore；　to　municate　to　another　human　being；　be　it　a　customer；　employee；　boss；　spouse　or　child…that　is　the　base　skill　of　personal　success。　It　is　munication　skills　such　as　writing；　speaking　and　negotiating　that　are　crucial　to　a　life　of　success。　It　is　a　skill　that　I　work　on　constantly；　attending　courses　or　buying　educational　tapes　to　expand　my　knowledge。
As　I　have　mentioned；　my　educated　dad　worked　harder　and　harder　the　more　petent　he　became。　He　also　became　more　trapped　the　more　specialized　he　got。　Although　his　salary　went　up；　his　choices　diminished。　Soon　after　he　was　locked　out　of　government　work；　he　found　out　how　vulnerable　he　really　was　professionally。　It　is　like　professional　athletes　who　suddenly　are　injured　or　are　too　old　to　play。　Their　once　high…paying　position　is　gone；　and　they　have　limited　skills　to　fall　back　on。　I　think　that　is　why　my　educated　dad　sided　so　much　with　unions　after　that。　He　realized　how　much　a　union　would　have　benefited　him。
Rich　dad　encouraged　Mike　and　me　to　know　a　little　about　a　lot。　He　encouraged　us　to　work　with　people　smarter　than　we　were　and　to　bring　smart　people　together　to　work　as　a　team。　Today　it　would　be　called　a　synergy　of　professional　specialities。
Today；　I　meet　ex…schoolteachers　earning　hundreds　of　thousands　of　dollars　a　year。　They　earn　that　much　because　they　have　specialized　skills　in　their　field　as　well　as　other　skills。　They　can　teach　as　well　as　sell　and　market。　I　know　of　no　other　skills　to　be　more　important　than　selling　as　well　as　marketing。　The　skills　of　selling　and　marketing　are　difficult　for　most　people　primarily　due　to　their　fear　of　rejection。　The　better　you　are　at　municating；　negotiating　and　handling　your　fear　of　rejection；　the　easier　life　is。　Just　as　I　advised　that　newspaper　writer　who　wanted　to　bee　a　〃best…selling　author；〃　I　advise　anyone　else　today。　　Being　technically　specialized　has　its　strengths　as　well　as　its　weaknesses。　　I　have　friends　who　are　geniuses；　but　they　cannot　municate　effectively　with　other　human　beings　and；　as　a　result；　their　earnings　are　pitiful。　　I　advise　them　to　just　spend　a　year　learning　to　sell。　Even　if　they　earn　nothing；　their　munication　skills　will　improve。　And　that　is　priceless。
In　addition　to　being　good　learners；　sellers　and　marketers；　we　need　to　be　good　teachers　as　well　as　good　students。　To　be　truly　rich；　we　need　to　be　able　to　give　as　well　as　to　receive。　In　cases　of　financial　or　professional　struggle；　there　is　often　a　lack　of　giving　and　receiving。　I　know　many　people　who　are　poor　because　they　are　neither　good　students　nor　good　teachers。
Both　of　my　dads　were　generous　men。　Both　made　it　a　practice　to　give　first。　Teaching　was　one　of　their　ways　of　giving。　The　more　they　gave；　the　more　they　received。　One　glaring　difference　was　in　the　giving　of　money。　My　rich　dad　gave　lots　of　money　away。　He　gave　to　his　church；　to　charities；　to　his　foundation。　He　knew　that　to　receive　money；　you　had　to　give　money。　Giving　money　is　the　secret　to　most　great　wealthy　families。　That　is　why　there　are　organizations　like　the　Rockefeller　Foundation　and　the　Ford　Foundation。　These　are　organizations　designed　to　take　their　wealth　and　increase　it；　as　well　as　give　it　away　in　perpetuity。
My　educated　dad　always　said；　〃When　I　have　some　extra　money；　I'll　give　it。〃　The　problem　was；　there　was　never　any　extra。　So　he　worked　harder　to　draw　more　money　in　rather　than　focus　on　the　most　important　law　of　money：　〃Give　and　you　shall　receive。〃　Instead；　he　believed　in　〃Receive　and　then　you　give。〃
In　conclusion；　I　became　both　dads。　　One　part　of　me　is　a　hard…core　capitalist　who　loves　the　game　of　money　making　money。　The　other　side　is　'：　a　socially　responsible　teacher　who　is　deeply　concerned　with　this　ever…widening　gap　between　the　haves　and　have　nots。　I　personally　hold　the　archaic　educational　system　primarily　responsible　for　this　growing　gap。
　
CHAPTER　EIGHT
Overing　Obstacles

Once　people　have　studied　and　bee　financially　literate；　they　may　still　face　roadblocks　to　being　financially　independent。　There　are　five　main　reasons　why　financially　literate　people　may　still　not　develop　abundant　asset　columns。　Asset　columns　that　could　produce　large　sums　of　cash　flow。　Asset　columns　that　could　free　them　to　live　the　life　they　dream　of；　instead　of　working　full　time　just　to　pay　bills。　The　five　reasons　are：
1。　Fear。
2。　Cynicism。
3。　Laziness。
4。　Bad　habits。
5。　Arrogance。

Reason　No。　1。　Overing　the　fear　of　losing　money。　I　have　never　met　anyone　who　really　likes　losing　money。　And　in　all　my　years；　I　have　never　met　a　rich　person　who　has　never　lost　money。　But　I　have　met　a　lot　of　poor　people　who　have　never　lost　a　dime。　。　。investing；　that　is。
The　fear　of　losing　money　is　real。　Everyone　has　it。　Even　the　rich。　But　it's　not　fear　that　is　the　problem。　It's　how　you　handle　fear。　It's　how　you　handle　losing。　　It's　how　you　handle　failure　that　makes　the　difference　in　one's　life。　That　goes　for　anything　in　life；　not　just　money。　The　primary　difference　between　a　rich　person　and　a　poor　person　is　how　they　handle　that　fear。
It's　OK　to　be　fearful。　It's　OK　to　be　a　coward　when　it　es　to　money。　You　can　still　be　rich。　We're　all　heroes　at　something　and　cowards　at　something　else。　My　friend's　wife　is　an　emergency　room　nurse。　When　；　she　sees　blood；　she　flies　into　action。　When　I　mention　investing；　she　runs'j　away。　When　I　see　blood；　I　don't　run。　　I　pass　out。　My　rich　dad　understood　phobias　about　money。　　〃Some　people　are　terrified　of　snakes。　Some　people　are　terrified　about　losing　money。　Both　are　phobias；〃　he　would　say。　So　his　solution　to　the　phobia　of　losing　money　was　this　little　rhyme：　〃If　you　hate　risk　and　worry。　。　。start　early。〃
That's　why　banks　remend　savings　as　a　habit　when　you're　young。　J　If　you　start　young；　it's　easy　to　be　rich。　I　won't　go　into　it　here；　but　there　is　a　large　difference　between　a　person　who　starts　saving　at　age　20　versus　age　30。　A　staggering　difference。
It　is　said　that　one　of　the　wonders　of　the　world　is　the　power　of　pound　interest。　The　purchase　of　Manhattan　Island　is　said　to　be　one　of　the　greatest　bargains　of　all　time。　New　York　was　purchased　for　24　in　trinkets　and　beads。　Yet；　if　that　24　had　been　invested；　at　8　percent　annually；　that　24　would　have　been　worth　more　than　28　trillion　by　1995；　Manhattan　could　be　repurchased　with　money　left　over　to　buy　much　of　L。A。；　especially　at　1995's　real　estate　prices。
My　neighbor　works　for　a　major　puter　pany。　He　has　been　there　25　years。　In　five　more　years　he　will　leave　the　pany　with　4　million　in　his　401k　retirement　plan。　It　is　invested　mostly　in　high…growth　mutual　funds；　which　he　will　convert　to　bonds　and　government　securities。　He'll　only　be　55　when　he　gets　out；　and　he　will　have　…a　passive　cash　flow　of　over　300；000　a　year；　more　than　he　makes　from　his　salary。　　So　it　can　be　done；　even　if　you　hate　losing　or　hate　risk。　But　you　must　start　early　and　definitely　set　up　a　retirement　plan；　and　you　should　hire　a　financial　planner　you　trust　to　guide　you　before　investing　in　anything。
But　what　if　you　don't　have　much　time　left　or　would　like　to　retire　early？　How　do　you　handle　the　fear　of　losing　money？
My　poor　dad　did　nothing。　He　simply　avoided　the　issue；　refusing　to　discuss　the　subject。
My　rich　dad；　on　the　other　hand；　remended　that　I　think　like　a　Texan。　　〃I　like　Texas　and　Texans；〃　he　used　to　say。　　〃In　Texas；　everything　is　bigger。　When　Texans　win；　they　win　big。　And　when　they　lose；　it's　spectacular。〃
〃They　like　losing？〃　I　asked。
〃That's　not　what　I'm　saying。　Nobody　likes　losing。　Show　me　a　happy　loser；　and　I'll　show　you　a　loser；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃It's　a　Texan's　attitude　toward　risk；　reward　and　failure　I'm　talking　about。　It's　how　they　handle　life。　They　live　it　big。　Not　like　most　of　the　people　around　here；　living　like　roaches　when　it　es　to　money。　Roaches　terrified　that　someone　will　shine　a　light　on　them。　Whimpering　when　the　grocery　clerk　short　changes　them　a　quarter。〃
Rich　dad　went　on　to　explain。
〃What　I　like　best　is　the　Texas　attitude。　They're　proud　when　they　win；　and　they　brag　when　they　lose。　Texans　have　a　saying；　〃If　you're　going　to　go　broke；　go　big。　You　don't　want　to　admit　you　went　broke　over　a　duplex。　Most　people　around　here　are　so　afraid　of　losing；　they　don't　have　a　duplex　to　go　broke　with。〃
He　constantly　told　Mike　and　me　that　the　greatest　reason　for　lack　of　financial　success　was　because　most　people　played　it　too　safe。　　〃People　are　so　afraid　of　losing　that　they　lose〃　were　his　words。
Fran　Tarkenton；　a　one…time　great　NFL　quarterback；　says　it　still　another　way：　〃Winning　means　being　unafraid　to　lose。〃
In　my　own　life；　I've　noticed　that　winning　usually　follows　losing。　Before　I　finally　learned　to　ride　a　bike；　I　first　fell　down　many　times。　I've　never　met　a　golfer　who　has　never　lost　a　golf　ball。　I've　never　met　people　who　have　fallen　in　love　who　have　never　had　their　heart　broken。　And　I've　never　met　someone　rich　who　has　never　lost　money。
So　for　most　people；　the　reason　they　don't　win　financially　is　because　the　pain　of　losing　money　is　far　greater　than　the　joy　of　being　rich。　　　Another　saying　in　Texas　is；　〃Everyone　wants　to　go　to　Heaven；　but　no　one　wants　to　die。〃　Most　people　dream　of　being　rich；　but　are　terrified　of　losing　money。　　So　they　never　get　to　Heaven。
Rich　dad　used　to　tell　Mike　and　me　stories　about　his　trips　to　Texas。　〃If　you　really　want　to　learn　the　attitude　of　how　to　handle　risk；　losing　and　failure；　go　to　San　Antonio　and　visit　the　Alamo。　The　Alamo　is　a　great　story　of　brave　people　who　chose　to　fight；　knowing　there　was　no　hope　of　success　against　overwhelming　odds。　They　chose　to　die　instead　of　surrendering。　It's　an　inspiring　story　worthy　of　study；　nonetheless；　it's　still　a　tragic　military　defeat。　They　got　their　butts　kicked。　A　failure　if　you　will。　They　lost。　　So　how　do　Texans　handle　failure？　They　still　shout；　'Remember　the　Alamo！'〃
Mike　and　I　heard　this　story　a　lot。　He　always　told　us　this　story　when　f　he　was　about　to　go　into　a　big　deal　and　he　was　nervous。　After　he　had　done　all　his　due　diligence　and　now　it　was　put　up　or　shut　up；　he　told　us　this　story。　　Every　time　he　was　afraid　of　making　a　mistake；　or　losing　money；　he　told　us　this　story。　It　gave　him　strength；　for　it　reminded　him　that　he　could　always　turn　a　financial　loss　into　a　financial　win。　Rich　dad　　　I　knew　that　failure　would　only　make　him　stronger　and　smarter。　It's　not　that！　he　wanted　to　lose；　he　just　knew　who　he　was　and　how　he　would　take　a　loss。　He　would　take　a　loss　and　make　it　a　win。　That's　what　made　him　a　winner　and　others　losers。　It　gave　him　the　courage　to　cross　the　line　when　others　backed　out。　〃That's　why　I　like　Texans　so　much。　They　took　a　great　failure　and　turned　it　into　a　tourist