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　There　was　a　calm　and　a　certainty　about　money　that　entered　my　brain　and　my　soul。　I　knew　Mike　had　gotten　to　that　point　also。

〃Good；〃　rich　dad　said　softly。　〃Most　people　have　a　price。　And　they　have　a　price　because　of　human　emotions　named　fear　and　greed。　First；　the　fear　of　being　without　money　motivates　us　to　work　hard；　and　then　once　we　get　that　paycheck；　greed　or　desire　starts　us　thinking　about　all　the　wonderful　things　money　can　buy。　The　pattern　is　then　set。〃
〃What　pattern？〃　I　asked。
〃The　pattern　of　get　up；　go　to　work；　pay　bills；　get　up；　go　to　work；　pay　bills。。。　Their　lives　are　then　run　forever　by　two　emotions；　fear　and　greed。　Offer　them　more　money；　and　they　continue　the　cycle　by　also　increasing　their　spending。　This　is　what　I　call　the　Rat　Race。〃
〃There　is　another　way？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Yes；〃　said　rich　dad　slowly。　〃But　only　a　few　people　find　it。〃
〃And　what　is　that　way？〃　Mike　asked。
〃That's　what　I　hope　you　boys　will　find　out　as　you　work　and　study　with　me。　That　is　why　I　took　away　all　forms　of　pay。〃
〃Any　hints？〃　Mike　asked。　〃We're　kind　of　tired　of　working　hard；　especially　for　nothing。〃
〃Well；　the　first　step　is　telling　the　truth；〃　said　rich　dad。
〃We　haven't　been　lying。〃　I　said。
〃I　did　not　say　you　were　lying。　I　said　to　tell　the　truth；〃　rich　dad　came
back。
〃The　truth　about　what？〃　I　asked。
〃How　you're　feeling；〃　rich　dad　said。　〃You　don't　have　to　say　it　to　anyone　else。　Just　yourself。〃
〃You　mean　the　people　in　this　park；　the　people　who　work　for　you；　Mrs。　Martin；　they　don't　do　that？〃　I　asked。
〃I　doubt　it；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Instead；　they　feel　the　fear　of　not　having　money。　Instead　of　confronting　the　fear；　they　react　instead　of　think。　They　react　emotionally　instead　of　using　their　heads；〃　rich　dad　said；　tapping　us　on　our　heads。　〃'Then；　they　get　a　few　bucks　in　their　hands；　and　again　the　emotion　of　joy　and　desire　and　greed　take　over；　and　again　they　react；　instead　of　think。〃
〃So　their　emotions　do　their　thinking；〃　Mike　said。
〃That's　correct；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Instead　of　telling　the　truth　about　how　they　feel；　they　react　to　their　feeling；　fail　to　think。　They　feel　the　fear；　they　go　to　work；　hoping　that　money　will　soothe　the　fear；　but　it　doesn't。　That　old　fear　haunts　them；　and　they　go　back　to　work；　hoping　again　that　money　will　calm　their　fears；　and　again　it　doesn't。　Fear　has　them　in　this　trap　of　working；　earning　money；　working；　earning　money；　hoping　the　fear　will　go　away。　But　every　day　they　get　up；　and　that　old　fear　wakes　up　with　them。　For　millions　of　people；　that　old　fear　keeps　them　awake　all　night；　causing　a　night　of　turmoil　and　worry。　So　they　get　up　and　go　to　work；　hoping　that　a　paycheck　will　kill　that　fear　gnawing　at　their　soul。　Money　is　running　their　lives；　and　they　refuse　to　tell　the　truth　about　that。
Money　is　in　control　of　their　emotions　and　hence　their　souls。〃
Rich　dad　sat　quietly；　letting　his　words　sink　in。　Mike　and　I　heard　what　he　said；　but　really　did　not　understand　fully　what　he　was　talking　about。　I　just　knew　that　I　often　wondered　why　grownups　hurried　off　to　work。　It　did　not　seem　like　much　fun；　and　they　never　looked　that　happy；　but　something　kept　them　hurrying　off　to　work。
Realizing　we　had　absorbed　as　much　as　possible　of　what　he　was　talking　about；　rich　dad　said；　〃I　want　you　boys　to　avoid　that　trap。　That　is　really　what　I　want　to　teach　you。　Not　just　to　be　rich；　because　being　rich　does　not　solve　the　problem。〃
〃It　doesn't？〃　I　asked；　surprised。
〃No；　it　doesn't。　Let　me　finish　the　other　emotion；　which　is　desire。　Some　call　it　greed；　but　I　prefer　desire。　It　is　perfectly　normal　to　desire　something　better；　prettier；　more　fun　or　exciting。　So　people　also　work　for　money　because　of　desire。　They　desire　money　for　the　joy　they　think　it　can　buy。　But　the　joy　that　money　brings　is　often　short　lived；　and　they　soon　need　more　money　for　more　joy；　more　pleasure；　more　fort；　more　security。　So　they　keep　working；　thinking　money　will　soothe　their　souls　that　is　troubled　by　fear　and　desire。　But　money　cannot　do　that。〃
〃Even　rich　people？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Rich　people　included；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃In　fact；　the　reason　many　rich　people　are　rich　is　not　because　of　desire　but　because　of　fear。　They　actually　think　that　money　can　eliminate　that　fear　of　not　having　money；　of　being　poor；　so　they　amass　tons　of　it　only　tofind　out　the　fear　gets　worse。　They　now　fear　losing　it。　I　have　friends　who　keep　working　even　though　they　have　plenty。　I　know　people　who　have　millions　who　are　more　afraid　now　than　when　they　were　poor。　They're　terrified　of　losing　all　their　money。　The　fears　that　drove　them　to　get　rich　got　worse。　That　weak　and　needy　part　of　their　soul　is　actually　screaming　louder。　They　don't　want　to　lose　the　big　houses；　the　cars；　the　high　life　that　money　has　bought　them。　They　worry　about　what　their　friends　would　say　if　they　lost　all　their　money。　Many　are　emotionally　desperate　and　neurotic；　although　they　look　rich　and　have　more　money。〃
〃So　is　a　poor　man　happier？〃　I　asked。
〃No；　I　don't　think　so；〃　replied　rich　dad。　〃The　avoidance　of　money　is　just　as　psychotic　as　being　attached　to　money。〃
As　if　on　cue；　the　town　derelict　went　past　our　table；　stopping　by　the　large　rubbish　can　and　rummaging　around　in　it。　The　three　of　us　watched　him　with　great　interest；　when　before　we　probably　would　have　just　ignored　him。
Rich　dad　pulled　a　dollar　out　of　his　wallet　and　gestured　to　the　older　man。　Seeing　the　money；　the　derelict　came　over　immediately；　took　the　bill；　thanked　rich　dad　profusely　and　hurried　off　ecstatic　with　his　good　fortune。
〃He's　not　much　different　from　most　of　my　employees；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃I've　met　so　many　people　who　say；　‘Oh；　I'm　not　interested　in　money。'　Yet　they'll　work　at　a　job　for　eight　hours　a　day。　That's　a　denial　of　truth。　If　they　weren't　interested　in　money；　then　why　are　they　working？　That　kind　of　thinking　is　probably　more　psychotic　than　a　person　who　hoards　money。〃
As　I　sat　there　listening　to　my　rich　dad；　my　mind　was　flashing　back　to　the　countless　times　my　own　dad　said；　〃I'm　not　interested　in　money。〃　He　said　those　words　often。　He　also　covered　himself　by　always　saying；　〃I　work　because　I　love　my　job。〃
〃So　what　do　we　do？〃　I　asked。　〃Not　work　for　money　until　all　traces　of　fear　and　greed　are　gone？〃
〃No；　that　would　be　a　waste　of　time；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃Emotions　are　what　make　us　human。　Make　us　real。　The　word　‘emotion'　stands　for　energy　in　motion。　Be　truthful　about　your　emotions；　and　use　your　mind　and　emotions　in　your　favor；　not　against　yourself。〃
〃Whoa！〃　said　Mike。
〃Don't　worry　about　what　I　just　said。　It　will　make　more　sense　in　years　to　e。　just　be　an　observer；　not　a　reactor；　to　your　emotions。　Most　people　do　not　know　that　it's　their　emotions　that　are　doing　the　thinking。　Your　emotions　are　your　emotions；　but　you　have　got　to　learn　to　do　your　own　thinking。〃
〃Can　you　give　me　an　example？〃　I　asked。
〃Sure；〃　replied　rich　dad。　〃When　a　person　says；　‘I　need　to　find　a　job；'　it's　most　likely　an　emotion　doing　the　thinking。　Fear　of　not　having　money　generates　that　thought。〃
〃But　people　do　need　money　if　they　have　bills　to　pay；〃　I　said。
〃Sure　they　do；〃　smiled　rich　dad。　〃All　I'm　saying　is　that　it's　fear　that　is　all　too　often　doing　the　thinking。〃
〃I　don't　understand；〃　said　Mike。
〃For　example；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃If　the　fear　of　not　having　enough　money　arises；　instead　of　immediately　running　out　to　get　a　job　so　they　can　earn　a　few　bucks　to　kill　the　fear；　they　instead　might　ask　themselves　this　question。　‘Will　a　job　be　the　best　solution　to　this　fear　over　the　long　run？'　In　my　opinion；　the　answer　is　‘no。'　Especially　when　you　look　over　a　person's　lifetime。　A　job　is　really　a　short…term　solution　to　a　long…term　problem。〃
〃But　my　dad　is　always　saying；　‘Stay　in　school；　get　good　grades；　so　you　can　find　a　safe；　secure　job。'　I　spoke　out；　somewhat　confused。
〃Yes；　I　understand　he　says　that；〃　said　rich　dad；　smiling。　〃Most　people　remend　that；　and　it's　a　good　idea　for　most　people。　But　people　make　that　remendation　primarily　out　of　fear。〃
〃You　mean　my　dad　says　that　because　he's　afraid？〃
〃Yes；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃He's　terrified　that　you　won't　be　able　to　earn　money　and　won't　fit　into　society。　Don't　get　me　wrong。　He　loves　you　and　wants　the　best　for　you。　And　I　think　his　fear　is　justified。　An　education　and　a　job　are　important。　But　it　won't　handle　the　fear。　You　see；　that　same　fear　that　makes　him　get　up　in　the　morning　to　earn　a　few　bucks　is　the　fear　that　is　causing　him　to　be　so　fanatical　about　you　going　to　school。〃
〃So　what　do　you　remend？〃　I　asked。
〃I　want　to　teach　you　to　master　the　power　of　money。　Not　be　afraid　of　it。　And　they　don't　teach　that　in　school。　If　you　don't　learn　it；　you　bee　a　slave　to　money。〃
It　was　finally　making　sense。　He　did　want　us　to　widen　our　views。　To　。　see　what　Mrs。　Martin　could　not　see；　his　employees　could　not　see；　or　my　dad　for　that　matter。　He　used　examples　that　sounded　cruel　at　the　time；　but　I've　never　forgotten　them。　My　vision　widened　that　day；　and　I　could　begin　to　see　the　trap　that　lay　ahead　for　most　people。
〃You　see；　we're　all　employees　ultimately。　We　just　work　at　different　levels；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃I　just　want　you　boys　to　have　a　chance　to　avoid　the　trap。　The　trap　caused　by　those　two　emotions；　fear　and　desire。　Use　them　in　your　favor；　not　against　you。　That's　what　I　want　to　teach　you。　I'm　not　interested　in　just　teaching　you　to　make　a　pile　of　money。　That　won't　handle　the　fear　or　desire。　If　you　don't　first　handle　fear　and　desire；　and　you　get　rich；　you'll　only　be　a　high…paid　slave。〃
〃So　how　do　we　avoid　the　trap？〃　I　asked。
〃The　main　cause　of　poverty　or　financial　struggle　is　fear　and　ignorance；　not　the　economy　or　the　government　or　the　rich。　It's　selfinflicted　fear　and　ignorance　that　keeps　people　trapped。　So　you　boys　go　to　school　and　get　your　college　degrees。　I'll　teach　you　how　to　stay　out　of　the　trap。〃
The　pieces　of　the　puzzle　were　appearing。　My　highly　educated　dad　had　a　great　education　and　a　great　career。　But　school　never　told　him　how　to　handle　money　or　his　fears。　It　became　clear　that　I　could　learn　different　and　important　things　from　two　fathers。
〃So　you've　been　talking　about　the　fear　of　not　having　money。　How　does　the　desire　of　money　affect　our　thinking？〃　Mike　asked。
〃How　did　you　feel　when　I　tempted　you　with　a　pay　raise？　Did　you　notice　your　desires　rising？〃
We　nodded　our　heads。
〃By　not　giving　in　to　your　emotions；　you　were　able　to　delay　your　reactions　and　think。　That　is　most　important。　We　will　always　have　emotions　of　fear　and　greed。　From　here　on　in；　it　is　most　important　for　you　to　use　those　emotions　to　your　advantage　and　for　the　long　term；　and　not　simply　let　your　emotions　run　you　by　controlling　your　thinking。　Most　people　use　fear　and　greed　against　themselves。　That's　the　start　of　ignorance。　Most　people　live　their　lives　chasing　paychecks；　pay　raises　and　job　security　because　of　the　emotions　of　desire　and　fear；　not　really　questioning　where　those　emotion…driven　thoughts　are　leading　them。　It's　just　like　the　picture　of　a　donkey；　dragging　a　cart；　with　its　owner　dangling　a　carrot　just　in　front　of　the　donkey's　nose。　The　donkey's　owner　may　be　going　where　he　wants　to　go；　but　the　donkey　is　chasing　an　illusion。　Tomorrow　there　will　only　be　another　carrot　for　the　donkey。〃
〃You　mean　the　moment　I　began　to　picture　a　new　baseball　glove；　candy　and　toys；　that's　like　a　carrot　to　a　donkey？〃　Mike　asked。
〃Yeah。　And　as　you　get　older；　your　toys　get　more　expensive。　A　new　car；　a　boat　and　a　big　house　to　impress　your　friends；〃　said　rich　dad　with　a　smile。　〃Fear　pushes　you　out　the　door；　and　desire　calls　to　you。　Enticing　you　toward　the　rocks。　That's　the　trap。〃
〃So　what's　the　answer；〃　Mike　asked。
〃What　intensifies　fear　and　desire　is　ignorance。　That　is　why　rich　people　with　lots　of　money　often　have　more　fear　the　richer　they　get。　Money　is　the　carrot；　the　illusion。　If　the　donkey　could　see　the　whole　picture；　it　might　rethink　its　choice　to　chase　the　carrot。〃
Rich　dad　went　on　to　explain　that　a　human's　life　is　a　struggle　between　ignorance　and　illumination。
He　explained　that　once　a　person　stops　searching　for　information　and　knowledge　of　one's　self；　ignorance　sets　in。　That　struggle　is　a　moment…to…moment　decision…to　learn　to　open　or　close　one's　mind。
〃Look；　school　is　very；　very　important。　You　go　to　school　to　learn　a　skill　or　profession　so　as　to　be　a　contributing　member　of　society。　Every　culture　needs　teachers；　doctors；　mechanics；　artists；　cooks；　business　people；　police　officers；　firefighters；　soldiers。　Schools　train　them　so　our　culture　can　thrive　and　flourish；〃　said　r