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3. Organize smart people.
Intelligent people are those who work with or hire a
person who is more intelligent than they are. When you
need advice, make sure you choose your advisor wisely.
There is a lot to learn, but the rewards can be astronomical. If you
do not want to learn those skills, then being a type-one investor is highly
recommended. It is what you know that is your greatest wealth. It is what
you do not know that is your greatest risk.
There is always risk, so learn to manage risk instead of avoiding it.
115
Chapter Six
LESSON 6:
WORK TO LEARN —
DON'T WORK FOR MONEY
Job security meant everything to my educated dad.
Learning meant everything to my rich dad.
A few years ago, I granted an interview with a newspaper in
Singapore. The young female reporter was on time, and the interview
got under way immediately. We sat in the lobby of a luxurious hotel,
sipping coffee and discussing the purpose of my visit to Singapore.
I was to share the platform with Zig Ziglar. He was speaking on
motivation, and I was speaking on “The Secrets of the Rich.”
“Someday, I would like to be a best-selling author like you,” she
said. I had seen some of the articles she had written for the paper, and
I was impressed. She had a tough, clear style of writing. Her articles
held a reader’s interest.
“You have a great style,” I said in reply. “What holds you back
from achieving your dream?”
“My work does not seem to go anywhere,” she said quietly.
“Everyone says that my novels are excellent, but nothing happens.
So I keep my job with the paper. At least it pays the bills. Do you
have any suggestions?”
“Yes, I do,” I said brightly. “A friend of mine here in Singapore
runs a school that trains people to sell. He runs sales-training courses
for many of the top corporations here in Singapore, and I think
attending one of his courses would greatly enhance your career.”
Chapter Six: Lesson 6
116
She stiffened. “Are you saying I should go to school to learn to sell?”
I nodded.
“You aren’t serious, are you?”
Again, I nodded. “What is wrong with that?” I was now back-
pedaling. She was offended by something, and now I was wishing
I had not said anything. In my attempt to be helpful, I found myself
defending my suggestion. “I have a master’s degree in English
Literature. Why would I go to school to learn to be a salesperson?
I am a professional. I went to school to be trained in a profession so
I would not have to be a sales person. I hate salespeople. All they
want is money. So tell me why I should study sales?” She was packing
her briefcase. The interview was over.
On the coffee table sat a copy of an earlier best-selling book I wrote.
I picked it up as well as the notes she had jotted down on her legal pad.
“Do you see this?” I said pointing to her notes.
She looked down at her notes. “What?” she said, confused.
Again, I pointed deliberately to her notes. On her pad she had
written: “Robert Kiyosaki, best-selling author.”
“It says best-selling author, not best-writing author,” I said quietly.
Her eyes widened.
“I am a terrible writer,” I said. “You are a great writer. I went to
sales school. You have a master’s degree. Put them together and you get
a ‘best-selling author’ and a ‘best-writing author.’”
Anger flared from her eyes. “I’ll never stoop so low as to learn how
to sell. People like you have no business writing. I am a professionally
trained writer and you are a salesman. It is not fair,” she fumed.
She put the rest of her notes away and hurried out through the large
glass doors into the humid Singapore morning.
At least she gave me a fair and favorable write-up the next morning.
The world is filled with smart, talented, educated, and gifted people. We
meet them every day. They are all around us.
A few days ago, my car was not running well. I pulled into a garage,
and the young mechanic had it fixed in just a few minutes. He knew
what was wrong by simply listening to the engine. I was amazed.
Rich Dad Poor Dad
117
I am constantly shocked at how little talented people earn. I have
met brilliant, highly educated people who earn less than $20,000 a year.
A business consultant who specializes in the medical trade was telling
me how many doctors, dentists, and chiropractors struggle financially.
All this time, I thought that when they graduated, the dollars would
pour in. It was this business consultant who gave me the phrase: “They
are one skill away from great wealth.”
What this phrase means is that most people need only to learn
and master one more skill and their income would jump exponentially.
I have mentioned before that financial intelligence is a synergy of
accounting, investing, marketing, and law. Combine those four
technical skills and making money with money is easier than most
people would believe. When it comes to money, the only skill most
people know is to work hard.
The classic example of a synergy of skills was that young writer for
the newspaper. If she diligently learned the skills of sales and marketing,
her income would jump dramatically. If I were her, I would take some
courses in advertising copywriting as well as sales. Then, instead of
working at the newspaper, I would seek a job at an advertising agency.
Even if it were a cut in pay, she would learn how to communicate in
short-cuts that are used in successful advertising. She also would spend
time learning public relations, an important skill. She would learn how
to get millions in free publicity. Then, at night and on weekends, she
could be writing her great novel. When it was finished, she would be
better able to sell her book. Then, in a short while, she could be a “best-
selling author.”
When I came out with my first book, If You Want To Be Rich and
Happy, Don’t Go to School, a publisher suggested I change the title to
The Economics of Education. I told the publisher that, with a title like
that, I would sell two books: one to my family, and one to my best
friend. The problem is that they would expect it for free. The obnoxious
title, If You Want To Be Rich and Happy, Don’t Go to School, was chosen
because we knew it would get tons of publicity. I am pro-education and
believe in education reform. If I were not pro-education, why would
Chapter Six: Lesson 6
118
I continue to press for changing our antiquated educational system? So
I chose a title that would get me on more TV and radio shows, simply
because I was willing to be controversial. Many people thought I was a
fruitcake, but the book sold and sold.
When I graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in
1969, my educated dad was happy. Standard Oil of California had
hired me for its oil-tanker fleet as a third mate. The pay was low
compared with my classmates, but it was okay for a first real job
after college. My starting pay was about $42,000 a year, including
overtime, and I only had to work for seven months. I had five
months of vacation. If I had wanted to, I could have taken the run to
Vietnam with a subsidiary shipping company and easily doubled my
pay instead of taking five months of vacation.
I had a great career ahead of me, yet I resigned after six months
with the company and joined the Marine Corps to learn how to fly.
My educated dad was devastated. Rich dad congratulated me.
In school and in the workplace, the popular opinion is the idea of
specialization: that is, in order to make more money or get promoted,
you need to specialize. That is why medical doctors immediately
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