Rich Dad Poor Dad is a starting point for anyone looking to gain control of their financial future

STILL WANT MORE? 
HERE ARE SOME TO DO'S
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Many people may not be satisfied with my 10 steps. They see them 
more as philosophies than actions. I think understanding the philosophy 
is just as important as the action. There are many people who want to do 
instead of think, and then there are people who think but do not do. I 
would say that I am both. I love new ideas, and I love action.
So for those who want a to-do list on how to get started, I will 
share with you some of the things I do, in abbreviated form.
• 
Stop doing what you’re doing. In other words, take a break and
assess what is working and what is not working. The definition
of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting 
a different result. Stop doing what is not working, and look for
something new.
• 
Look for new ideas. For new investing ideas, I go to bookstores 
and search for books on different and unique subjects. I call 
them formulas. I buy how-to books on formulas I know 
nothing about.
For example, in the bookstore I found the book The 16 Percent
Solution by Joel Moskowitz. I bought the book and read it
and the next Thursday, I did exactly as the book said. Most 
people do not take action, or they let someone talk them out
of whatever new formula they are studying. My neighbor told 
me why 16 percent would not work. I did not listen to him 
because he’s never done it.

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• 
Find someone who has done what you want to do. Take them
to lunch and ask them for tips and tricks of the trade. As for
16 percent tax-lien certificates, I went to the county tax office
and found the government employee who worked in that office.
I found out that she, too, invested in the tax liens. Immediately,
I invited her to lunch. She was thrilled to tell me everything 
she knew and how to do it. After lunch, she spent all 
afternoon showing me everything. By the next day, I found 
two great properties with her help that have been accruing 
interest at 16 percent ever since. It took a day to read the 
book, a day to take action, an hour for lunch, and a day to 
acquire two great deals.
• 
Take classes, read, and attend seminars. I search newspapers and
the Internet for new and interesting classes, many of which are
free or inexpensive. I also attend and pay for expensive 
seminars on what I want to learn. I am wealthy and free from 
needing a job simply because of the courses I took. I have 
friends who did not take those classes who told me I was 
wasting my money, and yet they’re still at the same job.
• 
Make lots of offers. When I want a piece of real estate, I look
at many properties and generally write an offer. If you don’t 
know what the right offer is, neither do I. That is the job of
the real estate agent. They make the offers. I do as little work
as possible.
A friend wanted me to show her how to buy apartment houses.
So one Saturday she, her agent, and I went and looked at six 
apartment houses. Four were dogs, but two were good. I said to write 
offers on all six, offering half of what the owners asked for. She and the 
agent nearly had heart attacks. They thought it was rude, and would 
offend the sellers, but I really don’t think the agent wanted to work 
that hard. So they did nothing and went on looking for a better deal.
No offers were ever made, and that person is still looking for the right 
deal at the right price. Well, you don’t know what the right price is until 

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Rich Dad Poor Dad
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you have a second party who wants to deal. Most sellers ask too much.
It is rare that a seller asks a price that is less than something is worth.
Moral of the story: Make offers. People who are not investors have no 
idea what it feels like to try to sell something. I have had a piece of real 
estate that I wanted to sell for months. I would have welcomed any offer. 
They could have offered me 10 pigs, and I would have been happy—
not at the offer, but just because someone was interested. I would have 
countered, maybe for a pig farm in exchange. But that’s how the game 
works. The game of buying and selling is fun. Keep that in mind. It’s fun 
and only a game. Make offers. Someone might say yes.
I always make offers with escape clauses. In real estate, I make an 
offer with language that details “subject-to” contingencies, such as the 
approval of a business partner. Never specify who the business