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Most people choose not to be rich。 For 90 percent of the population； being rich is 〃too much of a hassle。〃 So they invent sayings that go； 〃I'm not interested in money。〃 Or 〃I'll never be rich。〃 Or 〃I don't have to worry； I'm still young。〃 Or 〃When I make some money； then I'll think about my future。〃 Or 〃My husband/wife handles the finances。〃 The problem with those statements is they rob the person who chooses to
think such thoughts of two things： one is time； which is your most precious asset； and two is learning。 Just because you have no money； should not be an excuse to not learn。 But that is a choice we all make daily； the choice of what we do with our time； our money and what we put in our heads。 That is the power of choice。 All of us have choice。 I just choose to be rich； and I make that choice every day。
INVEST FIRST IN EDUCATION： In reality； the only real asset you have is your mind； the most powerful tool we have dominion over。 Just as I said about the power of choice； each of us has the choice of what we put in our brain once we're old enough。 You can watch MTV all day； or read golf magazines； or go to ceramics class or a class on financial planning。 You choose。 Most people simply buy investments rather than
first invest in learning about investing。
A friend of mine； who is a rich woman； recently had her apartment burglarized。 The thieves took her TV and VCR and left all the books she reads。 And we all have that choice。 Again； 90 percent of the population buys TV sets and only about 10 percent buy books on business or tapes on investments。
So what do I do？ I go to seminars。 I like it when they are at least two days long because I like to immerse myself in a subject。 In 1973； I was watching TV and this guy came on advertising a three…day seminar on how to buy real estate for nothing down。 I spent 385 and that course has made me at least 2 million； if not more。 But more importantly； it bought me life。 I don't have to work for the rest of my life because of that one course。 I go to at least two such courses every year。
I love audio tapes。 The reason： I can rewind quickly。 I was listening to a tape by Peter Lynch； and he said something I pletely disagreed with。 Instead of being arrogant and critical； I simply pushed 〃rewind〃 and I listened to that five…minute stretch of tape at least twenty times。 Possibly more。 But suddenly； by keeping my mind open； I understood why he said what he said。 It was like magic。 I felt like I had a window into the mind of one of the greatest investors of our time。 I gained tremendous depth and insight into the vast resources of his education and experience。
The result： I still have the old way I used to think； and I have Peter's way of looking at the same problem or situation。 I have two thoughts instead of one。 One more way to analyze a problem or trend； and that is priceless。 Today； I often say； 〃How would Peter Lynch do this； or Donald Trump or Warren Buffett or George Soros？〃 The only way I can access their vast mental power is to be humble enough to read or listen to what they have to say。 Arrogant or critical people are often people with low self…esteem who are afraid of taking risks。 You see； if you learn something neistakes in order to fully understand what you have learned。
If you have read this far； arrogance is not one of your problems。 Arrogant people rarely read or buy tapes。 Why should they？ They are the center of the universe。
There are so many 〃intelligent〃 people who argue or defend when a new idea clashes with the way they think。 In this case； their so…called 〃intelligence〃 bined with 〃arrogance〃 equals 〃ignorance〃。 Each of us knows people who are highly educated； or believe they are smart； but their balance sheet paints a different picture。 A truly intelligent person weles new ideas； for new ideas can add to the synergy of other accumulated ideas。 Listening is more important than talking。 If that was not true； God would not have given us two ears and only one mouth。 Too many people think with their mouth instead of listening to absorb new ideas and possibilities。 They argue instead of asking questions。
I take a long view on my wealth。 I do not subscribe to the 〃Get rich quick〃 mentality most lottery players or casino gamblers have。 I may go in and out of stocks； but I am long on education。 If you want to fly an airplane； I advise taking lessons first。 I am always shocked at people who buy stocks or real estate； but never invest in their greatest asset； their mind。 Just because you bought a house or two does not make you an expert at real estate。
3。 CHOOSE FRIENDS CAREFULLY： The power of association。 First of all； I do not choose my friends by their financial statements。 I have friends who have actually taken the vow of poverty as well as friends who earn millions every year。 The point is I learn from all of them； and I consciously make the effort to learn from them。
Now I will admit that there are people I have actually sought out because they had money。 But I was not after their money； I was seeking their knowledge。 In some cases； these people who had money have bee dear friends； but not all。
But there is one distinction that I would like to point out。 I've noticed that my friends with money talk about money。 And I do not mean brag。 They're interested in the subject。 So I learn from them； and they learn from me。 My friends； whom I know are in dire straits financially； do not like talking about money； business or investing。 They often think it rude or unintellectual。 So I also learn from my friends who struggle financially。 I find out what not to do。
I have several friends who have generated over a billion dollars in their short lifetimes。 The three of them report the same phenomenon： Their friends who have no money have never e to them to ask them how they did it。 But they do e asking for one of two things； or both： 1。 a loan； or 2。 a job。
A WARNING： Don't listen to poor or frightened people。 I have such friends； and I love them dearly； but they are the 〃Chicken Littles〃 of life。 When it es to money； especially investments； 〃The sky is always falling。〃 They can always tell you why something won't work。 The problem is； people listen to them； but people who blindly accept doom…and…gloom information are also 〃Chicken Littles。〃 As that old saying goes； 〃Chickens of a feather agree together。〃
If you watch CNBC； which is a goldmine of investment information； they often have a panel of so…called 〃experts。〃 One expert will say the market is going to crash； and the other will say it's going to boom。 If you're smart； you listen to both。 Keep your mind open because both have valid points。 Unfortunately； most poor people listen to 〃Chicken Little。〃
I have had more close friends try to talk me out of a deal or an investment。 A few years ago； a friend told me he was excited because he found a 6 percent certificate of deposit。 I told him I earn 16 percent from the state government。 The next day he sent me an article about why my investment was dangerous。 I have received 16 percent for years now； and he still receives 6 percent。
I would say that one of the hardest things about wealth building is to be true to yourself and be willing to not go along with the crowd。 For in the market； it is usually the crowd that shows up late and is slaughtered。 If a great deal is on the front page； it's too late in most instances。 Look for a new deal。 As we used to say as surfers： 〃There is always another wave。〃 People who hurry and catch a wave late usually are the ones who wipe out。
Smart investors don't time markets。 If they miss a wave； they search
for the next one and get themselves in position。 Why this is hard for most investors is because buying what is not popular is frightening to them。 Timid investors are like sheep going along with the crowd。 Or their greed gets them in when wise investors have already taken their profits and moved on。 Wise investors buy an investment when it's not popular。 They know their profits are made when they buy； not when they sell。 They wait patiently。 As I said； they do not time the market。 Just like a surfer； they get in position for the next big swell。
It's all 〃insider trading。〃 There are forms of insider trading that are illeg