Aunty’s favorite Rich Dad is Robert Kiyosaki.  He had this to say about the recent US government shutdown:

“The U.S. Government, due to partisan finger pointing and squabbling, has shut down.   Neither side could reach an agreement on a spending plan for the government.  Mail will still be delivered, the military will still be active, Congress will still get paid, but there are those many other services that will stop, affecting over 800,000 Americans – who will be out of work.  Focusing on what will or won’t change with the shutdown will not matter.   Instead, learn the lesson and message that lies within this mess.

This Government shutdown should ultimately remind us that we are in charge of our own financial future and we can’t depend on any government to take care of us.   Even if the shutdown is only temporary, even when they are “open for business,” the Government will still be faced with a mess, one that they created.   Their limiting solutions are:  a) pay the national debt, b) default on the debt, or c) continue with “Quantitative Easing” by printing more money. The problem is that any of these options will eventually lead to an economic crash.

And here lies the lesson that many can’t—or won’t—see:

Looking to the Government for financial solutions is like closing your eyes in traffic and hoping you don’t get hit.  You want to make sure that you and your family are prepared regardless of what happens with our economy or our government.  Understand what the rich already know and do what they do.  It’s never too late to get started.” 

Many people have their eyes closed and have not gotten hit – yet.  I truly hope they never do.  I hope that government subsidies for the needy never ends, that retirement benefits continue to be paid, that we do not encounter an economic crash, hyper-inflation, deflation, etc.

But, what if it does happen?

Are you doing what you need to do to safeguard, grow, be independent?  Aunty may not recommend that you run out and sign up for Rich Dad classes (see Aunty’s review), but if you do take control and start to save, invest, protect, and grow your own financial picture of well being, you will be better off – even if you count on your company’s or the government’s programs for retirement.  Start learning in chunks, little pieces, whatever way you can.  Robert Kiyosaki even has his own Rich Dad blog – highly recommended, and it’s free!

Do, or don’t?

Jeff Olson, in an audio recording for Nerium distributors, talks about the price of neglect.  “The price of neglect is far more painful than the price of discipline.”

Please take the time to really think about this quote and actually weigh the consequences of inaction over action.  Candy Crush Saga or taking a seminar?

I consider Jeff Olson a Rich Dad because of his leadership, success, and his heart.  His book, The Slight Edge, has 10 simple rules that anyone can incorporate in their lives, to better their lives.

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t – you’re right.”  Henry Ford

From time to time, I listen to words of wisdom from Bob Procter.  He also learns from “Rich Dads”, one of them being Napoleon Hill.  To quote Bob Procter:

In his best selling book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill wrote, “You will never have a definite purpose in life; you will never have self confidence; you will never have initiative and leadership unless you first create these qualities in your imagination and see yourself in possession of them.” He went on to say that, “… imagination is the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known.”

Have you ever thought of what your perfect life would be like?  Just that thought is the start of the process and fulfillment.  Write it down, draw it, dream board it, or post it here in a comment!  Brick by brick, step by step, build that perfect life.

Think it, learn it, do it

Sounds simple?  It really is.

Thinking it is the easiest part of it.  What does your ideal life look like?  Dream big.  Dream ENORMOUS!  Dream for real – do you REALLY want to have 15 cars that you won’t drive in a huge mansion that you get lost in?  Is your dream a nice little small house near a beach park with cash flowing rental real estate and a dividend paying stock portfolio with someone else who cooks and cleans for you?  (ahem, that’s also Aunty’s dream…)

Learning it means turning off the tv or limiting Candy Crush saga and picking up a book, a course, a seminar.  Be careful how much you pay – even though coaching gurus will tell you that they are worth every cent.  The world wide web has made it possible to advance your knowledge at your speed, whenever you want, however you want it, for free or for a fee.  Learn, digest, learn, digest.

Doing it – now this is what takes focus, commitment, and not listening to those who care about you.  I don’t know if Einstein would be considered a Rich Dad, but his definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  Walk a different path.  It will not be an easy one (price of discipline), but it sure beats going nowhere (price of neglect).

Mahalo Robert, Jeff, Henry, Bob, Napoleon, Albert

To all the Rich Dads that I know, and even the ones that I have yet to discover, mahalo.  If you know of any others, please share it with us in the comments section along with what a summary of what you have learned from them.  Also, please share your dreams – if not with Aunty, with somebody else.  Build your brick house just in case the straw houses crash.