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urned to my left to look at Mike。 He looked back at me。 The part of my soul that was weak and needy was silenced。 The part of me that had no price took over。 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