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〃Ready to learn？〃 asked rich dad。
〃Absolutely；〃 I said with a grin。
〃I have kept my promise。 I've been teaching you from afar；〃 my rich dad said。 〃At 9 years old； you've gotten a taste of what it feels like to work for money。 Just multiply your last month by fifty years and you will have an idea of what most people spend their life doing。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 I said。
〃How did you feel waiting in line to see me？ Once to get hired and once to ask for more money？〃
〃Terrible；〃 I said。
〃If you choose to work for money； that is what life is like for many people；〃 said rich dad。
〃And how did you feel when Mrs。 Martin dropped three dimes in your hand for three hours' work？〃
〃I felt like it wasn't enough。 It seemed like nothing。 I was disappointed；〃 I said。
〃And that is how most employees feel when they look at their paychecks。 Especially after all the tax and other deductions are taken out。 At least you got 100 percent。〃
〃You mean most workers don't get paid everything？〃 I asked with amazement。
〃Heavens no！〃 said rich dad。 〃The government always takes its share first。〃
〃How do they do that。〃 I asked。
〃Taxes；〃 said rich dad。 〃You're taxed when you earn。 You're taxed when you spend。 You're taxed when you save。 You're taxed when you die。〃
〃Why do people let the government do that to them？〃
〃The rich don't；〃 said rich dad with a smile。 〃The poor and the middle class do。 I'll bet you that I earn more than your dad； yet he pays more in taxes。〃
〃How can that be？〃 I asked。 As a 9…year…old boy； that made no sense to me。 〃Why would someone let the government do that to them？〃
Rich dad sat there in silence。 I guess he wanted me to listen instead of jabber away at the mouth。
Finally； I calmed down。 I did not like what I had heard。 I knew my dad complained constantly about paying so much in taxes； but really did nothing about it。 Was that life pushing him around？
Rich dad rocked slowly and silently in his chair； just looking at me。
〃Ready to learn？〃 he asked。
I nodded my head slowly。
〃As I said； there is a lot to learn。 Learning how to have money work for you is a lifetime study。 Most people go to college for four years； and their education ends。 I already know that my study of money will continue over my lifetime； simply because the more I Find out； the more I find out I need to know。 Most people never study the subject。 They go to work； get their paycheck； balance their checkbooks； and that's it。 On top of that； they wonder why they have money problems。 Then； they think that more money will solve the problem。 Few realize that it's their lack of financial education that is the problem。〃
〃So my dad has tax problems because he doesn't understand money？〃 I asked； confused。
〃Look；〃 said rich dad。 〃Taxes are just one small section on learning how to have money work for you。 Today； I just wanted to find out if you still have the passion to learn about money。 Most people don't。 They want to go to school； learn a profession； have fun at their work； and earn lots of money。 One day they wake up with big money problems； and then they can't stop working。 That's the price of only knowing how to work for money instead of studying how to have money work for you。 So do you still have the passion to learn？〃 asked rich dad。
I nodded my head。
〃Good；〃 said rich dad。 〃Now get back to work。 This time； I will pay you nothing。〃
〃What？〃 I asked in amazement。
〃You heard me。 Nothing。 You will work the same three hours every
Saturday； but this time you will not be paid 10 cents per hour。 You said you wanted to learn to not work for money； so I'm not going to pay you anything。〃
I couldn't believe what I was hearing。
〃I've already had this conversation with Mike。 He's already working； dusting and stacking canned goods for free。 You'd better hurry and get back there。〃
〃That's not fair；〃 I shouted。 〃You've got to pay something。〃
〃You said you wanted to learn。 If you don't learn this now； you'll grow up to be like the two women and the older man sitting in my living room； working for money and hoping I don't fire them。 Or like your dad； earning lots of money only to be in debt up to his eyeballs； hoping more money will solve the problem。 If that's what you want； I'll go back to our original deal of 10 cents an hour。 Or you can do what most people grow up to do。 Complain that there is not enough pay； quit and go looking for another job。〃
〃But what do I do？〃 I asked。
Rich dad tapped me on the head。 〃Use this；〃 he said。 〃If you use it well； you will soon thank me for giving you an opportunity； and you will grow into a rich man。〃
I stood there still not believing what a raw deal I had been handed。 Here I came to ask for a raise； and now I was being told to keep working for nothing。
Rich dad tapped me on the head again and said； 〃Use this。 Now get out of here and get back to work。〃
LESSON #l： The Rich Don't Work For Money
I didn't tell my poor dad I wasn't being paid。 He would not have understood； and I did not want to try to explain something that I did not yet understand myself。
For three more weeks； Mike and I worked for three hours； every Saturday； for nothing。 The work didn't bother me； and the routine got easier。 It was the missed baseball games and not being able to afford to buy a few comic books that got to me。
Rich dad stopped by at noon on the third week。 We heard his truck pull up in the parking lot and sputter when the engine was turned off。 He entered the store and greeted Mrs。 Martin with a hug。 After finding out how things were going in the store； he reached into the ice…cream freezer； pulled out two bars； paid for them； and signalled to Mike and me。
〃Let's go for a walk boys。〃
We crossed the street； dodging a few cars； and walked across a large grassy field； where a few adults were playing softball。 Sitting down at a remote picnic table； he handed Mike and me the ice…cream bars。
〃How's it going boys？〃
〃OK；〃 Mike said。
I nodded in agreement。
〃Learn anything yet？〃 rich dad asked。
Mike and I looked at each other； shrugged our shoulders and shook our heads in unison。
Avoiding One of Life's Biggest Traps
〃Well； you boys had better start thinking。 You're staring at one of life's biggest lessons。 If you learn the lesson； you'll enjoy a life of great freedom and security。 If you don't learn the lesson； you'll wind up like Mrs。 Martin and most of the people playing softball in this park。 They work very hard； for little money； clinging to the illusion of job security； looking forward to a three…week vacation each year and a skimpy pension after forty…five years of work。 If that excites you； I'll give you a raise to 25 cents an hour。〃
〃But these are good hard…working people。 Are you making fun of them？〃 I demanded。
A smile came over rich dad's face。
〃Mrs。 Martin is like a mother to me。 I would never be that cruel。 I may sound cruel because I'm doing my best to point something out to the two of you。 I want to expand your point of view so you can see something。 Something most people never have the benefit of seeing because their vision is too narrow。 Most people never see the trap they are in。〃
Mike and I sat there uncertain of his message。 He sounded cruel； yet we could sense he was desperately wanting us to know something。
With a smile； rich dad said； 〃Doesn't that 25 cents an hour sound good？ Doesn't it make your heart beat a little faster。〃
I shook my head 〃no；〃 but it really did。 Twenty five cents an hour would be big bucks to me。
〃OK； I'll pay you a dollar an hour；〃 rich dad said； with a sly grin。
Now my heart was beginning to race。 My brain was screaming；
An
〃Take it。 Take it。〃 I could not believe what I was hearing。 Still； I said nothing。
〃OK； 2 an hour。〃
My little 9…year…old brain and heart nearly exploded。 After all； it was 1956 and being paid 2 an hour would have made me the richest kid in the world。 I couldn't imagine earning that kind of money。 I wanted to say 〃yes。〃 I wanted the deal。 I could see a new bicycle； new baseball glove； and adoration of my friends when I flashed some cash。 On top of that； Jimmy and his rich friends could never call me poor again。 But somehow my mouth stayed silent。
Maybe my brain had overheated and blown a fuse。 But deep down； I badly wanted that 2 an hour。
The ice cream had melted and was running down my hand。 The ice…cream stick was empty； and under it was a sticky mess of vanilla and chocolate that ants were enjoying。 Rich dad was looking at two boys staring back at him； eyes wide open and brains empty。 He knew he was testing us； and he knew there was a part of our emotions that wanted to take the deal。 He knew that each human being has a weak and needy part of their soul that can be bought。 And he knew that each human being also had a part of their soul that was strong and filled with a resolve that could never be bought。 It was only a question of which one was stronger。 He had tested thousands of souls in his life。 He tested souls every time he interviewed someone for a job。
〃OK； 5 an hour。〃
Suddenly there was a silence from inside me。 Something had changed。 The offer was too big and had gotten ridiculous。 Not too many grownups in 1956 made more than 5 an hour。 The temptation disappeared； and a calm set in。 Slowly I turned to my left to look at Mike。 He looked back at