To become a millionaire you need to think like a millionaire. Think like a millionaire: change your thoughts and get rich

Finally I said to myself, “Enough talking, it’s time to get down to business,” and decided to go into business again. I was young and healthy, and, apparently, that’s why I opened one of the first stores selling fitness products in the United States. I had absolutely no money, so I had to take out a loan of two thousand dollars.

I used everything I learned about rich people, their business practices and their way of thinking. The first thing I did was believe in my success. I promised myself that I would do my best and would not even think about quitting this business until I earned a million or a little more. This was completely different from what had happened to me before, when I did not think far ahead, constantly became a victim of circumstances or was faced with the need to solve problems.

I had to “adjust” my way of thinking whenever I noticed that financial issues were spoiling my mood or interfering with the interests of the business. I used to think that you should listen to your inner voice. Then more than once I became convinced that my mind was the main obstacle on the path to success. I began to brush aside all thoughts that did not move me towards future well-being. I used all the principles discussed in this book. Did this help me? It really helped, my friends!

The business grew so successfully that in just two and a half years I opened ten stores. And a little later he sold half of his shares for $1.6 million to one of the largest American companies.

After that I moved to sunny San Diego. He retired from business for a couple of years, devoted his free time to improving his methods and took up individual business consulting. I believe that these consultations were quite effective, since my clients began to bring friends, partners and subordinates to the classes. Soon I was working with a dozen or even two dozen students at a time.

One of my clients suggested that I open my own school. I liked the idea and jumped on it. This is how The Street Start Business School was founded, which taught thousands of Americans the “worldly wisdom” of doing business to achieve “quick” success.

While traveling around the country giving lectures, I noticed one strange thing: two people sitting next to each other in the same room, studying the same principles and techniques. One of them adopts the learned strategy and soars to the heights of success. What do you think is happening to his neighbor? Nothing special!

This is where I realized that you can have the best “tools” in the world, but if your “case” (I mean head) is a mess, you are in big trouble. I developed an intensive course called "Millionaire Think" based on your personal attitude towards money and success. When I combined a personal attitude (“case”) with external premises (“tools”), the results were simply stunning! This is exactly what you will learn from my book: how to learn to treat money correctly in order to get rich, how to think in order to become rich!

I am often asked: was my success accidental, does it continue? My answer is this: using the principles that I tell my students about, I have earned more than one million dollars and become a multimillionaire more than once. All my investments and all my projects are super successful! Sometimes people tell me that I have the gift of King Midas: everything I touch turns to gold. And they are right, although they do not understand that the Midas gift and a financial program with a mindset for success are one and the same. And this is exactly what you will get by studying and successfully applying the principles that I preach.

At the beginning of each seminar, I usually ask the audience: “How many of you came here to learn something?” This is a tricky question. Writer Josh Billings puts it this way: “It's not a lack of knowledge that holds us back; knowledge itself is our greatest problem.” This book is less about “learning” and more about “unlearning”! You need to understand how your previous way of thinking and acting brought you to your current financial situation.

If you are rich and happy, congratulations. If not, I propose to consider several possibilities that your “case” may not yet consider worthy of attention or at least applicable in practice.

Although I advise you to “don’t believe a word I say” and suggest that you test all ideas through your own experience, I still ask you to believe what you read. Not because you know my story, but because thousands of people have been able to change their lives using the principles outlined in these pages.

T. Harv Eker

Think like a millionaire

I dedicate this book to my family:

to my beloved wife

and wonderful children -

At first glance, writing a book is a personal matter for the author. In fact, if you want your book to be read by thousands or, hopefully, millions of people, it will require a whole team of specialists.

First of all, I want to thank my wife Rochelle, daughter Madison and son Jess. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do what I do. I would also like to thank my parents, Sam and Sarah, my sister Mary and her husband Harvey for their endless love and support. Also, a huge thank you to Gail Balsilie, Michelle Burr, Shelley Weenes, Roberta and Roxanne Riopel, Donna Fox, A. Cage, Jeff Fagin, Corey Cowanberg, Chris Ebbeson and the entire Peak Potentials Training team for your work and passion for making a difference in people's lives . Thanks to you, Peak Potentials has become one of the fastest growing companies offering personal development services.

Thank you to my incredible agent, Bonnie Solow, for your tireless help, support, and guiding me through the maze of publishing. Also a huge thank you to the HarperBusiness publishing team: publisher Steve Hanselman, who believed in this project and invested so much time and effort into it; to my wonderful editor, Herb Shefner; Marketing Director Kate Pfeffer; advertising director Larry Hughes. Special thanks to my colleagues Jack Canfield, Robert G. Allen, and Mark Victor Hansen for their friendship and support of my first steps as a writer.

Finally, I am deeply grateful to all of the Peak Potentials workshop participants, technical support teams, and our business partners. Without you, these seminars would not be possible.

Introduction

“Who the hell is T. Harv Eker and why should I read his book?”

At the very beginning of my seminars, I shock my listeners by immediately declaring: “Don’t believe a single word I say.” Why do I say this? Because we are talking about my personal experience. None of the ideas or viewpoints I hold can be said to be right or wrong, trustworthy or not. They simply reflect my own achievements and the incredible successes that several thousand of my students have achieved. Still, I hope that by using the principles described in this book, you can radically change your life.

Don't just read. Study this book as if your destiny depends on it. Try all the principles for yourself. Take into account the most effective ones. And feel free to discard those that don’t work.

I may not be objective, but what you now have in your hands is perhaps the most outstanding book on money you have ever read. And I am aware that this is a rather bold statement. In fact, the book is about what people usually lack in order to make their dreams of success come true. And dreams and reality, as you probably already know, are completely different things.

You, of course, read other books, bought audio recordings, took special courses and learned many techniques for getting rich, for example in real estate, the stock market or running a business. What did this lead to? No need! At least most of you! You received a temporary boost of energy and returned to your previous positions.

A solution has finally been found. It is simple, natural and obvious. And it comes down to one simple idea: if the “financial program” embedded in your subconscious is not “set up” for success, no matter what you teach, no matter what knowledge you have and no matter what you do, you are doomed to failure.

After reading this book, you will learn why some are destined to be rich while others struggle to survive. You will understand the true reasons for success, average income and financial failures and begin to change your financial future for the better. You will learn how childhood experiences influence our financial program and how they lead to defeatist attitudes and habits. You will be introduced to “magic” declarations, and thanks to them, “rich thinking” will replace the pessimistic way of thinking. And you will think (and succeed) just like rich people do. In addition, you will learn practical step-by-step methods for increasing your income and achieving material well-being.

In the first part of the book, we will analyze how each of us tends to think and act in the financial sphere, and identify four main methods for revising our “money program”. In the second part we will talk about the difference in the way of thinking of rich people, representatives of the middle class and the poor and look at seventeen exercises that can forever change the material side of your life for the better.

In the pages of this book you will meet some of the thousands of letters I receive from former participants of my intensive Millionaire Thinking course who have achieved serious success.

So what is my life path? Where am I from? Have I always been successful? If!

Like many of you, I was considered very capable, but it was of little use. I read every book, listened to every tape, and attended every seminar. I really, really, really wanted to achieve something! Whether it was money, independence, self-fulfillment, or simply living up to my parents' expectations, I was literally obsessed with the delusion of success. Between the ages of twenty and thirty, I started my own business several times with the idea that it would make me rich, but the results were either disastrous or disastrous.

I worked like crazy, but there wasn’t enough money. I had Loch Ness syndrome: I had heard that there was such a thing as profit, but I had never encountered it. I thought: “You just need to find a good business, bet on the right horse, and everything will change.” I was wrong. Nothing worked... at least for me. Finally the day came when I realized exactly this, the second half of the phrase. Why did others succeed in a business that invariably ended in failure for me? Where did Mr. Ability go?

I began to seriously study myself. I examined my true beliefs and discovered that despite my professed desire to become a wealthy person, I had a deep-seated fear of wealth. I was afraid. I was afraid of failure, or, even worse, afraid of succeeding and then losing everything - what an idiot I was! Worse, I could lose the only thing I had in my favor: my personal potential. What if I discovered that I was nothing and was doomed to struggle for existence?

Millionaires are distinguished not only by large sums in their bank accounts, but also by a completely unique system of thinking/worldview.

Millionaire Steve Sebold spent 26 years collecting data on the habits and behavior of wealthy people. During this time, he met and interviewed many multimillionaires and billionaires. He outlined his conclusions in the book “How the Rich Think.”

The main thing that Sebold discovered is that the secret of wealth lies not in the mechanism of making money, but in the thinking that distinguishes rich people from everyone else. Here are the 8 most important differences.

1. The rich believe that money is their right.

Everyone else is sure that wealth is a privilege. Sebold writes: “World-class thinkers know that in capitalist countries they have the right to be rich if they contribute more to society.”

Ordinary people believe that only a few lucky people can become rich. This difference in thinking forces them to play the lottery, and the potential rich to work. The latter are confident: if they make the lives of those around them better, wealth belongs to them by right.

2. Rich people know that owning their own business is the fastest way to make a fortune.

Everyone else is sure that starting their own company is a risky endeavor.

“The truth is that a full-time job is no safer than running your own business. At first glance, this seems paradoxical, but self-employed people have the opportunity to seek additional sources of funds and increase income at their own discretion,” says Siebold.

Of course, there are certain risks associated with starting a business, but millionaires know that the risk of not reaching their potential is much more dangerous. People with the mentality of the rich start companies and make money from them, while everyone else prefers a stable salary and misses their chance to make millions.

“Most people guarantee a life of constant need by staying in a job with a modest, annually indexed salary,” adds Siebold.

3. The rich understand that smarts are the key to success.

Everyone else is sure that in order to earn a fortune, you need to study a lot. Sebold writes: “If the key to wealth were straight A's in school, every college graduate who graduated with honors would be a millionaire. However, the condition depends more on common sense than on the ability to remember information and pass exams successfully.”

How to develop your intelligence? Try to look into the heads of rich people and find out what they think and how they manage their money.

4. Rich people believe in teamwork.

Everyone else is sure that making a fortune is an individual process. “Millionaires know that a reliable team is essential in life, and they focus on finding talented people who can help bring their ideas and plans to life. The greatest fortunes are created through the combined mental and physical efforts of people,” writes Siebold. He argues that prosperity largely depends on our environment.

5. Rich people know that making money is very easy.

Everyone else is sure that every ruble is given with difficulty. Sebold writes: “People have always assumed that the rich were smarter, more educated, or luckier. Of course, these are misconceptions."

The rich know that money comes from ideas and problem solving. The more successful the solution, the higher the reward. Millionaires have no special secrets. The vast majority of people are only hindered by self-limiting beliefs.

6. Rich people understand that to get rich you have to think.

Everyone else is sure that money is earned through hard, tedious work. Sebold explains that the middle class thinks about money in a linear way: the only way to increase income is to work more.

He writes: “The rich know that you have to think about big money in a non-linear way. Creative thinking is the most valued thing in the world. To make big money, train your mind to find solutions to complex problems."

7. Rich people think money means freedom.

Everyone else is sure: money is a limitation. “Wealthy people view money as a creative tool that expands the range of opportunities for them and their families,” says Sebold. In contrast, ordinary people consider money to be the “great oppressor.”

For the rich, money is a critical resource that opens up endless possibilities. The poor are demonized and denied their importance. With this attitude, it is no wonder they are poor.

8. The rich work to express themselves.

Everyone else works for money. Sebold says, "Millionaires know that working solely for money is the worst strategy for creating wealth." He advises not to look for a job with the highest salary, but to look for an activity with the greatest creative potential.

Once you find something like this, put your heart and soul into it to become one of the best in your field. For this you will be rewarded with extraordinary wealth.

PHOTO Getty Images

Kiyosaki wrote the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” about Americans and for Americans, moreover, twenty years ago. Therefore, practical advice on getting rich in Russia does not work: we do not have a cheap mortgage, or the opportunity to purchase real estate without collateral. Buying precious metals is unprofitable in the short term, but brings little profit in the long term.

The secret of the popularity of books is in the way of thinking of rich and poor people.

Two fathers

As a child, Kiyosaki watched two fathers: his and his best friend. Robert's own father is an educated man with a doctorate. He completed a four-year university course in two years. After that, he graduated from Stanford, Chicago and Northwestern universities. The second father did not even finish eighth grade.

Both worked hard and had careers. Both made a lot of money. But Robert's father always struggled with financial difficulties, and his second easily became one of the richest people.

Robert wondered, “Why is this happening?”

Difference of views

Kiyosaki is sure: anyone can get rich. To do this, you first need to understand what type of person you are. Kiyosaki identifies four types of people:

PHOTO Konstantin Amelin

Worker- a person who works for someone. Our parents program us to become an employee from childhood.

Parents tell their children: “You need a medal, it will be easier to get into a good university.” Children graduate from school with good grades and enter university. The parents continue: “You need a good diploma - it will help you get a well-paid job.” Children try hard, finish their studies and get good jobs. Many quickly move up the career ladder, but remain employees.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a salesperson or a department manager in a large company, you are an employee. Your income is salary. And if this is your only income, no matter the amount, you are living paycheck to paycheck. You can climb the career ladder, but you have a ceiling - you can’t jump higher than the salary level in your position.

More prospects for entrepreneurs. These people use professional skills for self-employment. This includes small business owners, independent entrepreneurs, and professionals.

Just like employees, entrepreneurs get paid for their time. But unlike employees, who give most of their income to the company for the right to work, entrepreneurs receive all the income.

Entrepreneurs are good specialists: they build companies on their own knowledge - the fuel for the development of the company. If an entrepreneur with his knowledge leaves work for a while, the company's income will decrease.

U businessmen, unlike entrepreneurs, often there is no special knowledge in the field in which they are opening a business.

Oleg Tinkov did not study to become a cook, but opened a factory for the production of dumplings. I didn’t understand technology at a professional level, but I created a network of consumer electronics.

Shiochiro Honda, the founder of the Honda company, barely completed the eighth grade of school.

Roman Abramovich dropped out of the Forestry Institute.

The list of rich people who have not received special education can be compiled endlessly. But that doesn't mean they are stupid. It’s just that their mind, unlike an entrepreneurial one, is not academic. Businessmen have a knack for finding smart people to do the work for them.

Their companies are thriving and generating income, although the businessmen themselves do not work in the usual sense of the word. Businessmen do not sell time for money like employees and entrepreneurs. They organize the business process and companies generate income.

Investors want their money to work for them. First of all, they are concerned about how quickly the investment will pay off. Investors, like businessmen, manage their time freely. Workers and entrepreneurs are time dependent and have limited income. The former because they work for the manager, the latter - for themselves.

To gain access to money, you need to move from workers and entrepreneurs to the category of businessmen and investors. But fear and the desire to have benefits prevents us from doing this. An employee is afraid of losing a stable job, an entrepreneur is afraid of losing his business. And together they are afraid of the possibility of being left without a livelihood and the inability to buy what they want.

Poor Man's Mistakes

The reason for the fear of employees and entrepreneurs is the wrong attitude towards money. Both are working to get more money. When this succeeds, they indulge the desire to spend money. We get up in the morning, go to work, pay bills and dream about what we don't have enough money for. This is running in circles.

The more money a poor person earns, the more goods he acquires and wants to acquire. There is not enough money all the time.

The poor man is trying to get out of this wheel in three ways:

First- savings. Saving for the future is a useful skill; rich people do it too. Only the poor have savings; they do not increase current income. You will ensure a comfortable existence in retirement and even leave an inheritance to your grandchildren. But income is not available at the moment: the budget is shrinking, there is no free money to increase it. A poor man remains a poor man.

Second- cost reduction and savings. Planning money is a skill no less useful than saving. Only the poor again make a mistake: they save for the same benefits. When a poor man collects the necessary amount, he spends it on buying what he wants and returns to where he started. Saving again for the next benefit. The process can last a lifetime.

Third- investing in assets. This is done by the middle class or entrepreneurs. Only here the poor are unlucky: they confuse assets and liabilities.

Financial literacy

Kiyosaki sees the main problem of the poor and middle class in the lack of financial literacy. The rich acquire assets. The poor and middle class buy liabilities that they consider assets. The most common examples of confusion in the minds are attitudes towards a house or a car.

Poor people buy (or are planning to buy) an apartment and a car. But an apartment and a car do not generate income, but only take money - a loan, utility bills, property tax. Yes, you have a vehicle and a roof over your head, but this is... passive because you don't get anything.

Let's say you've written an online course of lectures. You spend the effort once, and you get money every time your course is purchased. This assets.

It's simple: an asset brings money, and a liability takes it away.

The problem of the poor is not low wages, but poor investments. Look at the cash flow of poor dad and rich dad.

PHOTO Konstantin Amelin

The expenses of poor and rich dads are the same: food, entertainment, clothing, utilities, taxes. Only rich dad has assets as a source of income. Real estate (which he rents out), intellectual property, stocks - all assets generate income and do not require the participation of rich dad.

Poor dad's only income is his salary. He spends it not only on fixed expenses, but also on liabilities. Credit is a liability, just like a credit card. Liabilities take away money, although it seems like an investment in the future.

Poor dad doesn't have any spare money to invest. But there are loans, savings for retirement and constant expenses. Rich dad always has free money for investments: this item is written in his budget. Rich dad strives to invest even a small amount in an asset that will generate income.

Gradually, rich dad's assets cover his monthly expenses. This way he stops depending on his salary. The next step is to invest the excess money from the assets into new assets.

Kiyosaki is convinced: poor dad needs to stop being afraid and think about how to increase even his small income.

Thoughts of a rich man

Kiyosaki teaches you to manage money (even small ones), and not obey it.

If we tell ourselves: “I can’t,” the brain relaxes and does not look for options. If we say: “How can this happen?”, a signal is sent to the brain, it starts working and necessarily produces ideas and ways to increase income.

To change your thoughts, you just need to remember a few things.

The rich don't work for money. But also for the idea. The rich work for experience.

Look for sources of passive income. There is no need to quit your job and spend all your savings on stocks. Work: May your income remain stable. And in your free time, study the market, look around. Your brain will find a way to enrichment.

The main teacher of the rich is mistakes. In 2012, Robert Kiyosaki lost a long-term lawsuit and declared bankruptcy of the company. Kiyosaki lost millions more than once. But he earned them again and again. Don't stop if something doesn't work out. Learn from the mistakes of the past and try new things.

Investing in investment knowledge is better than buying stocks and losing everything. Financial literacy is something that many people lack. Kiyosaki advises taking courses, but not just memorizing information, but delving into the intricacies.

Business drivers are smart people. Don't strive to get twenty-five degrees. Find educated people and hire them.

The first investors are useful acquaintances. Talk to people. The larger the circle of acquaintances, the greater the chances of finding investors who will invest money in your idea.

A rich man thinks about increasing assets and decreasing liabilities. Before you buy anything large, consider how much money you will have to invest in the purchase later.

1 R. Kiyosaki “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” (Medley, 2014).