The book does a good job for what it’s meant for: providing a life philosophy in a simple, nontechnical manner. The point is to take your own time and career into your own hands, not getting stuck in a rut where your life consists of making money just to pay off expenses (i.e. no savings), and investing your money. Clearly the point is not quit your day job today, and go invest in real estate; or present a hypertechnical account of specific investment or asset protection strategies.

I think many of you think he is advocating giving up your current life right this minute, and starting again down his path. Clearly, the intent is to begin thinking in terms of the presented philosophy, and take reasonable steps (given your current situation) to change your habits and actions.

p.s. judging someone from his path of life is bias.

As it happens, my dad has been successful at making money at the things talked about at the seminar I attended, notably, buying real estate at tax auctions in New Mexico. I wrote a book myself about our experiences, good and bad, which I will sell a copy of if someone asks, but I *don’t* have some “system* and I most assuredly do not suggest not being educated. So, you need to carefully listen to what is being said, and not use only one source for information. The more time you spend doing your homework, the less money you are likely to spend. A key thing to look at about people selling “systems” is how they make the majority of their money since they started selling a system- does it come from following their own advice, or does it come from selling the system?

If you’re selling investment advice based on your own success, I want to know that the advice you’re selling me is what made you successful.

It’s like the models selling the new exercise equipment on TV. They didn’t use that new, wonder-tool to build up their physique, they did that with steroids and free weights.

1. He says he retired at 47. He is probably working harder now than ever. His income is not passive it’s active. He has to work to improve cash flow.

2. He builds his real estate portfolio purely through leveraging. This is highly risky as long as the banks don’t call in the loans or reset the interest rate at a higher rate.

3. He says he focuses on cash flow. Yet the term “rich” by its nature is a concept of stock as measured by net worth. Theoretically, there could be a day when he has cash flow, but not worth much.

4. From a macro-perspective, there has to be a balance of E, S, B and I for society to function. If many people wants to be a B, they’ll need more S and E working for them. Then there will be a shortage of S and E, bidding up the wages of S and E and reducing the cash flow of B.

The point I am trying to get across really is, with these educational books you can not take everything you read and just become “rich”. It takes action and your own business research and experience to create your own business and successful destiny, which essentially makes you “rich”. Again if you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad it doesn’t mean rich is being a millionaire. Read it! and learn what R.K is actually preaching

Also, I must mention that the Rich Dad company will actually teach specific ways they make money in the ways they explain within their books. If you attend their courses and pay up. You can not learn how to be a millionaire by reading books for goodness sake! Nevertheless, if a book inspires you, readit! If it opens you mind and gets you to take action, read it! These people that write these books are not Saddam Hussein guys, they are just trying to make moeny like the rest of the world, and why not? I say let them! We are the ones buying the books and being sold to, so who is the fool???

p.s. Trent should research more on successful business people as Richard Branson (Virgin) almost went bust twice and even flashy P. Diddy had his time to lose money. It take loses and lessons to become successful and “rich”

All in all, be judicious with what you read. The point is are you reading from a wide variety of sources. Are you spending the time to educate yourself and find out what works for you.

“Work hard. Don’t buy a new car or ipod or whatever steals your extra cash.
Research what the best return will be on your money.
Invest.
Repeat.
This is what made him rich?
Wow.”

I especially recommend: “Work hard. Don’t buy a new car or ipod or whatever steals your extra cash.” Especially new cars, the amount of money burnt everytime someone buys a new car… Then again I’ve bought 3 new cars since 1994, and two ipods (that I never even use). Do as I say, not as I do.

RDPD – I was obsessed with wanting to know “the truth” about the RD, was he real? How important it is really? Please do not discredit a book just because it’s a best-seller.
I found a lot of good ideas in his writing and I believe in saying “when a student is ready a teacher will appear” and “take what you like and leave the rest”. Too many clichés? all for free.
Yes I invested in RE and yes I had to learn a lot of lessons along the way. Of course, that’s why I read what I can about money, including this blog, because I am willing to learn and learn to discriminate.

Rob West

What makes this book different that others? There are thousands of books that teach you how to get rich. What makes RD/PD different? He teaches you to let go of fears put in place though society. He doesn’t tell you to stupidly take a bold risk.

I am a PUA (if you know what this means kudos to you!) and what I learned is that there are readers and that their are do’ers. Both are the same, but the difference in both is FEAR. One becomes good while the other just reads and questions because the do’er controls his fear and succeeds. Sure failure is a big part of it, but he succeeds in the long run. The core values in his book are control your fears and trust in “real” education.

I am a by product of a second generation home, and like all second generation families we were taught to goto school and get a good education. But the whole time I went through traditional schooling I didn’t learn about money. My friends who knew about money didn’t learn in school, they learned through their parents. Well what about the people who can’t learn from their parents? This book was catered to those who let “society” teach them about money, thus instilling their FEARS.

The only true “how to get rich” guru I’ve ever come across who actually practices what he preaches is Art Hamel, who teaches people step-by-step how to buy multi-million dollar companies (good companies that are successful, not turnarounds) with none of your own money.

I would highly recommend anyone looking for concrete advice to get rich should check out Art Hamel. You can buy his complete, step-by-step business buying system at Michael Senoff’s hardtofindseminars.com (and no, I am not an affiliate of the site).

Marcus

this book changed my life. my thinking changed. i began reading not only RK, but other investment books as well. the key words was that i began reading. i “mentored” with many millionaires through their books when before i just listened to employees like myself that just “survived”. i knew i had to leave the left quadrant. i just didn’t know how. their “mentorship” gave me the map out of the minefield.

i moved to texas in 2004 in direct obedience to God. I became a business partner in TEAM in 2006. we not only use RK in our biz presentations, but believe his common sense strategies work if applied. i have become a 5% thinker, practice delayed gratification, long term vision and have become debt free. i am a mentor to many and now help single parents get out of the rat race.

there is nothing wrong with RDPD being used in an organization. RK was very smart in doing this.
we have a “book of the month” as a part of our training system and many authors benefit from their books being chosen. when over 200 thousand books are sent out monthly, they are happy!
our top 1% earners that read over 40 books to determine which 1 book will be sent down. (their names are listed in the recent forbes survey on MLM’s. our org had 40 of the top 100 listed)
since they have the fruit on the tree and the results i want, i read the books. i also contact the authors and let them know how much their books have impacted my life. i have used many of them in sunday school sharing with others that may never get the opportunity to read that particular book. the ripple effect is amazing.

using a system works…..look at mcdonalds org. they are brilliant and if not mistaken, one of the most successful franchises in the world still to this day. their “system” is not how to make burgers, shakes, and fries…..it is how to be a “b” biz owner. of course you can read…behind the arches and find that out.

there will always be controversy, heresay and popular opinions. critics are your best cheerleaders because if you succeed, it gives them hope. i follow the people that have the results that i want. i surround myself with winners.

while i am not a real estate investor-yet-it is a buyers market. i support RK. after playing CFQ i am convinced i need to learn more about stocks.

whether RK’s RD was real or not….there are millions of bookshelves of fictitious characters that are most loved. look at many of our movies in the last few years…..they have touched our hearts and lives deeply because a man or woman chose to put pen to paper and write.

i am not an author…yet. i am inspired to become one because of the books i have read. i think charlie “tremendous” jones said it best. my life in 5 years will be determined by the people i meet and the books i read.
i associate with winners. or even as les brown says…winners that have not discovered how to win yet. this is my passion and assignment. to sow into their lives what has been sown into mine. direction from men like RK. instead of getting a job, after losing everything he had, slept in the back seat of his car and then in a basement of a friend refusing to succumb to what he believed was 95% thinking. he proved himself.

thanks for listening.