smcculloch posted on January 21, 2006 10:25
I've been reading a lot of financial books lately and one of the best I've read has to be, Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
The book puts a lot issues in simple terms using comparisons between two fatherhood figures, Poor Dad, who was a well educated government employee and Rich Dad, a professionally uneducated business/real estate investor.
I can see a lot of comparisons between myself and poor dad, my old belief system had always been, "study hard and find a good secure job in a company that offers excellant benefits". Now, we all know there are not many "secure" jobs in IT, let alone the world today, so it is safe to say that this is old world thinking. If you want to truely get ahead, then you do need at least some independance from the corporations of this world and to constantly develop your skill set so you have the most to offer. (You can't get anywhere in this world without adding value!)
One belief that I did have in common with Rich Dad was the belief in "Work to learn, not to earn". I've taken many positions in the past for the type of work rather then the pay. This has paid very well off in the long run and I am a firm believer of this principle. When you are no longer learning, its time to move on.
The most simplest advice I have for anyone (who wants a secure financial future) is to live below your means, which leads me on to the next book I'm going to read, The Millionaire Next Door, apparently its written exactly for that subject.
Do you have any recomendations for someone who wants to improve their financial understanding?