We’ve finally reached the last chapter - exciting, right? This one is all about how to grow our f inancial intelligence so we can become successful and possibly rich.
Robert explains that there are five types of financial intelligence we need to develop - and it’s something we keep learning throughout our lives.
He points out that common advice like “invest for the long term” usually just means giving our money to someone else to manage. That doesn't help us learn or stay in control. Instead, we should focus on building our own financial knowledge so we can make smarter decisions ourselves.
To do that, we need to put ourselves in environments that help us learn and grow - what Robert calls “transitional environments.” These are real-life experiences that push us to become better with money and life in general. Here are a few he talks about:
• School helps us develop logical thinking and creativity, but it doesn’t do much for our habits, emotions, or confidence. In fact, it often makes us afraid of failing or making mistakes, which can hold us back.
• Church can give us spiritual strength. Some churches focus on love and kindness, while others focus on fear and rules. Robert believes that with strong values, we can improve our inner confidence and become more honest, kind, and generous.
• The military, especially the Marine Corps, helped Robert build emotional strength and courage. He learned how to stay calm under pressure and handle fear. That helped him a lot when he became an entrepreneur and faced challenges like losing money.
• Network marketing is another great learning environment. It gives us real-world training, support, and a chance to build sales and people skills. It’s a safer place to fail and grow, especially if we’re trying to overcome fear or self-doubt.
• Working in business either in a large company or a small one also helps us learn. Big companies can be tough and stressful, but they teach us how to deal with pressure and understand people better. Small companies give us hands-on experience and let us see how everything works, which is great if we want to start our own business one day.
Robert also reminds us that traditional education is good for certain careers, like becoming a doctor or lawyer. But for entrepreneurs and investors, seminars and real-life experiences are often more helpful. The Rich Dad Company offers seminars, coaching, and CASHFLOW Clubs to help us learn by doing. These programs focus on using all parts of our brain to improve our chances of success.
Coaching is especially powerful. Even if we think we don’t need help - or can’t afford it - it can make a huge difference. Sometimes, it’s our own mindset that holds us back.
There’s also a free video we can download, where a brain expert talks about how some people get stuck in habits that keep them poor. It’s funny, eye-opening, and helps us understand how our brain affects our financial life.
So, what does it take for us to become successful entrepreneurs?
