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When Robert Kiyosaki published his first book, If You Want To Be Rich and Happy, Don’t Go to School, a publisher suggested a more academic title: The Economics of Education. Robert joked that with a title like that, he would only sell two copies - one to his family and one to his friend, and even they would want it for free.
He kept the bold and controversial title because he knew it would attract attention and get media exposure. People thought he was crazy, but the strategy worked, the book sold extremely well. He later explained that he wasn’t against education; instead, he believed the system needed serious reform. His bold title was simply a way to start that conversation.
After graduating from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1969, Robert secured a well-respected job at Standard Oil, earning about $42,000 a year while working only seven months. His academic father was proud. But after just six months, Robert quit to join the Marine Corps and become a pilot. His educated dad was shocked and disappointed - his rich dad, however, congratulated him.
Robert points out that society encourages specialization - doctors, lawyers, and professionals are trained to master one field. His educated dad believed in that approach and was proud of earning his PhD. But his rich dad believed the opposite. He taught Robert: “You want to know a little about a lot.”
So Robert spent years working across different departments in his rich dad’s businesses - accounting, sales, marketing, construction, and even cleaning tables. His rich dad wanted him to learn the language and mindset of business, not just one role. He also had Robert sit in meetings with bankers, lawyers, accountants, and brokers to understand how an entire business functions, not just one part of it.
Robert explains that when he quit his high-paying job at Standard Oil, his educated dad couldn’t understand why. To him, a stable job with benefits and promotion opportunities was the smartest path. But Robert wasn’t following his dad’s logic, he was following his rich dad’s mindset.
To his educated dad, job security was everything. To his rich dad, learning was everything.
Robert didn’t attend school just to become a ship’s officer, he went to study international trade. While others partied, he traveled across Asia and the Pacific, learning about business, culture, and global markets.
Later, Robert joined the Marine Corps, not just to fly, but to develop leadership skills. His rich dad believed that leading people was the hardest, and most valuable - skill in business.
After returning from Vietnam, Robert joined Xerox, not for the salary, but to overcome his fear of selling. His educated dad looked down on sales, but his rich dad encouraged it because sales and communication are core business skills. After becoming a top performer, Robert quit again to continue learning and growing.
At age 30, he finally started his first company. His rich dad believed it was better to fail young while there was still time to recover. Robert’s first product, a nylon-and-Velcro wallet - was manufactured overseas and shipped to the U.S., testing everything he had learned.
Robert continues doing international business and investing globally, especially in emerging markets, just as his rich dad taught him.
He often shares a saying: “JOB stands for Just Over Broke.”
Most people work just enough to pay bills, staying trapped in the Rat Race. They work hard enough not to get fired, and companies pay just enough so employees don’t quit. Many never get ahead because they focus only on earning money - not on learning skills.
Robert advises young people to choose jobs based on what they will learn, not what they will earn. Otherwise, life becomes like a hamster wheel - lots of movement, but no real progress.
He reminds us to stop and ask: “Where is all this hard work taking you?”
If the answer leads nowhere, then something needs to change - right?
So, what’s your thought on this?
