Book Recommendation

“RICH DAD POOR DAD – What the rich teach their kids about money that the poor and middle class do not!” by Robert Kiyosaki

This book was recommended to me by a friend, he was telling me how this book was so fascinating and that he completed the book within 2 days. At that time, I wanted to start reading again but did not know which book to start with. I had heard about “Rich Dad Poor Dad” for quite some time. Hence I decided to head down to Borders to purchase the book out of curiosity.

The book highlights the differences in the ways that the rich and the poor view money and how they handle it. In this book the author uses his experience of his own dad, a school teacher (also known as poor dad in the book) and his best friend’s dad, a businessman (also known as rich dad in the book). The book states various examples of how each dad handled their finances. And through their differences, we can relate to how we ourselves treat money; as a rich guy, or as a poor guy.

An example that stood out to me was when both dads were looking at an expensive car. Poor dad said immediately “I cannot afford this car; this car is not suitable for me”. While Rich dad said “How can I afford this car”?  Can you see the difference by just asking “how”? “How” opens our minds and urges our brain to think of means and ways to afford that car.

At that time both dads had equal financial status. However, one chose to think like a rich person while another chose to think like a poor person. That alone made the difference and rich dad became rich eventually.

Besides the mentality, rich dad also did something different which I find rather interesting.

You earn $1000 a month and monthly bills of up to $1000. A normal person would want to pay your bills quickly. After all, if I’m not in debt, and I still can survive, I’m considered financially well off.

However rich dad has a different take on this. He would choose to pay himself first and then pay his debts. He would leave $300 for himself and use $700 to pay his $1000 debt. Crazy you might say. But he says he would use the pressure by his debtors on him to earn that extra $300 he owed others. This way he increased his income to $1300. And he has $300 in his pocket to invest in his assets.

I would recommend this book just because it provides simple but amazing insights to how one views money. I would not say it’s a “guarantee get rich” book. But it has refreshing and interesting ways to manage our money.

Author: Stephen R. Covey

This book was picked up somehow by chance at Harris Bookstore’s sale. It was late and the store was about to close. Since I was already there, I was not about to leave without buying a book. The title caught my eye “The Courage to Change”. I am usually tremendously resistant to change, therefore that seemed like the perfect book.

It does not matter whether you have read “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” from cover to cover, you can still keep up with this book as Covey brings attention to the Habits (and how they were used) at the end of each short story. The short and inspirational stories are shared effectively in sections, namely the Individual, Family, Community & Education and lastly the Workplace.

The very first story that made me shed tears was “My First Broken Heart” in the “Raising Teens” section, whereby a man recalls vividly how his father wept together with him on the night of his first romantic heartbreak many years ago, and recently how he paused to remember fondly that particular night before closing the lid on his father’s casket. After the story, Covey did a wrap up and emphasized the value of profound emotional experiences that lasts a lifetime, and the fact that such experiences give powerful scripts to the next generation.

Another persuasive take-home point from this book is the highlight of Habit 3: Put First Things First. Sometimes we can’t help but grumble about lack of time, yet Covey states it isn’t a matter of time; in fact, it’s a matter of “prioritization and commitment”. But first, you need to decide what matters most. The most important thing is always to “keep the main thing the main thing”.

With that said, it is perfectly fine to read this book before deciding to pick up “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. Who knows, you might feel instigated to let the 7 Habits govern your life and perhaps next time, it is your turn to share your inspirational story.

-by Xinyi-

Title: The Success Principles – How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

Author: Jack Canfield (with Janet Switzer)

This great book contains 64 principles that enable individuals to achieve success in all areas of their life. I bought this book mainly because of the title. It wasn’t the words “Success Principles” which caught my attention; rather, it was the fact that this book could tell me “how to get from where I was to where I want to be”. It was just what I needed.

Canfield starts the book off with the Fundamentals of Success, urging readers to take 100% responsibility of their lives. Most of us are so inclined to blame something outside of ourselves for the parts of our life we don’t like. Dear Advo-Students! Who is to be held responsible when you get a poor grade for your paper? Not your school teacher, not your coaches, not your parents, not your friends, not your study environment, it’s you! You and me alike, have to learn to give up our excuses and justifications and come to terms with the results we’re producing. Only after you’ve agreed to take 100% responsibility of your life should you even flip to the next chapter.

In another wonderful chapter, “Practice Uncommon Appreciation”, Canfield talks about auditory, visual, and kinesthetic appreciation. You may ask, ‘What does appreciation have to do with success?’. Actually, oftentimes when we’re in a state of appreciation and gratitude, we’re in one of the highest emotional states. We’re in a state of abundance! We’re appreciating what we do have instead of giving attention to what we don’t have. Because the law of attraction states that like attracts like, we will attract more abundance. For instance, don’t you realize that the more grateful people are for the things we do for them, the more inclined we are to do even more for them?

After reading the many principles of success, the author ends the book with the section “Success Starts Now”. There is no perfect time to start. Quit waiting until you’re perfectly ready. The fact is that you will never be! With that said, hesitate no more and buy or borrow your copy of “The Success Principles”. You and you alone are responsible for taking the actions to create the life you have always dreamt of.