Notes on Escape

That’s exactly the voice/crazyness I was feeling a few weeks ago.  

I need to remember this quote when I want to buy a big tv for the new house :)

This is suuuper interesting.  I grew up in a household that clipped/used coupons pretty regularly.  Problem with it really is mental brain space.  Having a bunch of ideas all at once is fine, but actually dedicating small snippets of time/brain space/energy is trying to find immediate gratification.  Mental space diversion is distraction.  

I love this book's idea of semi-retirement as I think I'd go stir crazy with 100% freedom/relaxation time for myself.  I've done that before and it just doesn't really appeal.  But I do enjoy working on my own time, helping others, and doing so without having to think about the bank account balance.  We'll get there (the wifey and I).  

I also like the idea of planning out a budget for my epic adventure, i.e. finding the total cost, then divide that by how many months are left till said adventure so that it is easier to see what amount I need to save each month to get that thing.

Overall a nice quick read that I'd recommend to anyone.  I read it in maybe an hour tops.

Insanity = doing the same thing, but expecting different results

I legit feel like a crazy person sometimes.  This week has been a rough one for me as it pertains to being an employee.  My buddy happened to email me and he was and is in the same place as I am.  I thought I'd post our conversation just for posterity sake and perhaps the big vast interweb can provide needed insight for me.

From: Tyler
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 1:45 PM
To: Brock Norton
Subject: Re: Gotta get ou

I get it man, I get it.  Ironically enough I had a really hard day yesterday as well.  I told Katie I am seriously considering taking a severance check and bouncing.

It is tough to show up everyday and grind for someone else.  I feel like if it was my business I would be way more motivated.

My suggestion on doing a flip together would be for a future flip.  I don't want to get in on this one since you guys are already well into the process.  Plus I want to see how much cheddar you can pocket.

I think you nailed it on the head man.... FREEDOM....... that elusive euphoria.  Isn't it funny how taking a day off feels so good?  Almost like that is how it should always be?  All I know is that I need to figure something out because what I am doing is not fulfilling me to the level that I need it 

to.

I still think that if I could get a house paid for to eliminate some of the risk that I could do really well as a business owner.  I feel like I have what it takes to be a successful owner.

From: Tyler
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 8:56 AM
To: Brock
Subject: Gotta get ou

Back at my desk again, today will be very similar to yesterday and all the days before that.

I am burnt out on this job man.  I keep watching videos about being successful and almost all of them reference doing something that you love.  Do you know what that is for you?  For me I still don't know what that means for me.  One Ted talk the guy asks "what work can you not do?"

So right now I am in a serious holding pattern and it is really messing with me.  Our company was officially acquired last week and now we have to wait 2-3 weeks for all the dust to settle.  I told Katie I really want to see what Oracle is going to offer me.  If it is anything less than 100k I will probably start looking for something else.

North Carolina is off the table for the time being.  We decided that life here is just better.  Closer to everything and lots of sports and activities for the kids.  Katie's dad also said that new zoning laws have locked up most of his land so that other homes can't be built right now.

Anyway I just need to find my passion and do something that I enjoy.

Maybe we do a flip together and kill it.

On Wed, Jun 15, 2016 at 10:17 AM, Brock wrote:

I don’t know what my passion is.

Yesterday was rouggggggh for me man.  Seriously rough.  It hasn’t been that bad for me for a while as far as hating being an employee goes.  Today its still there but I’m seriously just trying not to think about it so that I don’t get worked up and hopefully I can calm down a little bit more today.  It was bad enough that I kinda felt like I was panicking a little bit in the afternoon and felt like I needed to walk out of the room for a sec.  Then it got to the point where I was feeling major stress knots in my shoulder/neck area for the whole day.  Part of it was spurred on by me doing some tutorial for coding and just not loving it/being excited about it and feeling like I was dumb.  But there are other things too that caused it. 

A lot of it started a couple days ago.  Monday morning I called and text the Vestus guy, but he didn’t get back to me later and so I was bugged about that.  We didn’t miss out on any potential flip deals, but I was bugged that I, in part, am leaving some of my money earning fate up to this company that isn’t super responsive. 

So back to Monday.  My boss was out.  So I had one thing that I finished early that day, by like 10 AM I was done for the whole day literally.  So I took a longer lunch.  I get back and my coworker says something to the effect that I noticed you left at such and such time and are just getting back.  It equated out to about a two hour lunch.  So I said, “ya those fabled two hour lunches diego (our boss) takes was nice”.  He retorts well at least he takes someone with him and lets people know, which of course is total bull crap and just trying to imply that I did it wrong and he doesn’t want to say anything negative about his boss/long time friend (they’ve worked together for years and years and even went to college together).  So that bugged.  If I want/need to take a two hour lunch I should be able to.  ESPECIALLY if I literally finished everything by 10 that morning and had/did nothing the rest of the day work related.  So there was that.

Then Monday afternoon I got around to listening to that podcast of eventual millionaire about the painter I think I told you about.  Well turns out the guy wasn’t anywhere near being a millionaire in 2012!!!  In fact his business was close to being done.  He got punched in the face when he was trying to do a bid and hit rock bottom and said he needed to change cause what he was doing just wasn’t working for him.  A few months later and after hiring a few coaches he finally found one that was good.  He got his marketing turned around and set up.  He started delegating.  He’s now a millionaire.  He’s not even a good painter and in fact doesn’t do any of the actual painting.  So here I was, Monday afternoon, honestly just kind of pissed.  Here’s this guy who sucks at painting, is pushy/clueless enough to get punched in the face, that turns around his painting business and in about 4 years becomes a millionaire.  Duh.  Seriously???  WTF am I doing with my life was my thought.

So this painter guy has a good website, but he also has one that helps painters market their business, but its garbage.  Well I thought, my father in law has a painting business, so I sent in a message saying I wanted to help my father in law and the guy actually responded with some follow up questions about my father in laws business, which I answered and so maybe I can help him make more money and join along for the ride.  But really I may not even need him since if this guy is a millionaire and doesn’t do any of the actual painting himself, why can’t I do the same thing and just have a network of painters, or carpet cleaners or plumbers or or or?  But here’s the rub, I have no idea man.  I have no idea what I’m doing.  I have no idea if painting or house flipping or coding is where its at for me.  I don’t care about painting, but I don’t really care or am passionate about any one thing and think, “OHHH if I could just ___ then ya I’d love life”.  

I think Ashlee is right in that I just want freedom.  It doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it provides freedom and makes some money.  This is in response yesterday when I told her I don’t know what to do because I really want to quit my job.  Ashlee mentions I need to just find my passion and I said I’m not sure what that is whether it be house flipping, coding, finance.  Then she said she thinks I just need something that gives me freedom.

My father in law saying he hated working for his cousin as a painter even though it’s the exact same thing he does now.  He said now that he works for himself it is a night and day difference.  I couldn’t have been more envious of him when he said that.

So I also listened to another podcast yesterday, same one, eventual millionaire.  The guy said that at any one time 47% of your TOP employees are looking to leave.  Why?  Turns out employees need actual legit recognition every 7-10 days to stay optimally happy at a job.  Also when crappier workers, i.e. losers who were just trying to milk the clock and everything else and they just weren't doing the job and get away with being lazy and complacent it bugs these top people and they want out of that culture.  I feel like I’ve been in that environment for years now.  People just there to do their job, but not trying to be the most amazing.  I don’t think its malicious by any means, but certainly I don’t feel like the teams I’ve been on people are just trying to dominate it at their job.  I want to be fully engaged and just bust my chops doing it.

I just placed a hold on a book that supposedly helps you find your passion or something like that.  If its any good I’ll have to tell you about it.

The Ted talk comment just makes me think of Dirty Jobs the cable show.  There are some of those I couldn’t do, but most I think I could.

Super long email.  You’re welcome.  Its because I have so much to do at work that I was able to write it too haha…….sigh……….

From: Tyler
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 1:45 PM
To: Brock
Subject: Re: Gotta get ou

I get it man, I get it.  Ironically enough I had a really hard day yesterday as well.  I told Katie I am seriously considering taking a severance check and bouncing.

It is tough to show up everyday and grind for someone else.  I feel like if it was my business I would be way more motivated.

My suggestion on doing a flip together would be for a future flip.  I don't want to get in on this one since you guys are already well into the process.  Plus I want to see how much cheddar you can pocket.

I think you nailed it on the head man.... FREEDOM....... that elusive euphoria.  Isn't it funny how taking a day off feels so good?  Almost like that is how it should always be?  All I know is that I need to figure something out because what I am doing is not fulfilling me to the level that I need it 

to.

I still think that if I could get a house paid for to eliminate some of the risk that I could do really well as a business owner.  I feel like I have what it takes to be a successful owner.

Then I wrote....

It really is about freedom man.  I often think back to my high school days during the summers I worked for a guy who did sealcoating for asphalt driveways.  A very seasonal business since you can’t do it when its raining or snowing.  My brother said though that he thinks he made 100k the last year we worked for him.  That is something I’d legit consider with a business is one that makes the same amount of money I do now, but for six months out of the year and then take 6 months off for the freedom it’d bring. 

Stickers

My back has been out of whack for the last couple months and as a side effect my legs are really tight and uncomfortable this whole time too so I take chances to stretch them out when I can.  One of those chances was as I was leaving the bathroom this morning and I noticed a random sticker on my right shin.  I think it got there when I leaned on our ottoman in the front room leaving my legs on the ground this morning. It was just a funny reminder of me being a dad and having kids now.

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 9

Money with stress vs equates money with peace of mind

a.            What actions I need to have peace of mind financially:

i.                Buy our forever home

ii.                Buy a new car

iii.                Have a six month buffer

Thinks small vs thinks big

a.            On a scale of 1-7, 7 being biggest, how big do you think?  4.  I don’t feel like I’m just going nuts on providing tons of value to lots of people.

Believes people are out to get them vs believes the universe is conspiring to help them

Believes their thinking is unrelated to their net worth vs knows thinking is the catalyst of all results

Experiences good fortune and can’t believe it vs experiences good fortune and wonders what took so long

a.            “A pint can’t hold a quart. If it holds a pint, it is doing all that can be expected of it.” - Margaret Deland

b.            I loved the above quote because if we condition and expect small things for us then that is all we will get.

The more money you earn the more stress you experience vs the more money you earn the less stress you experience

The more money you make the more problems you will have vs the more money you make the fewer problems you will have

“Don’t knock the rich. When did a poor person give you a job?”

The most popular get rich strategy among the masses is the lottery. Even with odds that virtually guarantee losing, millions flock to purchase tickets every day with hopes of striking it rich without effort. It appears harmless until you dig into this mindset, which reveals the sad truth: most people subconsciously believe this is their only chance to get rich. People travel to Las Vegas for the same reason: the chance to make enough money that they’ll never have to worry about it again. Instead of betting on themselves, they think they have a better chance of hitting the jackpot at a million to one………..totally crazy, but true.

List of 5 things that I can do today/everyday to make me uncomfortable, but that will increase my wealth:

1. Make a sales call everyday.
2. Wake up before everybody else.
3. Come up with ten ideas everyday.
4. Read something about investing.
5. Work on processes in my business.

Believes it’s wrong for a small group of people to possess most of the money vs welcomes the masses to join them.

This is so true especially in america when people started protesting the 1% and how much they whine and complain about them.  It’s easier to criticize the wealthy and condemn them as insatiably greedy and heartless than it is to make your own millions.

“Money is neither my god nor my devil. It is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are, whether it’s greedy or loving.”

Believes money creates corruption vs believes a lack of money creates corruption.

Interesting how corruption seems to be less of an obvious issue in 1st world countries versus south american and african countries abound with tales of corruption all over the place from the government down to the police.

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 8

Money is their enemy vs money is their friend

a.            Money is not materialistic, people are materialistic

b.            The great ones continue to cultivate and nurture their relationship with money by thinking about how to earn more, invest wiser, and leverage as much as possible. The rich do this so well they often acquire much more money than they’ll ever want or need, which is typically when they turn their attention to giving the excess away to charitable organizations. These groups wouldn’t survive without the success and generosity of the wealthy who have adopted money as a close friend.

c.            Do I see money as my friend or something you wish you didn’t have to think about?  This is a super interesting question because I think for myself that I wish I couldn’t/didn’t have to think about money.  I don’t consider it a friend.  A friend is someone who listens to you and helps you and gives you love and affection.  Of course money is an inannimate object and is incapable of actually doing those things in a physical sense, but it can also kinda do those things by buying people lunch, buying them gifts, buying them time with family and friends, helping when help is needed to get certain things done when it isn’t possible to do on one’s own.  It can entertain us and bring things to us.  Certainly money wouldn’t want to come to me if I didn’t treat it like a good friend and it is no wonder that so many people are poor because they do the exact same thing as I do.

d.            Start telling yourself on a daily basis that money is your friend and a positive force in your life, and your mind will go to work to help you acquire more.  Add this to my declaration wall of quotes.  I need to just get out there and make a little bit of side money on my own to get me encouraged to continue doing so.

Waits for their ship to come in vs builds their own ship

a.            The first line of this chapter is….”The average person subconsciously believes he’s going to be discovered, saved, or made rich by an outside force in the future.”, which mirrors almost exactly my sentiment said on number 32, “I almost feel like money is this imaginary thing and that making gobs and gobs of it will have to happen by someone bestowing it upon me or something like someone showing me how to do it step by step.”

Believes financial markets are driven by logic and strategy vs financial markets are driven by emotion and greed

a.            Rich know there is a difference between actual value vs perceived value and they take advantage of this appropriately.

b.            If you are not as wealthy as you like, there is something you don’t know.

Money is about status vs money is about freedom

a.            Instead of wasting your mental energy getting mad, direct it toward getting rich.

b.            A list of freedoms I will gain when I am rich:

i.                Great physical body because I’ll be able to hire a trainer to work out with and buy the best foods possible and classes to teach me how to cook better and tastier foods

ii.                Freedom of the stress of meeting everyday bills like car repairs and clothes for the kids

iii.                Freedom to work on the things I really want to work on

iv.                Freedom from having to worry about the neighborhood and neighbors I live by

v.                Free from having to worry about how to pay for marriages and college of kids

Lives beyond their means vs lives below their means

a.            How much money would you have to earn in a year to live the way you want to?  I’d say net take home of 50-60k would be pretty phenomenal.

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 7

Working for money vs working for fulfillment.

This is ultimately why I want to get rich.

You have to do something to get rich vs you have to be something to get rich

Plays it safe with money vs takes calculated risks

Have to have money to make money vs believes in using other people’s money

Jobs are the safest way to earn money vs believes outstanding performance is the safest way to earn money

If I remember right the book talked about how switching jobs a lot isn't a problem if you're an outstanding performer.

Believes in financial scarcity vs believes in financial abundance

a.            Do you believe you have the potential to earn as much money as you wish?

i.                No.  

b.            If not, why not?

 .                I almost feel like money is this imaginary thing and that making gobs and gobs of it will have to happen by someone bestowing it upon me or something like someone showing me how to do it step by step.

c.            I think having a house in bountiful paid off ($250,000) plus two or three rentals to cover living expenses would be enough for me so approximately 450k.  My tentative plan is to save up enough money to be able to quit my job to work on business and try and have said business already going by the time I quit and then I can just grow that thing once I quit.  Aside from quitting and going that route though I don’t know how I could muster enough desire and time to really work on something because otherwise I’m just too comfortable with my life as is.  And the next time a house with big potential in bountiful pops up I may just go ham and take a big risk and flip it to try and make a profit on it like the last one we lost out on.

Money as a weapon vs money as a tool

a.            Top 5 reasons I want to be rich:

i.                Stress of raising a family and being retired and able to provide for all my needs when I’m unable physically to work

ii.                Enjoy the finer things in life and have more conveniences like a second car (both nice), go on trips, restaurants, go to the gym

iii.                Be able to help other people and enrich their lives and give them opportunities and help them when they’re unable to help themselves.

iv.                Have fun.  Take people/family out to do things.

v.                Do what I really want to do.

Aren’t worthy of great wealth vs they deserve to be rich

a.            Whether you believe you deserve to be rich or not, you are right. I think that quote is attributed to Henry Ford. Its all in the head people.

Denies the importance of money vs knows money is a critical component of life

a.            “Money isn’t everything… but it ranks right up there with oxygen." Loooove this quote since its true and funny.

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 6

underestimates the wealth building power of referral marketing vs knows referral marketing creates millionaires

focuses on pleasurable activities vs focuses on money making activities

I.e. video games, TV, Movies, Sporting Events vs learning about investing and doing it.

sees money as a finite resource vs sees money as an infinite resource

earns money doing things they don’t like to do vs gets rich doing what they love

believes rich people are ruthless vs believes rich people are generous

lottery mentality vs an action mentality

a.            definitely know that for a time that i’ve relied and hoped on silver blowing up to make me rich. While still an outstanding undervalued asset it doesn't replace action and getting my skills up NOW to make a business go.

b.            On a scale of 1-7, 7 being strongest, how strong is your desire to be rich?  I think today my desire is like a 4 or a 5.

waiting to be rescued from financial mediocrity vs knows no one is coming to the rescue
Again touching on hitting it big with a certain investment vs taking action to get it done without it.

Rich people are smarter vs rich people are more savvy

a.            Ask Richard Gonzalez to be a millionaire mentor for me about money.

Money as controlling vs money as liberating

a.            Interesting how “You have to study business/nursing/tech/etc in college because that is where the money is at” is a subtle, but true way of helping condition people to surrender to money.  I.e. you can’t possibly make money doing anything other than that.  People naturally poo poo certain majors strictly on the post graduation median reported incomes ranked from highest to lowest even though a lot of people love pyschology and music and learning about all subjects (general studies).  They surrender to higher income majors when logic dictates that if one becomes an expert in anything they love doing and figure out a way to provide value and solve problems for people with that thing there isn't any reason why they couldn't make more money than those high median incomes.

Money changes people vs money reveals people
The book explains this as magnifying what somebody already is before/after they get rich. If you're kind you'll be even more kind with money. I think the example he used was Mother Teresa. While personally not wealthy she did have TONS of clout and connections to those that did and with that clout, connection, and money she did so much good.

a.            10 things I like about myself:

i.                I like to go out to eat with my wife.

ii.                I like playing video games.

iii.                I like to read.

iv.                I like to serve the young men in the church.

v.                I like to have people over for dinner.

vi.                I like to go on vacation.

vii.                I like to play sports.

viii.                I like to spend time with my brothers/siblings.

ix.                I like spending time with my kids.

x.                I like to sleep.

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 5

Road to riches paved with formal education vs road to riches is paved with specific knowledge

I really like this point because while formal education is ok and good I only think it is if it is teaching concrete skills that can contribute in the marketplace. The rich go to seminars and classes and read books to give them venture specific knowledge that they can use immediately.

money is earned thru labor vs money is earned thru thought

worries about running out of money vs thinks about how to make more money

a.            Sooooooo good…”poor people spend this time worrying about what they’ll do if they lose their job, get sick, or exceed their budget through poor planning or bad luck. Most of this worry is a waste of time, not to mention the negative, destructive psychological impact it has on their minds and the physiological havoc it wreaks with their bodies. Living in fear isn’t living; it’s surviving.”

b.            Wealthy people are often criticized for being obsessed with money, but the truth is, it’s the poor, working, and middle class that spend the most time thinking about it.

c.            If the masses would upgrade their limiting beliefs about money and redirect their mental energy to new and exciting ideas, they would experience financial abundance.  This totally jives with what James Altucher says.

d.            Money flows to great ideas like water. The secret is learning how to turn on the faucet.  This is what I need to figure out how to do!!!!!!!!!!!

e.            How much time do you spend worrying about money compared to the time you spend engaged in creative problem solving?  I definitely spend way more time on money problems then creative problem solving.  Hopefully my sessions with Tyler will help me with that.

thinks about spending vs thinks about investing

a.            To further exacerbate their frustration, they’re scolded by financial experts who insist they discipline themselves and trim their spending….holy shiizzzz tell me this isn’t MMM to the T.

b.            The world-class answer is to double or triple your income and create enough wealth so you can enjoy the good life to your heart’s desire without worries.

c.            Decide to double your income in the next 2-5 years. You don’t have to know how to do it yet. The first step is to decide to make it happen.

sees money thru the eyes of emotion vs sees money thru the eyes of logic

a.            a middle-class thinker can’t teach you how to become a world-class thinker.  Someone living a restricted existence can’t tell you how to live an unrestricted existence. And a poor person can’t teach you how to get rich. These statements are obvious to any rational thinking person operating from a logic-based mindset.

b.            “A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.”

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 4

building wealth is a solitary effort vs building wealth is a team effort

a.            I know this is a true statement because that is at least how andrew carnegie did it and i know the vast majority of the middle class are doing it the solitary route, i.e. their 401ks or solitary wealth building and not partnering with people either in business or investments.  I need to find a team member who wants to do the copy writing and social media blogging for my business.

I also want to work with people to try and do a flip someday.

worries about money vs dreams about money

a.            They’re after money so they don’t have to worry about money, and then once its taken care of they know they’re mentally and physically free to focus on their highest and best self and reach self actualization.

I loved that quote and I love how the different mentalities of the rich allow them to feel more natural and receptive as they're working and working on their businesses and jobs.

money is negative vs money is positive

a.            the rich keep charities afloat, tax base for infrastructure of countries

i.                List of things I’d do if I were a millionaire:

1. Sleep in
2. go out to eat more
3. buy new wardrobe of clothes including shoes, suits, ties, pants, shirts, belts
4. I’d go to fiji, greece, visit europe, africa, australia, see mt everest
5. I’d buy a nicer reliable car for me and ashlee and maybe a beater car as a second car
6. i’d buy a motorcycle
7. i’d buy ashlee a nice bike
8. i’d buy a nice tablet
9. i’d like to work out with a personal trainer and get in really good shape
10. i’d start even more businesses
11. i’d buy a nice projector or tv to watch movies and sports and play games on
12. i’d get a nicer house for the kids to play in and then i’d also hire out the yard maintenance of the whole thing
13. i’d buy rental properties to diversify my income
14. I’d likely go on a mission at some point

rich people are shallow vs rich people are strategic

a.            The rich see themselves as honest and strategic, and make no secret about their desire to build their financial empire. They are straightforward and direct in their approach. They have no interest in manipulation or unethical practices. Their chief aim is to get rich, in an honest, aboveboard manner, by serving others.

I love how people blast the rich, when really on the whole they can't possibly be rich and be shallow as people see through that and reward accordingly.

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 3

being rich is a privilege vs being rich is right

funny cause the middle class just finished participating in the largest lotto in history years after this book was written

I wrote the above because I believe the book says that the middle class doesn't think they deserve to be rich and good.

money is complicated vs money is simple

a.            Do I believe I have what it takes to be rich?  To be honest I’m not really sure.  I can of course make and have made a steady paycheck for years, and I’ve got some freelance work, but suuuuper sporadic and that is why I have my doubts about it.

b.            When I read his comment of, “Just for today, keep telling yourself that making money is simple” and how that’d make me feel before I even finished reading that I felt a calm and easiness within me.  It quickly left, but initially I felt it.

I think my hesitation and doubt stem from a legit lack of knowledge on money and how to make it on my own. While we went to the library a lot growing up and read plenty of books and had lots of books in the house growing up I don't ever really recall reading anything about investing and making money (serving people and providing value) until out of college. By then I was thoroughly indoctrinated in the middle class way of thinking and doing things to make a living in a linear fashion.

This year I'm wanting to read at least one book per month on investing subjects I'm interested in and working on business outside of my regular 9-5 job.

rich people are crooks vs rich people are ambitious

a.            Because of the average person’s unwillingness to accept full responsibility for his or her results, they are eager to criticize society’s most successful in an effort to minimize their achievements and justify their own mediocrity.

Loved that above quote. I see this all the time. People knocking the president's of their companies or their peers in church who are wealthy or friends or family or people they're dating. Its everywhere and prevalent the personal attacking of the rich to help hide their own insecurities. It happens all the time in school with bullies. I love this video that pokes fun of this very thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUvFeyGxaaU

How the Rich Think by Steve Siebold Part 2

hard work vs leverage

I was DEFINITELY taught about hard work growing up and even just a few weeks ago when my dad came to visit and we were talking about whether or not to have more kids he made the comment that the more kids you have the more you can teach them to share and work hard, which of course is debatable in and of itself, but that is for another time.

Aside from seeing my parents buying a home using leverage via a mortgage I'm not sure I was witness to leverage on a big scale. I did work for a guy in high school that hired a bunch of people to go and do estimates for his company to do sealcoating thus leveraging more manpower to scale up his business beyond himself.

I'm a newbie when it comes to using leverage to do things like trading stocks on margin or big investment money in flipping a house and using other people's money to do so.

money is the root of all evil vs poverty is the root of all evil

a.            Critical Thinking Question: Are you ashamed of your desire to be rich?  I am when I read MMM knocking people wanting to drive heavy barka loungers.

b.            Action Step: Decide to be proud of your ambition, and ignore people who tell you wanting to be rich is wrong.  I guess I got to ignore him.  

I left the questions in and my answers unedited.

I love how this book turns on its head middle class thinking. People could and probably do get supremely offended when they hear that the rich think poverty is evil and thus people who are in it must be evil. I think he is 100% right in his assessment however. Just think about crime. Does someone who has all the accutrements of life need to go and rob a neighbor, bank, or convenience store or steal a car to get the things they need to survive in life? Of course not.  

If someone has everything they need are they free to devote themselves to their highest and best self it isn't very likely they will opt to do evil even though it does happen on occassion, which reminds me of a point made consistently throughout the book.

Being rich does one thing to someone. It amplifies who they really are. If they are sad or angry or generous and giving they will still be that, but on amplified level. Hence why some rich people still aren't happy even with "ginormous piles of moneeeey".