The wealthy people of the world are some of the most studied
and carefully analyzed people there are. The rich and famous
represent a microscopic percentage of the overall population.
The wealthy represent our dreams, our goals and our
aspirations. As very young adults, many dream of being rich.
(Some of us just dreamed we wouldn't have to go to the
orphanage.)
When you were younger you probably felt that you would strike
it rich early and would live an abundant life.
As time passes by, you start to believe less and less that you
are deserving of being wealthy and "lucky."
You look at those who are rich, and feel amazed that they were
able to "make it".
It had to be luck because they made it, you didn't and you
worked HARD.
One day you get "lucky" and get to sit down with a millionaire.
You talk to them and wonder, "How the heck did they get so rich,
because they are nothing special".
Eventually you conclude that the wealthy are not necessarily
genius, talented, skillful, or amazing after all. So, how did
they become so rich?
The notion of "getting rich" has been the focus of countless
books, tons of seminars, thousands of case studies, movies,
stories and examinations.
The rich are so carefully watched and studied and interviewed,
the rest of us are still left wondering… "How did they even get
so rich in the first place"?
As a kid, I never thought of getting rich. I spent a few weeks
or so each summer with my grandparents who were both teachers
(or administrators). They had summers off and enough money to
take us (grandkids) on a trip each summer.
Definitely rich!
There was no way I was ever going to live that life. My family
was so broke you had to put an UH in the word, BUHROKE.
(pronounced "baroque"
Then college hit. (There's a metaphor…for ya'.)
I wanted to be an actor and a journalist.
I don't recall wanting to be an actor to become wealthy. I
remember that I couldn't sing like Elvis, I wanted the girl, so
I had to settle for being an actor.
Then after a few years I switched to the University of
Minnesota. I was in Hamlet the year before at Wisconsin. This
year…I found out how mediocre I really was. I had zero point
zero chance of being an actor.
At the UW I studied Journalism.
I got to interview Ralph Nader and The Amazing Kreskin (is
there anyone else who goes by the name of "Kreskin" other than
the "amazing one?")
That was cool to be able to interview them.
This was about three hundred years ago and I still treasure
those moments of being the idolatrizing kid who got to talk to
Kreskin (one of my childhood heroes…had thicker lenses in his
glasses than me. That guy is as close to blind as it comes…)
Three years of college. Ran out of money. Was working 30 odd
hours per week. Had to leave college, not to return for many years. They wouldn't loan me any
more money and I had to pay the bills. I got another job. 60
hours per week. Sometimes a few more if I got down to Cannon
Falls and work the nursing home for a day on the weekend.
I was ever convinced that wealth wasn't in the picture.
How does a poor young man find the road to wealth? Turn the page...
