How Rich People Think

“Money isn’t everything… but it ranks right up there with oxygen.” — Rita Davenport

1. Middle class believes the road to riches is paved with formal education world class believes the road to riches is paved with specific knowledge.
2. Middle class believes money is earned through labor… World class believes money is earned through thought
3. Middle class worries about running out of money… World class thinks about how to make more money
4. Middle class thinks about spending… World class thinks about investing
5. Middle class sees money through the eyes of emotion… World class sees money through the eyes of logic
6. Middle class underestimates the wealth building power of referral marketing… World class knows referral marketing creates millionaires
7. Middle class focuses on pleasurable activities… World class focuses on money making activities. They parlay a love for real estate into property speculation; a passion for beautiful paintings into investment art; or a flair for numbers into buying and selling stocks. So while they’re working, they’re making money, and while they’re enjoying their hobbies, they’re still making money. Wealthy people know leverage is one of the great secrets of success, and they go to great lengths to employ it.
8. Middle class sees money as a finite resource… World class sees money as an infinite resource
9. Middle class believes rich people are ruthless… World class believes rich people are generous.
10. Middle class has a lottery mentality… World class has an action mentality
11. Middle class is waiting to be rescued from financial mediocrity… World class knows no one is coming to the rescue
12. Middle class believes rich people are smarter… World class believes rich people are more savvy
13. Middle class sees money as controlling… World class sees money as liberating
14. Middle class believes money changes people… World class believes money reveals people.
15. Middle class believes in working for money… World class believes in working for fulfillment
16. Middle class believes you have to do something to get rich… World class believes you have to be something to get rich
17. Middle class plays it safe with money… World class takes calculated risk. Security is the watchword of the middle class. Leverage is the watchword of the rich.
18. Middle class believes you have to have money to make money… World class believes in using other people’s money. Rich people know not being solvent enough to personally afford something is not relevant. The real question is, “Is this worth buying, investing in, or pursuing?” If so, the wealthy know money is always available because rich people are always looking for great investments and superior performers to make those investments profitable. The great ones are aware that it’s easier to borrow ten million than ten thousand, a critical non-linear concept to know when raising capital.
19. Middle class believes jobs are the safest way to earn money… World class believes outstanding performance is the safest way to earn money
20. Middle class believes in financial scarcity… World class believes in financial abundance
21. Middle class sees money as a weapon… World class sees money as a tool. There are so few people actually competing at the highest level that you don’t have to be extraordinary to be a millionaire. You must simply be more competent than most.
22. Middle class believes they aren’t worthy of great wealth… World class believes they deserve to be rich
23. Middle class denies the importance of money… World class knows money is a critical component of life. “Money isn’t everything… but it ranks right up there with oxygen.” — Rita Davenport.
24. Middle class believes money is their enemy… World class believes money is their friend.
25. Middle class waits for their ship to come in… World class builds their own ship. Champions don’t wait for things to happen, they make things happen. The more physical, mental, emotional and spiritual effort they invest, the more help they receive from others who have traveled the same path. In true non-linear fashion, the harder they fight; the more help they receive.
26. Middle class believes financial markets are driven by logic and strategy… World class believes financial markets are driven by emotion and greed. In the next 90 days, find an investment that you think is undervalued and buy it.
27. Middle class believes money is about status… World class believes money is about freedom. When they want to voice their opinion, they call their congressman, who wouldn’t even consider not returning their call. When the rich want to raise money for business, politics, or charity, a few phone calls to their rich friends is all it takes. If they need more money, they throw a party or host an auction and charge $1,000 a ticket. The examples of how money buys freedom are endless.
28. Middle class lives beyond their means… World class lives below their means
29. Middle class equates money with stress… World class equates money with peace of mind. Decide how much money you would ultimately like to spend, save, and invest every year, and map out a plan and a deadline to make it happen.
30. Middle class equates money with stress… World class equates money with peace of mind. Notice how few discounts are offered at high end retailers and upscale establishments. It’s not that the rich don’t like getting good deals and discounts, but they are generally more interested in making quantum leaps in their net worth than they are in pinching pennies.
31. Middle class thinks small… World class thinks big. The masses are at a level of consciousness that dictates they pay attention to every detail and petty problem. They are more interested in gossip, drama, and other people’s problems than they are in their own success. The world class purposely ignores the small thinking, ego-based personality problems that plague the middle class. They know they only have so many units of mental energy available each day, and they choose to focus all of them on thinking big. They are happy to exchange the small life of survival for the big life of abundance, and leave the fear-based anger, jealousy, and pettiness to others. The great ones are operating at a level of consciousness where fear doesn’t exist. It’s a level of thought that allows them to focus on their ultimate vision. At this level of thought, anything seems possible. Every dream that seems crazy to the masses looks surprisingly doable. The world class occupies this psychological space because they know the key to success in anything is reaching a higher level of awareness. In other words, the masses don’t earn $50,000 a year because they want to; they earn $50,000 a year because they’re not aware of how to earn $500,000. Consciousness is contagious.
32. Middle class believes people are out to get them… World class believes the universe is conspiring to help them. Start telling yourself and other people that you believe the universe seems to be on your side, assisting you in moving toward your goals and dreams. This positive programming will eventually become an empowering belief that will give you a strategic advantage over your competition.
33. Middle class believes their thinking is unrelated to their net worth… World class knows thinking is the catalyst of all results. “I have about concluded that wealth is a state of mind, and that anyone can acquire a wealthy state of mind by thinking rich thoughts.” — Andrew Young
34. Middle class experiences good fortune and can’t believe it… World class experiences good fortune and wonders what took so long. Raise the level of expectation you have for your life and do not be surprised when good things happen.
35. Middle class believes the more money you earn the more stress you experience… World class believes the more money you earn the less stress you experience.
36. Middle class believes the more money you make the more problems you will have… World class believes the more money you make the fewer problems you will have. “Success is having to worry about every damn thing in the world, except money.” — Johnny Cash. Make a list of all your major problems, and break them into two categories: Problems that can be solved with money and problems that can’t.
37. Middle class believes the rich are obsessed with money… World class believes the rich are obsessed with success.
38. Middle class believes the rich are selfish and self-absorbed… World class believes the rich are selfish and self absorbed.
39. Middle class dreams of having enough money to retire… World class dreams of having enough money to impact the world.
40. Middle class believes it’s shrewd to be cynical… World class believes it’s shrewd to be optimistic. As the skeptics search for new ways to explain the shocking success of their friend or relative, the rich are already on to their next project that promises to make them even wealthier. They’ve learned to ignore critics who sit on the sidelines and scorn their success, all the while being optimistic that someday they will see the light. “Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.” — William James
41. Middle class believes the rich should support the poor… World class believes in self-reliance
42. Middle class sees the wealthy as oppressors… World class sees the wealthy as liberators
43. Middle class believes getting rich is outside their control… World class knows getting rich is an inside job
44. Middle class thinks the rich believe they are more intelligent… World class knows intelligence has little to do with getting rich. Make a list of 5 beliefs rich people have about money, and begin telling yourself you believe these things. “Wealth is largely a result of habit.” — John Jacob Astor.
45. Middle class associates with anyone… World class carefully monitors their associations. Set a goal to double the amount of time you spend associating with people who are richer than you.
46. Middle class embraces advanced degrees… World class embraces any form of education that makes them wealthier
47. Middle class have loosely defined goals with flexible deadlines… World class have highly defined goals with do or die deadline.
48. Middle class works as little as possible… World class works as smart as possible