Will Smith said it: “The key to life is running and reading.”

I’m just a beginner at running, and know just enough about it to agree with the Man in Black. And reading? I don’t think there is a single activity in the human life that would bring as much joy and food for thought to a person’s life than reading.

Read the rest of this entry »

The other day, I was browsing my way through a personal development forum. I heard people talk about making the most out of their lives. I saw them share new things they had learned. Most of what was said was rather good stuff. That was before I bumped into a post about how, in order to be happier, you should stop following the news.

Read the rest of this entry »

July is the perfect time for a few books: if you are on holidays, you have all the time in the world and no pressure to do work related things.

And even if you are not, you can still take your book, or your computer out and enjoy the warm weather while learning some new skills!

Read the rest of this entry »

In my previous post I wrote about reading. And as it’s been a while since my last insanely interesting links post, I thought I’d give you something new to read.

Here are a bunch of insanely interesting blogs, blog posts, and e-books to keep you busy for quite a while.

Read the rest of this entry »

I read all the time.

When I wake up, I turn on my computer and check out the new blog posts from my ten favorite blogs. While brushing my teeth I have a book in hand.

I read on the bus. I read at work. And at home, before getting to sleep, I still read a few more lines.

Read the rest of this entry »

The time just before a new year starts is exciting because while we are physically still living in 2007, our minds are already wandering towards the next year. It’s the time when we tend to take a look at how the past year looked like and set goals for the next year.

I use Google Reader to follow what’s happening in the blogging world, and whenever I come across an insanely interesting post, I star it. This week I took a plunge back in history and decided to go through all the starred blog posts from this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Last week I announced that I would post less frequently from now on until the beginning of next year. This week I wrote three posts plus this one instead of the six posts I have been used to. How did it go?

Read the rest of this entry »

“Well, if you don’t pay me more or show me more respect and teach me, I’ll quit.”

“Well put,” rich dad said. “And that’s exactly what most people do. They quit and go looking for another job, better opportunity, and higher pay, actually thinking that a new job or more pay will solve the problem. In most cases, it won’t.”

“So what will solve the problem?” I asked. “Just take this measly 10 cents an hour and smile?”

Rich dad smiled. “That’s what the other people do. Just accept a paycheck knowing that they and their familiy will struggle financially. But that’s all they do, waiting for a raise thinking that more money will solve the problem. Most just accept it, and some take a second job working harder, but again accepting a small paycheck.”

I sat staring at the floor, beginning to understand the lesson rich dad was presenting. I could sense it was a taste of life. Finally, I looked up and repeated the question. “So what will solve the problem?”

“This,” he said tapping me gently on the head. “This stuff between your ears.”

Life pushes us all around trying to teach us a basic principle:

We deal ads with a minimum pay (like my brother Tiitus did for a few months).

We work as tram drivers (like I did for two years) or store clerks (like my wife Mari did for a few years) – in boring and repetitive jobs that we hate, just to get money.

Even in jobs that we like when we get the monthly salary, it never seems big enough.

But we learn the wrong lesson.

We start saying things like “I don’t care about money” or “The rich are crooks” or “I can’t afford that”.

Or even worse. We start craving for a pay raise and think that getting a better paying job would solve our monetary problems. And when we can’t get that raise from our current employers we switch companies. But it won’t solve the problem.

In Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki claims that the reason why poor stay poor, and rich become richer is because the rich have practiced their financial IQ. When the rest of us play safe and try to avoid thinking about money they have learned to master money and how it works. When we buy things to look rich, they invest to actually become rich.

One of the key lines in Rich Dad, Poor Dad is the following:

“The poor and the middle class work for money.” “The rich have money work for them.”

I started reading Kiyosaki’s book out of curiosity. Graham from The Young Capitalist recommended it so I thought why not, and bought the book. It turned out to be much more exciting, and more thought provoking than I would have imagined.

Sure, there is some debate going on whether the rich dad actually ever existed or not, and if any of the successes described in the book actually are true. But even if that is the case I think the story has well proved its point: to be financially successful you need to know how money works and how to master it (and not become its slave).

Invest your money to something that brings you profit instead of spending it in luxury you cannot afford.

Try to get out of debt.

Learn how taxation works so you don’t have to pay the government more than your fair share.

Start your own side business.

Make money work for you.

Teach your kids how to handle money.

To me Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a starting point. It brings together ideas that have been running in my head already for a while. The things presented in the book may not be new but nevertheless worth thinking. Things like getting passive income, spending less, investing to assets instead of just living from one paycheck to the other.

It’s not a complete guide book to the world of money and wealth. Some even say that some of its teachings can be dangerous to you.

But the basic principle is clear: Invest in your mind and learn the logic of wealth. And then using that information you can make money work for you.

Have you read Rich Dad, Poor Dad? How did you feel about it? What do you think about the debate on Mr. Kiyosaki and his two dads?

My latest Amazon orders arrived yesterday, so now I have some more reading for my bus rides:

1. Make a Name for Yourself by Scott Ginsberg: I already read the free e-book some time ago, but wanted to support Scott and get the real book as well. I was really impressed when I saw how good the book looks! It’s in full color and printed on high quality paper, and I’m already really happy I got this book.
2. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell: Last Christmas I bought myself a copy of Malcolm Gladwell’s other book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Reading Blink was an exciting adventure into the human mind so I assumed that this one should be pretty interesting too.
3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money–That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki: Graham from The Young Capitalist recommended this book. He said that the book had an enormous impact on his life so naturally I had to check it out. Let’s see how the book works for me.

What about you?

What are you reading right now?

Feel free to add your affiliate links to the comments so that if I decide to get one of the books you recommend, you’ll get your share of the money as well. My spam filter might catch your comment because of the link but don’t worry about that, I’ll get to rescue as soon as I can.

Harry looked from Cedric to the cup. For one shining moment, he saw himself emerging from the maze, holding it. He saw himself holding the Triwizard cup aloft, heard the roar of the crowd, saw Cho’s face shining with admiration more clearly than he had ever seen it before… And then the picture faded, and he found himself staring at Cedric’s shadowy, stubborn face.

“Both of us,” Harry said.
“What?”
“We’ll take it at the same time. It’s still a Hogwarts victory. We’ll tie for it.”

Cedric stared at Harry. He unfolded his arms.
“You – you sure?”
“Yeah,” said Harry. “Yeah… we’ve helped each other out, haven’t we? We both got here. Let’s just take it together?”For a moment, Cedric looked as though he couldn’t believe his ears; then his face split in a grin.
“You’re on,” he said. “Come here.”

Today is an important day for all of us Harry Potter enthusiasts all over the world. The seventh and last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be published in only a few hours from now. There are many open questions on every one’s lips: Who is going to die? Will Harry beat Voldemort? Is Harry going to get back together with Ginny? On which side will Severus Snape be in the end?

But there is one thing that we already know for sure: once again, just like in all the previous books, Harry Potter will continue to bravely do what he believes is right and not what other people expect him to do. By doing this he sets us a great example on how we should live both our personal and professional lives.

Here are some tips from Harry on how to live up to your values and make the best out of your life:

1. Hang out with friends who share your values: Ron, Hermione, and many other friends are always there for Harry to keep him true to himself and his dreams. Each of them have their distinct, important roles. So far in none of the books has Harry handled his adventures by himself.
2. Find mentors who support your values: Harry has been lucky enough to have studied in a school lead by a great wizard, Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore has taken lots of time to give Harry special training and support to prepare him for the battles that are still ahead. Most importantly Dumbledore has shown a great example in loving and trusting your friends.
3. Have good enemies: It’s not like Harry chose his enemy. Voldemort is not someone you’d pick if you were given a choice. But it’s clear that having a clear vision of who or what you’re fighting against will give you strength to fight it. When you know what will happen if you don’t fight for your values, and you don’t like what you see, you fight twice as hard.
4. …and don’t be too afraid to name them: This is something I’ve always admired about Harry. When everyone else is so afraid of Voldemort that they refer to him as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or You-Know-Who, Harry always just says his name – without even thinking about it.
5. Be curious: Curiosity brings Harry to trouble but it also gives him a chance to show his conviction and live up to his values. If he would have just sit back and wait see what happens, most of his adventures would never had taken place. This is something that I find really important: if you want to make a difference with your life, you should actively seek situations to do it.
6. Break some rules if necessary: When you see that a person you thought to be dead is wandering on your school’s corridors, it might make sense to put on your invisibility cloak and go check out what’s the deal. Even if it’s forbidden to walk around at night time.
7. Be loved and dare to love: In the books love is often mentioned as Harry’s greatest strength and the one thing that separates him from Voldemort. As a baby Harry survived Voldemort’s attacks because his mother loved him so much, and that love is still one his fondest memories that carry him through the darkest of times.

And finally, as Harry says in the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: “I love magic”.