It’s all about the mindset

Our financial success or failure depends mostly on our mindset. Two different persons could have the same capital and the same training but one person will struggle financially while the other will flourish.

T. Harv Eker helps us develop a Millionaire Mind, he helps us develop a mindset to become better persons and to increase our net worth.

The love of money is the root of all evil

In some cultures, wealth is seen as something evil, something that you want to avoid in order to conform to your environment. If you become too well off, you will stand out and other people will either look at you with scorn or try to take advantage of you. Many times we prefer to stay poor in order to continue being part of the herd. T. Harv Eker helps us to think differently, he teaches us how to break the fear of standing out, the fear of being different, the fear of being better off.

Same recycled ideas

There is nothing new in this book. In fact, there is nothing new in any of the self-help books I have read in the past few years. They all cover the same recycled ideas of taking responsibility for your life, setting goals, serving others, etc. However, as a person with a desire to improve my life, I need to continue reading the same message, from many sources, over and over again. It makes me feel motivated and energized. It helps me set new goals and bring them to fruition. I need to hear the same message from different messengers. Think of it as a religion, even if you are already a believer, you still want to continue listening to the weekly sermon.

There are two things which I didn’t like about this book.

• Many of these self-help authors use their books as a promotional pamphlet to sell their workshops and/or seminars for which they charge thousands of dollars.  Another author who uses his own books to promote his seminar is Tony Robbins. At a given moment you start feeling disgusted with so much self-promotion. Yes, the material is good but if you are going to push your product so hard the book should be free.

At given moment you start feeling disgusted with so much self-promotion

• The second thing I didn’t like is that the author promotes the idea or desire to be wealthy by putting down people who don’t have the same ambitions. He displays an “us-vs-them” mentality. Let’s face it, to become rich is not everyone’s priority. Some people want to focus their lives on other things which are more important to them. The same message -to become rich- can be given without putting down people who don’t prioritize wealth.

All that being said, these are T. Harv Eker’s 17 principles for building wealth.

1. Rich people believe “I create my life.” Poor people believe, “Life happens to me.”
2. Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.
3. Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.
4. Rich people think big. Poor people think small.
5. Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.
6. Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.
7. Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.
8. Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.
9. Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.
10. Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.
11. Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.
12. Rich people think “both.” Poor people think “either/or.”
13. Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.
14. Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.
15. Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.
16. Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.
17. Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.

Conclusion

Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars over 5. It’s a good read and you will learn a lot, but you have to endure all the self-promotion and the idea that rich people better than poor people. Rich people are not better than poor people, they just have different priorities.