Perhaps no book has changed people's perception of money and wealth like Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad. This book, which has sold more than 32 million copies worldwide, is not just a book about money, but a real guide to changing your financial mindset and achieving financial freedom.

Based on a moving personal story, Kiyosaki tells the story of being raised by two influential figures in his life: His biological father, "Poor Dad," an educated man with a PhD who struggled financially throughout his life, and his friend's father, "Rich Dad," who had only an eighth-grade education but became one of the richest men in Hawaii.

This contrast in fates despite the difference in academic education reveals the basic truth of the book: Riches and poverty are thought before they are money.

First lesson: Rich people don't work to make money

The most important lesson in the book is that the rich make money work for them, while the poor and middle class work for money. The poor spend their lives in a never-ending race for salaries and wages, while the wealthy build financial systems that generate continuous income even while they sleep.

The average person thinks: "I need a better job with a higher salary," while the rich think: "How can I buy assets that generate income without working?"

Second lesson: The Difference Between Assets and Liabilities

Kiyosaki offers a simplified and revolutionary definition of assets and liabilities:

• Assets: Anything that generates income or puts money in your pocket, such as rental properties, stocks, and profitable companies
• Liabilities: Anything that takes money out of your pocket, such as home and auto loans and credit card debt

The golden rule here: Buy assets and avoid liabilities. The trouble is, most people buy things they think are assets that are actually liabilities that are draining their money. For example, the house you live in is not an asset if you pay a monthly instalment on it, but a liability that drains your money.

Lesson three: The importance of financial literacy

The book emphasizes that financial literacy is more important than academic education. The educational system teaches us reading, writing, and arithmetic, but it doesn't teach us how to handle money or build wealth. This financial ignorance is the cause of many educated people's financial issues.

Kiyosaki says: "It's not how much money you make that matters, it's how much money you keep and how you make it work for you."

Lesson four: Work for learning, not money

Kiyosaki advises working to gain skills and experience, not just a pay check. Practical financial education and investment skills are more important than academic degrees in the wealth-building journey.

For example, instead of staying in a secure job with a steady pay check, you can work in sales to learn the art of selling, or in a small business to understand how to run a business.

Lesson 5: Understand the power of taxes and corporations

The wealthy use corporations to protect their money and minimize taxes in legal ways. The average employee pays taxes on their entire income, while a business owner spends first and then pays taxes on what's left.

Lesson six: Overcoming Psychological Barriers

The biggest enemy of wealth is fear and self-doubt. Fear of losing money keeps people from investing it, and self-doubt keeps them from trying. Wealthy people learn how to deal with fear and turn it into an incentive to learn and grow.

Poverty mindset

• "I can't afford this"
• Focus on job security and fixed salaries
• Fear of risk and investment
• Relying on a single source of income
• Buying liabilities thinking they are assets
• Short-term thinking "I want the money now"

Get-rich-quick mentality

• "How can I afford this?"
• Building multiple income-generating assets
• Calculated risk-taking and smart investing
• Diversifying income streams
• Focus on net worth, not monthly income
• Thinking long-term and planning for the future

Start by investing in yourself

Develop your skills and acquire the necessary financial knowledge. Read financial books, attend investment courses, learn about stocks and real estate. This investment in yourself will pay you back many times over.

Adopt a "pay yourself first" strategy

When you get your pay check, set aside a percentage to invest before paying for anything else. Start with 10% of your income, even if it's a small amount. This ensures that you build your wealth over time.

Diversify your income

Don't rely solely on your salary. Look for ways to generate additional income: A side project, an investment in dividend-paying stocks, rental property, or even selling your services online.

Invest in income-generating assets

Focus on buying assets that will generate ongoing income. A rental property is better than the one you live in, and dividend-paying stocks are better than stocks that rely on price growth alone.

Learn how to use other people's debt

Poor people use debt to buy liabilities (fancy cars, appliances), and rich people use debt to buy assets (investment properties, buying companies). This is called "leverage".

Example of Assets and Liabilities

• Liability: You buy a car with a loan, pay $2,000 a month for 5 years, and lose value every year
• Asset: You buy a small apartment and rent it out for $3000 per month and pay $2500 in instalments, earning $500 per month

Example of income diversification

Instead of relying on a salary of only $8000, you can have:

• Base salary: $6000
• Rent for a small apartment: $1,500
• Dividends from stocks: $800
• Side project (design or translation): $1,200
• Total: $9,500, with greater protection from losing a single source

To apply the book's principles to your life, you can start with simple steps:

Step one: Analyse your financial situation

Make a list of everything you own and everything you owe. Ask yourself about everything: "Is this putting money in my pocket or taking money out?"

Second Step: Set clear financial goals

Set short-term goals (buying your first asset in 6 months) and long-term goals (achieving a passive income of $5,000 per month in 5 years).

Step three: Learn about investing

Read about stocks, real estate, and business. Start small and learn from your mistakes.

Step four: Start a side business

Even if it's as simple as selling products online or providing consulting services in your field of specialization.

Step five: Use technology to your advantage

Organize your finances and goals using modern tools that help you track and plan.

One of the most important messages of the book is the need to teach children financial literacy from a young age. Children can grasp simple financial concepts from the age of six, and form lasting financial habits by the age of seven.

How do you teach your child financial literacy?

• Teach them the difference between wants and needs
• Have them save a portion of their allowance
• Involve them in simple family purchasing decisions
• Teach them that money comes from work and added value
• Tell him stories about successful businessmen who started from scratch

Reading the book is just the beginning. The most important step is to apply these principles in your daily life. Start organizing your finances and planning your future using modern tools.

If you want to apply Kiyosaki's principles in a practical and systematic way, you can take advantage of notion's specialized financial and life organization templates. These templates help you:

• Accurately track your financial goals and progress toward achieving them
• Manage your investment projects and daily tasks in one place
• Organize your notes and thoughts on investment opportunities and financial education
• Build healthy financial habits and track your progress on a monthly basis
• Plan your budget and track your income and expenses
• Manage your assets and liabilities in a clear and organized way

Discover the templates that will change your financial life:

• Second brain- Full Version: A comprehensive system to organize your personal, professional and financial life
• Second brain - Minimal Version: The perfect start to financial organization and planning
• FinanceHub- Full Version: A complete system for managing your finances and financial goals
• FinanceHub - Minimal Version: Essential tools to start your journey to financial independence

Kiyosaki himself started from scratch. He worked at a traditional printing company, then quit to start a company that produced leather wallets. The company failed, but he learned valuable lessons about business management. He then invested in real estate and built a huge real estate empire.

The lesson here: Failure is part of the path to success. Every mistake is a lesson that brings you closer to your goal if you learn from it.

First mistake: Buying fake assets

Many people buy things that they think are investments when they are not. For example, buying a fancy car as an "investment" or buying the latest electronics.

The second mistake: Constant procrastination

"I'll start investing when my salary increases" or "I'll start the project next year". Time is the most important factor in building wealth, and procrastination will cost you years of compound growth.

The third mistake: Lack of diversification

Putting all your money in one investment is a big risk. Diversify your investments between different areas and different assets.

Fourth mistake: Investing with emotion

Buying stocks when they go up and panicking when they go down. Successful investing needs a long-term plan and psychological calm.