Rich Dad, Poor Dad

I finished listening to Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!by Robert Kiyosaki.

About 4 years ago I listened to 2 of the 3 CDs but hit stop, because of my issues with money. Hearing that working hard isn't the way to make money made me so furious. I pride myself in working hard and not having the government take care of me. I was stuck in a conundrum, because at my jobs I was losing a huge chunk of my paycheck to taxes. It felt unfair and not motivating to work in that fashion. After 4 years of growth in marketing, sales, money matters, budgeting, grants and loans (aka life experiences), I was able to hear what Kiyosaki had to say.

Lots of things Kiyosaki talked about I realized I follow the same thought patterns without being aware of his. More about this later.

I made myself listen to, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" the first time and not take notes. Too easily I get sidetracked on research (aka bunny trails). I have tons to reflect on, in particular, what step to take next. For sure, I am going to listen to the book another time, before going to the library for another of his titles.

The single most thought stunning quote Kiyosaki said, was that he's "a best selling author, not the best writer." This is why it is key for me to learn marketing, sales and how to lead people. I don't need to be a perfect sculptor (as much as I want to be), but instead make well-crafted art that I am proud of while focusing on ways to improve my selling.

The runner up tidbit is to invest my time in monthly money creating assets, such as selling books online that I don't need to print myself or take care of shipping. I've wanted to write books, but I have been intimidated by how much time it takes. People seem so shocked and in awe when someone they know is published. I am disciplined and determined so why can't I do it? There is no reason why not. I started this week writing and designing two books that are under a 100 pages each. If I have a plethora of books that generate sales without my maintenance, then I can travel. It is a one time investment of time, doing something that I enjoy. I can add the selection of books by me for the fun, challenge and prospect of bringing in more income.

bicycle sharing

I am trying to motivate myself to do homework, but I keep getting distracted. Wouldn't you be too? Check out what has kept me from writing a paper for class.

Bike sharing programs all over Europe. Yet another great reason to live there.

Christy Symington

http://www.christysymington.com

17 things I am grateful for

1. Freedom to move. I'll be moving back to Sacramento for a while. Here I come Rancho!
2. Friends with cars to drive me to Home Depot to buy drill bits
3. Space to make a mess (and leave it out) for creating Christmas presents
4. Fresh, steamed beets for snack time
5. For my mom to be home so we can challenge each other to see how much we can get done in an hour. Then we call each other and encourage on another.
6. Only 4 more weeks of school
7. Books! Right now I finished reading The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder and Taking the Leap. Ongoing I'm reading, Entrepreneurial Small Business, Rich Dad, poor Dad (on CD) and Financial Adviser (a magazine), Letters to a Young Artist and The Bluest Eye.
8. For the east bay's warm weather
9. My internet is regularly up and working. Without it, I am lost.
10. Blogs to keep in touch with family and friends
11. Braille, because it is interesting to decode and touch
12. Photo ops-I've been on a photo taking kick since my Liberating Trip from BART
13. Walborn- so much cheaper than airborn and just as yummy
14. Ian treated me to the newest Bond movie. ;-)
15. My dog is healthy, happy and hanging in there
16. Furniture nails and all of their untapped uses
17. Being less stressed today, but still feeling unfocused

wisdom

Thank you mom for sending this to me. I got the hint. ;-) I'm working on getting more wisdom.

http://www.wisdombook.org/

This is a beautifully shot short documentary about older, famous peoples opinions on wisdom. You definitely want to watch it.

Letters to a Young Artist- Yvonne Rainer

It was my goal in September to figure out an art related business that I wanted to run, write a professional quality business plan, create inventory, set up a website, establish a clientele, and create enough income to support myself by February first of 2009. Now I see that this plan is not achievable to do in that period of time. Even if I didn't have other obligations, statistically it takes 3-5 years for a business to make money. I don't like to include myself in generalizations (because they sound like excuses to me), but turning a profit by February is probably not a realistic goal.

Taking on complicated tasks and breaking it into lots of achievable goals hasn't been a problem for me. Instead creating realistic goals is something I struggle with. And making too many goals is another problem. I was talking to a friend today and he said that having some unrealistic goals can be a good thing. To paraphrase using a forwarded email I recently received, "To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did." (I don't know who said this.)

Today I read another nugget of wisdom from "Letters to a young artist." This artist's advise shakes me to pay attention at the speed and direction I am running. Perhaps now isn't the time to establish an art business, with full gusto.

"I only wish to emphasize, with the utmost fervor, how important it is for a young artist to delay "professionalism" as long as possible. Find some way to give yourself a chance - and time - to experiment, take risks, play, fool around, even fail, before trying to launch a career."

Best of luck,
Yvonne Rainer
New York

Maybe now is the time for play, experiment, fail, and play some more. The question now is how to support myself while focusing most of my efforts on playing with different forms of art.

Another thing Rainer said that struck me was, "Challenge yourself with what "doesn't work." I often get stuck in the planning stage, like trying to come up with the most creative or original idea. All this thinking takes away from being in the studio. Instead of thinking of the problem areas as failures, I could use them as starting points to brainstorm, play and improve.

Letters to a Young Artist- Yvonne Rainer

Another nugget of wisdom that shakes my mindset of establishing in extreme urgency an art business.

"I only wish to emphasize, with the utmost fervor, how important it is for a young artist to delay "professionalism" as long as possible. Find some way to give yourself a chance - and time - to experiment, take risks, play, fool around, even fail, before trying to launch a career."

Best of luck,

Yvonne Rainer
New York

So now is the time for play, experiment, fail, and play some more. The question now is how to support myself while focusing most of my efforts on playing with different forms of art?

Another thing Rainer said that struck me was, "Challenge yourself with what "doesn't work." I often get stuck in the planning stage looking for ways to figure out the problem areas, like trying to come up with the most creative or original idea. All this thinking takes away from being in the studio. Instead of thinking of the problem areas as failures, use them as starting points to brainstorm, play and improve.