A Blog Posted by Singapore 's Youngest Millionaire
By Adam Khoo |
Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.
Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire.' He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self Made Millionaires'). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.
The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.
When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur's Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worths well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota's and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).
I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealthwho spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.
Then some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.
Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see by companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.
I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a life of meaningless. (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club)
I got this email from my aunt, and this is something to ponder about. Well I admit that before this, my mindset is if I ever get rich one day, I'll get something nice for myself, to be a porsche, elegant, pampered woman,to have 2 maids, a gardener, driver, maybe a cook or massager. But after reading this email, I realized I am so wrong.
Well, maybe one or two of these stuff and sufficient stuff to make me feel like a woman is adequate, but not going to be all branded stuff or whatever like the Hongkees do, to snatch for branded stuff just to feel classy yet they are like suffering hunger in order to get those stuff. IT"S SO NOT WORTH IT!!!
Okay, okay, some people may be thinking that I am so freaking contradicting myself,well, the point here is it's ok if you get a thing or two in special occasion, or when you want to buy a gift for yourself as a little present or as an encouragement, that doesn't matter, but what I am talking here is spending money like throwing it away like those rich guy son or daughter.
There are many other more beneficial way to spend those money, rather than wasting it on nightclubs, alcohol, and woman, or shopping without using the brain when you are like emotionally uncontrollable, this act are just so dumb.
There are much much more stuff which are more important than money, and there is so much things that money couldn't get you to, so stop being so calculative and stop being such a big spender.These extreme doesn't bring you anywhere.
People, something to ponder about for the night!!
I was taking USANA Supplement pills this morning and decided to rearrange the entire series of pills I was taking into this order.
