The purpose of this post is to share a few things I’ve learned from dozens of books on learning and financial freedom. My hope is that just one person (maybe you) will do something with this information to improve your life, and increase the measure of freedom you enjoy.
Public Education
- It’s no secret that the purpose of public education (and the homeschooling programs patterned after it) is to convert bright, curious, creative children into obedient, non-thinking employees. You’ll see below why being an employee is akin to a slave - not a slave to the corporation, mind you.
Mental Freedom
- It’s all about mindset. Through my readings I’ve discovered that I was programmed as a child to be poor, to be a slave. This was not my parents’ or teachers’ fault - they were programmed to do what they did. To break the cycle I have to reprogram my mind. It’s not an easy task, but it’s possible. This is key to becoming free. You can’t be financially free if your mind isn’t free.
Be. Do. Have.
- Before you can HAVE freedom or wealth or a healthy body, you must first BE free, wealthy or healthy, then DO that which free, wealthy, healthy people do. Look at lottery winners. Look at people who do a crazy, temporary diet. It’s not long lasting. They HAVE it for a fleeting moment, then it’s gone. We want permanent freedom. First we must BE free. And it all starts with our mindset.
Purpose of Wealth
- The purpose of wealth is freedom. Hard stop. It’s not to accumulate so much gold you can swim in your golden tower like Scrooge McDuck. It’s not to control your fellow humans like slaves. It’s purpose is to provide a comfortable lifestyle for you and your family and FREEING your time to WORK on those things you’d like to (relationships, volunteering, church, politics, whatever). Without sacrificing the best years of your life, or your body or your health, to the beast.
The Key Difference
- The financially free do not work for money. Their money works for them. This is the key difference. They focus their efforts on acquiring assets that put money in their pocket each month. The poor focus on acquiring luxuries. The big house and imported car are a sign of a high earner - who is poor by this definition (most of the time). It’s not to say you can’t have nice things. But the priority is building or acquiring assets FIRST.
Be a Builder-Owner
- The wealthy build businesses and properties that cash flow. Their focus is working ON the business, not IN the business. They want to build things that continue to produce value, even when they’re not around. They focus on owning, and then merely controlling, what they’ve built. I’ve pondered the difference between a Donald Trump and a George Soros. The difference is not the money itself. Remember, the LOVE of money (at the expense of God, family, friends, country) is the root of all evil. Trump’s goal = freedom, Soros’ = control and power.
Scarcity Mindset
- But u/intellectual-darkweb, if I accumulate all this wealth, won’t it take from someone else? No. Life is not a zero-sum game. Wealth is definitely not a zero-sum game. Basketball is a zero-sum game because only one team can be the winner. If I’m a wealthy person and I build a resort, where does the wealth go? The construction company, workers and landscapers all have their fair share of it. The materials company has their fair share of it. The previous land owner has his fair share Of it. But isn’t the property now worth more because the resort is competed? Aren’t the properties next to it worth more because of it? Suddenly the wealth in this area has at least tripled because of industry. Wealth grows wherever people are industrious and create value where, before, there was none. Write a book. Create a course, anything. These are assets that will create cash flow.
On Taxes
- Learn to pay 0% taxes like the rich. It doesn’t involve offshore accounts or anything illegal.
The IRS has 3 categories for income.
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Earned: this is the slave category. We rent out our time for money. On top of the 30%+ income taxes, we will all pay sales tax, property tax, inheritance tax, death tax, etc. Over 50% of your income will be stolen.
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Portfolio: this type comes from paper assets like stocks and bonds. For most people (depends on your income level) the taxes here would peak at 15%. Additional advantages for becoming a day trader. It’s possible to reach 0% if done the right way.
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Passive: like I tell my family and friends, there’s no such thing as truly passive income. But you can get close. This is income that flows from rental properties or businesses you own (but don’t work IN). This is where you want to be. MUCH lower taxes on passive income. Add in tax benefits from debt (buy another property or business) and depreciation, and you can reach 0% taxes pretty quickly.
Use A Business Vehicle
- A business is like a clone of yourself that doesn’t have to pay nearly as much in taxes, and can legally do stuff you never could. Not to mention the legal protections they provide.
The order slaves like you and I pay:
- Earn
- Pay taxes
- Spend what’s left
The order a business (that you control) pays:
- Earn
- Spend
- Pay taxes on what’s left
Conclusion
- There’s something in the way of your mental and financial freedom: your mindset. Of course it would be easier if billionaire globohomos weren’t bent on making and keeping you as a slave. But there are no chains on your wrists stopping you from becoming free. The chains moved from our wrists to our minds. Your brain is stronger than their programming. Break it, and enjoy all the purest and truest forms of freedom God meant for you to have.
“Free” Books for Freedom
Rich Dad Poor Dad
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wp7Lz1svVro
Rich Dad Poor Dad Cashflow Quadrant
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=grVD6e4NILw
The Richest Man in Babylon
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wglndSWrvsM
Think and Grow Rich
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUbfskQ-GAY
The Magic of Thinking Big
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p13s38JW9ng
The 4-Hour Workweek
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=taCl3MLVSVU
Tax-Free Wealth
Thanks fren