Programmed to be 'Poor'

-I am a Filipino. I am programmed to be poor. How can I be rich?-

Did you know that Filipinos are ‘programmed’ to be poor? Here’s one reason why…

What do Filipino parents usually tell their kids to do, especially when their child is already in college? If you are a typical Filipino, the obvious answer would be “Anak, magaral ka nang mabuti para pagkagraduate mo, makahanap ka ng magandang…trabaho” (My child, study hard so that after you graduate, you can get a good, stable job).

I think it’s a risky advice these days. We all know people who already graduated but couldn’t get a well-paying job related to their course, so they just settle for whatever is available. There are those who do land a job in their field but later quit their line of work to again study another course to seek greener pastures (even doctors ‘quit’ to become nurses abroad!).

I learned from my mentor that there are 3 basic types of education.

Scholastic education is where you and I were taught how to read, how to write (and probably also sing) ABC, how to count, how to add and divide, etc. You have to go through this type of education to go to the next.

Professional education is where you and I were taught how to become professionals and/or skilled workers, you know, how to be a nurse, doctor, engineer, accountant, lawyer, pilot, programmer, mechanic, chef, architect, teacher, etc. Some pursue further studies to become more employable. Professional education is the education taught in most universities and colleges, and this is also the education Filipino parents insist their children to complete, i.e. if you are privileged to do so.

Did you notice that the richest people in the Philippines (and in the world) are not employees? That’s right, they’re not. They are entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors. If your goal is to be “comfortable” in life, I think that could be achieved working in someone else’s business. If your goal is to be financially free and help make a richer Philippines, you should start ‘minding your own business.’

I don’t blame our parents, by the way, because our parents’ parents just gave them the same advice. “Study hard, get good grades, and find a good company to work for” advice might have worked for previous generations but in this day and age, the Information Age, there are way better options.

There is nothing wrong with getting a professional education. What’s wrong is that most Filipinos think that their education stops after school and that a high-paying job will solve their financial worries.

Consider your situation now. If you followed the usual advice and got a ‘stable’ job, even if you are working abroad, does it or did it guarantee you freedom from financial worries (bills, rent, kids’ growing tuition fees, credit card debt, medical expenses, loans, etc)? I don’t think so.

The third type of education that is completely neglected is financial education. Financial education is NOT taught in our schools that is why most Filipinos are financially challenged. Passive income, dividends, cashflow, exponential income, growth funds, investing, bull market…were these taught to us?

If it took you AT LEAST 14 years of studying (6 years in elementary school, 4 years in high school, and at least 4 years in college) and some experience to get you to your current income level, it will also take time and effort to unlearn stuff, reprogram your mind, and gain financial education to free you from your job to enjoy both time and financial freedom with your loved ones.

The good news is that getting financial education today is not as expensive as what our parents paid for our professional education. The bad news is, financial ignorance is a million times more expensive if you don’t get yourself educated in this arena.

Here are 5 simple suggestions to help jumpstart your financial education:

• Instead of being a couch potato, READ books about money and success! Read first The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles.
• Get financial mentors – be very careful to whom you listen to because you’re more likely to end up like them.
• Set aside 3 hours a week and play CASHFLOW 101 Board Game.*

"CASHFLOW 101 was invented by best-selling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki. It is a revolutionary, fun way to learn the basics of fundamental investing and how to take control of your personal finances, build a business through proper cash flow management, and learn how to invest with greater confidence in real estate and other businesses. It was created for the sole purpose of teaching financial literacy, elevate your financial IQ, and how to be a master of money."

* You may contact 0927.247.0943 if you’re interested to play or organize a game for 5-6 players max.

• Immerse yourself on seminars on money and financial success. To name just a few:

1. Truly Rich Seminars – www.iamtrulyrich.com
2. Financial Freedom 101 Courses – www.empoweringyou.ning.com
3. Attracting Wealth Series – www.johncalubtraining.com
4. Unleash Success Seminars – www.unleashinternational.com

• Start a small business on the side – sell sandwiches, sell clothing, sell cookies, sell bags, sell vitamins, sell real estate, sell anything! Don’t stop trying even if you keep on failing. What’s important now is what you learn and not what you earn!
  

This is just the beginning of a long journey, a journey through the road less traveled but to me is worth taking. So when do you plan to start your own journey?

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn