People have various perceptions about the rich. They're seen as snobs, arrogant, self-seeking, selfish individuals who think they're better than everyone else, or as if they're attempting to buy happiness. In fact, many of these beliefs are long-held by people who have never met a real millionaire well enough to make an objective judgment.
Despite our perceptions that we hold about the rich, there's still something intriguing about the rich that we're curious to know. What do they know that we don't? What life lessons do they know, that we don'?
Here are 20 life lessons we can learn from rich people that most people don't know about:
1. Don't start out with the intention of becoming Rich.
If getting rich is your sole purpose, I’m sorry. Welcome to the world of disappoints. If you are passion-driven, then happiness is the result. Start out with the intention of building a business.
Henry Ford followed his dream of creating a horseless carriage. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Warren Buffett each followed their dreams. Passion motivates people to keep moving forward, to keep pushing themselves, and to not give up in the thing of failure or despair.
The rest of us are just after the money.
2. Rich people don't mind a little Discomfort
Deferred gratification is the act of resisting an impulse to enjoy an immediate pleasure in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future.
Rich people have the discipline to resist impulsive spending and invest the money instead so that they can enjoy the befit in future. Rich people don’t mind a little discomfort from time to time. For example, rich people prefer to provide comfort in terms of accommodation and shopping, especially during holidays, when the rest of us are on a spending spree.
This is the time of the year when business is booming, so rich people cannot afford to have fun. They prefer to make money first, then take their families on holidays when goods, travel, and accommodation are cheaper.
The rest of us just want to be comfortable.
3. Risk Taking is part of the Game
Ordinary people associate risk with gambling. They are hesitant to take major chances and dislike being pushed outside of their comfort zones. Throughout history, self-made affluent individuals have been willing to take big risks.
Uncertainty, risk, and adventure is what drives wealthy people. They enjoy taking risks when they don't know what will happen.
4. Optimism is a key Ingredient to getting Rich
Ordinary people tend to associate "better" living with that which existed previously. Back then, music was better, things were cheaper, and life was generally simpler. People didn't live on their phones, and a real guy worked hard to provide for his family.
These people have a pessimistic outlook on the future, frequently asserting that the world is "coming apart." People grow stagnant and lack huge goals when they do not look toward a brighter future.
Wealthy people are more positive and strive to improve their situation, despite the odds. In fact, the odds are just opportunities in disguise.
5. The Rich have Big Plans
Ordinary people have plans and objectives for their lives, including where they want to go in life, what they want for their children, and even how they want to spend their retirement years. Wealthy people, on the other hand, have grandiose goals that are unrelated to their personal life. They have plans that will drastically alter something. With their Big Plan, they hope to make the world a better place.
6. Failure is not a Drawback
Rich people have gained their self-confidence from a variety of experiences, one of which is failure. They make mistakes, learn from them, and move on. They practice self-assurance because they understand how important it is in the "fight" for wealth. A lot of rich people have made failure a part of their success because they know that without it, success cannot come.
When people step beyond their comfort zones, they lose confidence, and failure can harm or destroy their self-confidence. Wealthy people gain confidence when they achieve success. Regular people who succeed have better jobs and earn good salaries, but these things do not boost their self-esteem. At the end of the day, they don’t experience real freedom.
Taking risks and eventually succeeding, even after numerous failures, boosts the self-esteem of the rich. They eventually develop the mindset that there is nothing they can't do.
"Whether you think you can or can't, you are typically right," Henry Ford observed.
7. Rich People are careful about Friendships
Once the rich obtain their wealth, old acquaintances and distant relatives will begin to appear in their lives. Their intentions are clear–they want a piece of the wealth that the rich have made. They become quite enraged when their demands are not met because they believe they have a right to get a piece of the cake. You would think they were there when the wealth was being made. Yet, in fact, they all distanced themselves when the wealth owner was going through tough times.
Ken Fisher, billionaire owner of Fisher Investments once said, “You see an ugly side of our human existence, which is the world of false pretenses seeking your money.”
8. Rich people understand that as you become older, money has less significance.
As people get older, they want a simpler life, better health, and more quality time. They are less concerned with themselves and more concerned with others. This is maybe a life lesson that everyone must eventually learn. Even the average person, who has never been affluent, appreciates these things as they get older.
9. Rich folks have everything under Control
You pay dearly if you buy inexpensively. Wealthy individuals swear by those words. While previous generations of wealthy people kept everything in fire-proofed, locked folders, today's wealthy people recognize the importance of having their personal and financial data safely saved by a reputable data storage provider.
The highest level of protection and security for their sensitive data is a top priority. They would rather put money into security up front than risk going into massive debt if something goes wrong unexpectedly.
10. Rich people understand that Money frees your Mind.
Wealthy people can dream big; they can imagine things that may or may not be possible, but they can pursue these great ideas.
Ordinary people, on the other hand, are unable to devote their minds to large ideas. They're too preoccupied with how to make a living, maintain themselves and their families, and when they'll be able to purchase a new automobile to think about anything else.