How Rich People think differently from Average
People
Average people think selfishness is a vice. Rich
people think selfishness is a virtue.
“The rich go out there and try to make themselves
happy. They don’t try to pretend to save the world,” Siebold told Business
Insider. The problem is that middle class people see that as a negative––and
it’s keeping them poor, he writes. “If you’re not taking care of you, you’re
not in a position to help anyone else. You can’t give what you don’t have.”
Average people long for the good old days. Rich
people dream of the future.
“Self-made millionaires get rich because they’re
willing to bet on themselves and project their dreams, goals and ideas into an
unknown future,” Siebold writes. “People who believe their best days are behind
them rarely get rich, and often struggle with unhappiness and depression.”
Average people believe you need money to make
money. Rich people use other people’s money.
Linear thought might tell people to make money in
order to earn more, but Siebold says the rich aren’t afraid to fund their
future from other people’s pockets. “Rich people know not being solvent enough
to personally afford something is not relevant. The real question is, ‘Is this
worth buying, investing in, or pursuing?’” he writes.
Average people live beyond their means. Rich people
live below theirs.
“Here’s how to live below your means and tap into
the secret wealthy people have used for centuries: Get rich so you can afford
to,” he writes. ”The rich live below their means, not because they’re so savvy,
but because they make so much money that they can afford to live like royalty
while still having a king’s ransom socked away for the future.”
Average people teach their children how to survive.
Rich people teach their kids to get rich.
Rich parents teach their kids from an early age
about the world of “haves” and “have-nots,” Siebold says. Even he admits many
people have argued that he’s supporting the idea of elitism. He disagrees.
”[People] say parents are teaching their kids to look down on the masses
because they’re poor. This isn’t true,” he writes. “What they’re teaching their
kids is to see the world through the eyes of objective reality––the way society
really is.” If children understand wealth early on, they’ll be more likely to
strive for it later in life.
Average people let money stress them out. Rich
people find peace of mind in wealth.
The reason wealthy people earn more wealth is that
they’re not afraid to admit that money can solve most problems, Siebold says. ”
[The middle class] sees money as a never-ending necessary evil that must be
endured as part of life. The world class sees money as the great liberator, and
with enough of it, they are able to purchase financial peace of mind.”
Average people would rather be entertained than
educated. Rich people would rather be educated than entertained.
While the rich don’t put much stock in furthering
wealth through formal education, they appreciate the power of learning long
after college is over, Siebold says. ”Walk into a wealthy person’s home and one
of the first things you’ll see is an extensive library of books they’ve used to
educate themselves on how to become more successful,” he writes. ”The middle
class reads novels, tabloids and entertainment magazines.”
Average people think rich people are snobs. Rich
people just want to surround themselves with like-minded people.
The negative money mentality poisoning the middle
class is what keeps the rich hanging out with the rich, he says. ”[Rich people]
can’t afford the messages of doom and gloom,” he writes. “This is often
misinterpreted by the masses as snobbery. Labeling the world class as snobs is
another way the middle class finds to feel better about themselves and their
chosen path of mediocrity.”
Average people focus on saving. Rich people focus
on earning.
Siebold theorizes that the wealthy focus on what
they’ll gain by taking risks, rather than how to save what they have. ”The
masses are so focused on clipping coupons and living frugally they miss major
opportunities,” he writes. ”Even in the midst of a cash flow crisis, the rich
reject the nickel and dime thinking of the masses. They are the masters of
focusing their mental energy where it belongs: on the big money.”
Average people play it safe with money. Rich people
know when to take risks.
“Leverage is the watchword of the rich,” Siebold
writes. ”Every investor loses money on occasion, but the world class knows no
matter what happens, they will always be able to earn more.”
How Rich People Think by Steve Siebold:
Middle class focuses on saving.
World class focuses on earning.
Middle class thinks about money in linear terms.
World class thinks about money in non-linear terms.
Middle class believes hard work creates wealth.
World class believes leverage creates wealth.
Middle class believes money is the root of all
evil.
World class believes poverty is the root of all evil.
Middle class believes being rich is a privilege.
World class believes being rich is a right.
Middle class believes rich people are crooks.
World class believes rich people are ambitious.
Middle class believes building wealth is a solitary
effort.
World class believes building wealth is a team effort.
Middle class worries about money.
World class dreams about money.
Middle class believes money is negative.
World class believes money is positive.
Middle class believes rich people are shallow.
World class believes rich people are strategic.
Middle class believes the road to riches is paved
with formal education.
World class believes the road to riches is paved with specific knowledge.
Middle class believes money is earned through
labor.
World class believes money is earned through thought.
Middle class worries about running out of money.
World class thinks about how to make more money.
Middle class thinks about spending.
World class thinks about investing.
Middle class sees money through the eyes of
emotion.
World class sees money through the eyes of logic.
Middle class underestimates the wealth building
power of referral marketing.
World class knows referral marketing creates millionaires.
Middle class focuses on pleasurable activities.
World class focuses on money making activities.
Middle class earns money doing things they don’t
like to do.
World class gets rich doing what they love.
Middle class believes rich people are ruthless.
World class believes rich people are generous.
Middle class has a lottery mentality.
World class has an action mentality.
Middle class is waiting to be rescued from
financial mediocrity.
World class knows no one is coming to the rescue.
Middle class believes rich people are smarter.
World class believes rich people are more savvy.
Middle class sees money as controlling.
World class sees money as liberating.
Middle class believes money changes people.
World class believes money reveals people.
Middle class believes in working for money.
World class believes in working for fulfillment.
Middle class believes you have to do something to
get rich.
World class believes you have to be something to get rich.
Middle class plays it safe with money.
World class takes calculated risks.
Middle class believes you have to have money to
make money.
World class believes in using other people’s money.
Middle class believes jobs are the safest way to
earn money.
World class believes outstanding performance is the safest way to earn money.
Middle class believes in financial scarcity.
World class believes in financial abundance.
Middle class sees money as a weapon.
World class sees money as a tool.
Middle class believes they aren’t worthy of great
wealth.
World class believes they deserve to be rich.
Middle class denies the importance of money.
World class knows money is a critical component of life.
Middle class believes money is their enemy.
World class believes money is their friend.
Middle class waits for their ship to come in.
World class builds their own ship.
Middle class believes financial markets are driven
by logic and strategy.
World class believes financial markets are driven by emotion and greed.
Middle class believes money is about status.
World class believes money is about freedom.
Middle class lives beyond their means.
World class lives below their means.
Middle class equates money with stress.
World class equates money with peace of mind.
Middle class thinks small.
World class thinks big.
Middle class believes people are out to get them.
World class believes the universe is conspiring to help them.
Middle class believes their thinking is unrelated
to their net worth.
World class knows thinking is the catalyst of all results.
Middle class experiences good fortune and can’t
believe it.
World class experiences good fortune and wonders what took so long.
Middle class believes the more money you earn the
more stress you experience.
World class believes the more money you earn the less stress you experience.
Middle class believes the more money you make the
more problems you will have.
World class believes the more money you make the fewer problems you will have.
Middle class believes the rich are obsessed with
money.
World class believes the rich are obsessed with success.
Middle class believes the rich are selfish and
self-absorbed.
World class believes the rich are selfish and self absorbed.
Middle class dreams of having enough money to
retire.
World class dreams of having enough money to impact the world.
Middle class believes the rich should support the
poor.
World class believes in self-reliance.
Middle class sees the wealthy as oppressors.
World class sees the wealthy as liberators.
Middle class believes getting rich is outside their
control.
World class knows getting rich is an inside job.
Middle class associates with anyone.
World class carefully monitors their associations.
Middle class embraces advanced degrees.
World class embraces any form of education that makes them wealthier.
Middle class have loosely defined goals with
flexible deadlines.
World class have highly defined goals with do or die deadlines.
Middle class works as little as possible.
World class works as smart as possible.
Middle class is timid and scared.
World class is aggressive and bold.
Middle class longs for the good old days.
World class dreams of the future.
Middle class sets their financial expectations low
so they’re never disappointed.
World class sets their financial expectations high so they’re always excited.
Middle class has a financial windfall and worries
about losing it.
World class has a windfall and figures out how to leverage it.
Middle class is externally motivated to make money.
World class is internally motivated to make money.
Middle class suffers from lack consciousness.
World class enjoys prosperity consciousness.
Middle class believes people seek money for power.
World class believes people seek money for control.
Middle class never makes the connection between
money and health.
World class knows money can save your life.
Middle class believes ambition is a sin.
World class believes ambition is a virtue.
Middle class believes rich people are snobs.
World class believes rich people are guarding their consciousness.
Middle class believes rich people are arrogant.
World class believes rich people are confident.
Middle class believes self-made millionaires had an
unfair advantage.
World class knows their advantage was hard work.
Middle class bases their beliefs about the rich on
the minority.
World class bases their beliefs about the rich on the majority.
Middle class believes they’re missing something.
World class knows it’s beliefs that make the difference.
Middle class believes they must choose between a
great family life and being rich.
World class knows you can have it all.
Middle class believes having a job gives them
security.
World class knows there’s no such thing.
Middle class believes starting a business is risky.
World class believes starting a business is the fastest road to wealth.
Middle class believes it’s wrong for a small group
of people to possess most of the money.
World class welcomes the masses to join them.
Middle class believes wealth creates dysfunctional
families.
World class believes unearned wealth creates dysfunctional families.
Middle class believes money creates corruption.
World class believes a lack of money creates corruption.
Middle class believes the rich are spiritually
bankrupt…
World class believes the rich are among the most spiritual people in society.
Middle class believes if they become wealthy they
will lose their friends.
World class believes being wealthy will expand their network.
Middle class believes you have to sacrifice your
health to get rich.
World class believes being rich will make you healthier.
Middle class hands down their limited beliefs about
money to their children.
World class hands down their unlimited beliefs about money to their children.
Middle class teaches their children how to survive.
World class teaches their kids how to get rich.
Middle class teaches their kids about money by
example.
World class does the same thing.
Middle class teaches their kids how to save their
pennies.
World class teaches their kids how to invest their pennies.
Middle class encourages their kids to be nice and
make friends.
World class encourages their kids to be smart and build a network.
Middle class teaches their kids to be happy with
what they have.
World class teaches their kids how to go for their dreams.
Middle class minimizes the importance of money with
their kids.
World class teaches their kids the importance of money.
Middle class teaches their children the games of
the masses.
World class teaches their children the games of the wealthy.
Middle class doesn’t believe in personal
development or self help.
World class believes they’re the secret to getting rich.
Middle class has access to the social skills of the
masses.
World class has access to the social skills of the most refined among us.
Middle class would rather be entertained than
educated.
World class would rather be educated than entertained.
Middle class believes rich people are workaholics.
World class knows millionaires have a ton of fun.
Middle class only focuses on money when they need
it.
World class focuses on money all the time.
