A Blog Post by Singapore 's Youngest Millionaire
By Adam Khoo In Money |
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 wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club)
who 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.
=.=
Warm regards and thanks for your time !!! ^^
Clement Lai "♥Clement♥" Thirsty
- 16 years, 6 days ago
