Page 203 - Rich Dad's Increase Your Financial IQ: Get Smarter with Your Money

job where mistakes were punished and creativity was suppressed, what I
had taught him or her was of little value. The old environment won.

There is an old proverb that goes, “If I knew where I was going to die . .
. I would not go there.” Today, I know there are millions of people in
environments that are not the best for their learning, wealth, and personal
development. Their work and home environments are not increasing their

financial intelligence and wealth. Instead of becoming richer, they become
prisoners of their offices and their homes. Instead of seeking success, most
people live in environments that reward playing it safe, not making
mistakes, but as Paul Tudor Jones says, “One learns from mistakes, not

successes.”

Finding Your Genius

For people to develop their genius, they need to find the environment that
supports the development of their genius. For example, Tiger Woods’s

environment is the golf course. He would not have done well as a jockey.
Donald Trump found his strength in the tough world of New York real
estate. That environment challenged him, taught him a lot, and developed
his skills.

This is not an easy process. As you know, Tiger Woods works very hard
at being a golf genius. Donald Trump works very hard at being a genius at
real estate development. If you have ever seen the buildings he has
developed in Manhattan and around the world, you know that it is easy to

see his drive. Oprah survives and thrives in the very tough environment of
television.
One of the reasons many people do not develop their genius is simply
because they are lazy. Many just go to work to collect a paycheck. It is

easier for them to be average than to work hard at developing their genius.
My questions to you are, “What do you think your genius is and what
environment is best for you to develop it?” Another important question is,
“Do you have the courage to change environments?” Imagine your future . .

. if you did.
For many people the answers to these questions are “I don’t know,” or
simply “No.” For most people being comfortable is more important than