born_rich-第3章
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〃Harry was just in the right place at the right time。〃 But I want
to assure you in no uncertain terms； that although 〃luck〃
obviously plays some part in financial success； it is never
sufficient in and of itself。 Money is an effect and it must
always be earned。 Believe me； there are no free rides in this
life and the only people who are making money the easy way
either work in the mint or are on their way to jail； if they have
not already arrived there。 Therefore； always bear in mind that
while 〃good fortune〃 is a factor in financial success； it must
always be coupled with effort and hard work！
Money Must Circulate
A third thing you should know about money is that it is
valuable only as long as it is being used。 Once it has been
taken out of circulation； it becomes as worthless as the 〃old
newspapers〃 or 〃empty beer cans〃 that have been stashed
away in the attic。 To understand the truth of this principle；
consider the following story。 On a bookshelf； in my home； I
have a silver beer stein that was given to me as a gift for a
speech I made。 Now； whenever I go into my house； I take all
the change from my pockets and put it into the cup。 Then；
when the cup is almost filled； I give it to one of my children； or
one of two young cousins。 Each of them takes turns receiving
the cup and of course they eagerly anticipate their turn。 The
point I want you to notice； however； is that while the cup is
being filled； the money in it has absolutely no value
whatsoever； it just sits there； serving no useful function and
not even drawing any interest。
However； as soon as the cup is filled and the money is
turned over to one of the kids； it literally 〃flies into action。〃 For
instance； just last week； T。 Jay； one of my young cousins；
received the money。 He immediately took it from my hand；
rushed off to a golf school and purchased several golf lessons
with his inheritance。 Now； I can't honestly say what the golf
pro did with the money once he got it； but I do feel fairly safe
in saying that he didn't just return it to a cup on his book
shelf！ No； there really isn't any dispute about it； money is not
meant to be taken out of circulation…rather； it is meant to be
used； enjoyed and circulated！
This brings me to an even more dramatic illustration of
the same principle： namely； the story of 〃old Mr。 Chapman。〃
Mr。 Chapman was an elderly gentleman who lived a few doors
down the street from our family when I was just a boy。
Although there was a tremendous age difference between us；
Mr。 Chapman and I became fast friends and I often used to
watch him pushing his small junk cart up and down the
block。 You see； Mr。 Chapman worked as a junk dealer and he
made his living by picking up the things other people had
thrown away。 As the years went by； however； Mr。 Chapman
became more and more stooped from his arduous labors and
one day； shortly after World War II； he passed away。 Since he
lived alone and apparently had no close relatives living nearby；
the police entered his house to take stock of his possessions。
Not surprisingly； they found the house littered with many old
furnishings and assorted memorabilia from Mr。 Chapman's
past。 However； much to their amazement； the police also
discovered over one hundred thousand dollars （100；000） in
old bills packed in boxes throughout the house！
Quick to pick up on so unusual an occurrence； the
Toronto Daily Star carried a front…page story the next day
about Mr。 Chapman； in which it asked the obvious question：
why would an individual worth well over 100；000； choose to
keep his money stashed away in old boxes strewn haphazardly
throughout his house？
Although I was still quite young at the time； I asked
myself a similar question： namely； why would a person like
Mr。 Chapman choose to live like a veritable pauper； when he
had so much money at his disposal？ He could have used his
money for his own enjoyment。 He could have invested it to
earn a return for himself and to help create jobs for other
people； or he could have just deposited it in the bank and
earned interest on his money。 But instead； he chose to put it
in a 〃jar on the shelf；〃 and he thereby rendered it absolutely
useless。 No； my friends； there isn't any doubt about it …money
is not meant to be hoarded。 Rather； it is meant to be used；
enjoyed and circulated。 So please； whatever you choose to do
with your money； don't make the same mistake that poor old
Mr。 Chapman did！
Please note that when I suggest that money should be
kept in circulation； I do not mean it should be squandered。
There is a world of difference between those two concepts and
if you haven't found out what the difference is yet； I would
suggest you find out as soon as possible。
Prosperity Consciousness Exercise
Now that we have touched upon some of the
characteristics of money； let us turn briefly to a simple
〃technique〃 which you can begin using immediately to start
attracting the amount of money you desire。 The first thing that
I want you to do is to picture yourself； in your mind's eye；
sitting in a room with several of your friends。 Then； I want you
to visualize yourself announcing to them your intention of
becoming wealthy； at least； wealthy enough to live the way you
choose to live。 Now； imagine how that would make you feel。 If
you are like most people； you would probably feel very
uncomfortable。 Perhaps you would feel so uncomfortable； that
you might even retract what you had said by informing your
friends you were only joking。 You should understand；
however； that people who are wealthy never feel uncomfortable
when the subject of money is brought up。 〃Why don't they；〃
you ask？ The most obvious answer would be； because they
already have 〃lots〃 of it。 But that is not the correct answer。
You should realize that people don't feel comfortable about
money because they have it； they have it because they feel
comfortable about it。 In other words； one of the reasons that
wealthy people have money is that they have developed that
state of consciousness we will hereinafter refer to as； a
〃prosperity consciousness。〃 Therefore； it follows； if we wish to
attract money to ourselves； we must begin to foster a
prosperity consciousness as well。
The question you should now be asking yourself is this：
〃How do I go about developing this prosperity consciousness
for myself？〃 Let me explain。 The best way to develop a
prosperity consciousness is to start seeing yourself； in your
mind's eye； already in possession of the amount of money that
you desire。 The reason this is so is that since the
subconscious mind cannot distinguish between the actual
possession of money and mere visualization； you will soon
become very comfortable with the 〃idea〃 of money。 As a result；
you will start attracting it to yourself。
This may sound like a game you are playing； but let me
assure you； it is one of the wisest things you can possibly do。
For when you succeed in convincing your subconscious mind
that you are wealthy and that it feels good to be wealthy； your
subconscious mind will automatically seek ways of making
your 〃imaginary〃 feelings of wealth manifest themselves in
material form。
If these last few lines seem like sheer fantasy to you； just
ignore them for the time being and continue reading。 We will
be dealing with prosperity consciousness at different points in
the book and I guarantee you that before you finish this book；
those lines will start to make a lot more sense to you。
Fear Not
Now that I have touched upon a 〃technique〃 which will
help you acquire greater wealth； let me offer this further word
of warning。 If you want to have money； one thing you should
never； never do； is worry about whether or not you will get the
money you desire； or whether you will keep it。 Let me
elaborate。
In the Bible； Job； the great sufferer of biblical times；
makes the following remark： 〃Behold； the thing I fear has come
to visit upon me。〃 Now； stop and ask yourself …if you will…what
those biblical words mean to those of us co
