How to Get Rich in America

Here's an interesting piece from Ben Stein that says to get rich all you need to do is follow the instructions. What instructions are those, you might ask? His answer is very interesting.

In a nutshell, he says that you need to select and cultivate the right career to be successful financially - something I agree with. That said, he does have some unique thoughts on the matter such as the following:

And here his experience proves the great advice of Warren E. Buffett: It's better to be medium-good in a great field than great in a medium field.

Please notice a pattern: the most interesting and psychologically rewarding work is rarely the best-paid. So choices must be made.

If your goal is to be in that top 1 percent of wealth-holders, you have to do what Yaniv did. Follow the instructions to where the money is, and to where it isn't.

I wouldn't go quite this far and say in order to make a decent living you need to be bored out of your mind, but he does have a point. I've heard it said that if you really want to become wealthy, do the jobs that no one else wants to do -- collect trash, clean sewers and oil spills, eliminate mine fields, etc. In fact, one of the wealthiest guys I know owns funeral homes. See what I mean?

My perspective is slightly different. Here's my regular statement on the importance of your career in your financial health:

Your career is your most valuable financial asset, offering you many financial benefits. You can make the most of it by getting a college degree and managing your career to its full potential. Doing this well can earn you millions of dollars in extra income throughout your lifetime.

For more of my thoughts on this issue, see these posts:

• Maximize Your Income by Knowing What You're Worth

• How to Get a Bigger Raise

• More Education Equals More Pay

Comments

[yerobim marbun]

sorry my english is bad... coz i'm indonesian.
how about get rich, when i didn't have any money, but i have a several plan to get rich...?

please mail me... yerobim@yahoo.com
tnx...

[Terry]

A former employer noted some years ago that you don't see older garbage collectors; i.e. it might pay well but few can do it long enough to retire wealthy.