Robert Kiyosaki: 6 Ways the Rich Learn To Earn Money
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Elizabeth Constantineau
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Robert Kiyosaki, author of the bestselling personal finance classic “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” has spent decades teaching how the wealthy think differently about money. Unlike the lower and middle classes, the rich don’t just work for their money — they learn how to make their money work for them.
As Kiyosaki once said, “It’s not how much money you make. It’s how much money you keep… and how hard that money works for you.”
From embracing mistakes to seeking faster formulas, the wealthy utilize financial education, mindset shifts and strategic learning to build their fortunes. Here are six ways Kiyosaki says the rich learn to earn — and how you can too.
Choose Active Learning
Kiyosaki emphasizes the importance of being an active, not passive, learner if you want control over your financial destiny. A post on his website reads, “When you’re a passive learner, you become whatever others want you to be rather than what you want to be.” Instead, be active and seek out the knowledge you need to improve.
“Most of us spend years in school learning how to get a job,” wrote Kiyosaki on Instagram. “But how much time do we spend learning how to build wealth? How to spot an asset? How to avoid liabilities? How to create real cash flow?”
The rich prioritize acquiring skills that enhance their understanding of money and wealth-building rather than traditional job credentials. This prevents them from becoming trapped in a cycle of working for money without actually building assets and leverage.
Adopt a ‘Learning’ Mindset About Work
While many people work for the paycheck, the rich tend to view work primarily as a vehicle for learning. As Kiyosaki explains it, his “Poor Dad” advised him to find a high-paying, stable job and work his way up the ladder. Meanwhile, his best friend’s father and financial mentor, dubbed his “Rich Dad,” believed the most important thing was continual learning.
Kiyosaki took this to heart from a young age, leaving lucrative corporate jobs when he stopped acquiring new knowledge to build expertise in other areas like real estate and sales, which fueled his success.
Become a Generalist
Kiyosaki believes that versatility is key. While his Poor Dad encouraged him to be an expert in a narrow field to earn wealth, his Rich Dad contended that becoming a versatile generalist — someone who understands multiple disciplines and how they connect — was better.
Kiyosaki himself focused on obtaining transferable skills in leadership, sales, finance and real estate that enabled him to recognize opportunities and guide specialists toward executing on his ideas. He said, “Rich Dad teaches that if you don’t learn how money really works, you’ll spend your life working for it, instead of making it work for you.”
Take Control of Your Financial Education
As opposed to traditional education, which is focused on getting a good job, the rich proactively direct their learning specifically toward money-making abilities. As Kiyosaki put it, “Financial education isn’t part of the system — because the system wasn’t designed to make you rich.”
Kiyosaki took charge of his own education by taking a real estate class at age 26 that taught him formulas for buying foreclosed properties profitably. Teaching himself direct sales skills that could be applied across industries allowed him to capitalize on multiple business ventures over time.
Even today, he continually seeks out teachers who can provide the latest, cutting-edge education on thriving financially in creative ways. This distinguishes him from the middle class, who generally rely on conventional academics and financial advisors to dictate their money management.
Learn Quickly
Speed is critical when expanding your financial education. Information moves rapidly, so forming a competitive edge requires identifying emerging data and trends before the mainstream catches on.
Kiyosaki gave the example of using new techniques he learned from active traders to improve stock picks and real estate plays. He also points to the fame of Thomas Edison and Levi Strauss, who both raced ahead of trends to reap outsized rewards later with their innovations. The ability to quickly gather and implement fresh knowledge pays off both financially and in one’s career.
Turn Mistakes Into Money
While the middle-class fears and avoids mistakes, the wealthy adopt a different mindset that powers their success. According to Kiyosaki, the rich view mistakes as opportunities to learn something new. The more mistakes you make and learn from, the better off you’ll be next time around.
He references the repeated failures of icons like Michael Jordan and Thomas Edison on their journeys toward groundbreaking accomplishments. Each error helped them learn how to evolve their work. Like these role models, budding entrepreneurs should embrace missteps as a tool for growth, not something to be ashamed of.
Final Take To GO
The biggest difference between the wealthy and everyone else isn’t just money; it’s mindset. Some of the biggest barriers holding people back are their limiting beliefs about learning and failure.
By embracing lifelong learning, taking control of your financial education and viewing mistakes as stepping stones, you can start building wealth the way the rich do. Master these six habits, and you’ll be well on your way to creating an income that works for you, not the other way around.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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