" "How do you know that I've not taught you anything?" asked rich dad calmly. "Well, you've never talked to me. I've worked for three weeks, and you have not taught me anything," I said with a pout. "Does teaching mean talking or a lecture?" rich dad asked. "Well, yes," I replied. "That's how they teach you in school," he said smiling. "But that is not how life teaches you, and I would say that life is the best teacher of all. Most of the time, life does not talk teTyou. It just sort of pushes you around. Each push is life saying, 'Wake up. There's something I want you to learn.' " "What is this man talking about?" I asked myself silently. "Life pushing me around was life talking to me?" Now I The Rich Don't Work for Money 43 knew I had to quit my job. I was talking to someone who needed to be locked up. "If you learn life's lessons, you will do well. If not, life will just continue to push you around. People do two things. Some just let life push them around. Others get angry and push back. But they push back against their boss, or their job, or their husband or wife. They do not know it's life that's pushing." I had no idea what he was talking about. "Life pushes all of us around. Some give up. Others fight. A few learn the lesson and move on. They welcome life pushing them around. To these fevyjeople, it means theyneed and want toJerjnLSomething. They learn and move on. Most quit, and a few like you fight." Rich dad stood and shut the creaky old wooden win- dow that needed repair. "If you learn this lesson, you will grojv_into_a_ wise, wealthy and happy young man. If you don't, you will spend your life blaming a job, low pay or your boss for your problems. You'll live life hoping for that big break that will solve all your money problems." Rich dad looked over at me to see if I was still listening. His eyes met mine. We stared at each other, streams of communication going between us through our eyes. Fi- nally, I pulled away once I had absorbed his last message. I knew he was right. I was blaming him, and I did ask to learn. I was fighting. Rich dad continued. "Or if you're the kind of person who has no guts, you just giye_up_eyery time lifejxishes vou. If you're that kindofperson. you'll live all your life playing it safe, doing the right things, saving yourself for some event that neveTTiapehs.Then, you die a boring old, man. You'll haveloTs of friends who really like you be- 44 Rich Dad, Poor Dad The Rich Don't Work for Money 45 cause you were such a nice hard-working guy. You spent a life playing it safe, doing the right things. But the truth is, you let life push you into submission. Deep down you were terrified of taking risks. You really wanted to win, but the fear of losing was greater than the excitement of win- ning. Deep inside, you and only you will know you didn't goTor it. You chose to play it safe." Our eyes met again. For ten seconds, we looked at each other, only pulling away once the message was received.