6 School Lessons From “Why A Students Work for C Students”

Why A Students Work for C Students Summary

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What’s the story of Why A Students Work for C Students?

This book, “Why ‘A’ Students Work For ‘C’ Students And ‘B’ Students Work For The Government” (2013), dives into the idea that the current global financial crisis is, at its core, an educational crisis.

It points out that schools are falling short in providing students with essential financial education, leaving a gap that parents need to fill by teaching their children about real-world financial responsibility.

Who’s the author of Why A Students Work for C Students?

The author, Robert T. Kiyosaki, is not just an author but also an entrepreneur and educator.

He’s widely known for his bestselling book, “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” which holds the title of the #1 best-selling Personal Finance book of all time.

With a prolific writing career, Kiyosaki has authored over two dozen books, including the collaborative work “Why We Want You To Be Rich,” co-written with Donald J. Trump.

His insights into financial education and entrepreneurship make this book a valuable read for anyone seeking a better understanding of the interplay between education and financial success.

Who’s Why A Students Work for C Students summary for?

Anyone fascinated by the dynamics of education, money, and investments. 

And for those wishing to learn how to maximize their power to their greatest benefit.

Why read Why A Students Work for C Students summary?

As parents, we all want to provide our kids with every advantage in life, particularly in their education.

Regrettably, our school system falls short in imparting knowledge about one of life’s fundamental aspects: money.

The focus is on equipping kids with the tools for securing a good job, emphasizing how to be an employee rather than fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.

Many teachers lack the resources to provide a comprehensive financial education.

They operate in a world of verifiable facts and figures, where test answers are either right or wrong.

However, the real world is far more intricate.

While we’re taught the basics – work hard, avoid debt, save for retirement – we often miss out on understanding different income types or how to read a financial statement.

It falls upon parents to bridge this educational gap. But before empowering our kids, we might need to educate ourselves on the subject.

These lessons will illustrate why a solid financial education is crucial and provide tools to introduce the subject to your own kids.

It’s a process that should commence in childhood and extend into young adulthood.

In these lessons, you’ll discover:

– how to use Monopoly to educate your children
– the real reason why people are greedy
– and why you should never just give your kid money

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Why A Students Work for C Students Lessons

What?How?
1️⃣ Adapt Learning to Fit the Needs of StudentsTailor financial education to match a child’s developmental stages. Utilize games like Monopoly to engage both analytical and creative aspects of learning.
2️⃣ Find Your Place in the Cashflow Quadrant FirstUnderstand the four income quadrants (Employee, Self-employed, Business Owner, Investor) and guide kids in exploring where they fit. Emphasize the importance of financial independence in the “B” and “I” quadrants.
3️⃣ Teach Kids All Types of IncomeDistinguish between ordinary, portfolio, and passive income. Use real-life examples, such as Monopoly, to demonstrate the concepts and encourage understanding of how different income sources work.
4️⃣ Financial Education Gives Kids a Sense of SecurityEmphasize financial education as a means to instill control and security over one’s future. Introduce concepts like safety in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and explain the importance of financial knowledge in decision-making.
5️⃣ Don’t Just Give Kids Money for NothingAvoid the entitlement mentality by not giving money without earning. Establish a reward system based on hard work and going above expectations. Encourage experiences and education over a regular allowance.
6️⃣ Financial Advice Is Not Financial EducationDifferentiate between financial advice and education. Instill skepticism about advice that may have hidden motives. Promote understanding the language of money, allowing children to make informed decisions independently.

1️⃣ Adapt Learning to Fit the Needs of Students

When is the ideal time to start teaching a child about finance?

While there’s no fixed rule, a good guideline is when a child can distinguish between a one dollar bill and a five dollar bill.

This marks the beginning of their financial education journey, but it’s important to note that this isn’t a quick process spanning weeks or months.

Related:  So, You Want to Be Rich. Now What?

Financial education is a gradual process that unfolds over years, divided into three distinct windows of learning, each with its unique requirements.

The key message here is that a solid financial education adapts to the evolving needs and experiences of the student.

During a child’s first window of learning, known as Quantum Learning, which spans from birth to around age twelve, children are like sponges, effortlessly absorbing information from their surroundings.

Around age four, their brain undergoes a significant development, dividing into left (analytical) and right (creative) hemispheres.

Leveraging this change, parents can introduce financial education through engaging games like Monopoly, stimulating both hemispheres and catering to individual learning preferences.

As a child enters the age of twelve, a new phase called Rebellious Learning begins. At this stage, they crave independence, wanting to make their own decisions and choose their learning path.

However, they may not fully grasp the consequences of their choices. Openly discussing your own financial concerns can guide them through this critical period, strengthening the parent-child relationship.

The third window, Professional Learning, unfolds in young adulthood when individuals step into the real world. Armed with the lessons from childhood, they apply them to real-life scenarios.

This phase becomes a testing ground for career choices, offering an opportunity to reassess and redirect if necessary.

The next lesson will delve into the nuances of helping your child navigate the maze of choosing the right career path.

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2️⃣ Find Your Place in the Cashflow Quadrant First

While choosing the right career is significant, the specific profession you pick isn’t the most pivotal decision. What truly matters is determining where you fit within the Cashflow Quadrant.

The key message is here is that finding your place in the Cashflow Quadrant holds more weight than choosing a specific profession.

The Cashflow Quadrant comprises four income quadrants, each represented by a letter.

“E” stands for employee, where the majority finds themselves.

“S” is for small business or self-employed individuals, including those working on commission or fees, like doctors and lawyers.

“B” denotes big business, encompassing entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs who initiate companies employing hundreds.

Lastly, “I” stands for investors, such as financial experts like Warren Buffett, excluding passive investors in pensions and 401(k)s.

Schools predominantly prepare students for a life in the “E” or “S” quadrants, emphasizing the pursuit of a stable job with a regular paycheck.

Unfortunately, these quadrants also bear the heaviest tax burden. True financial independence lies in the “B” and “I” quadrants, where individuals can legally minimize or eliminate taxes.

However, reaching the pinnacle of the “B” and “I” quadrants demands a different skill set than that cultivated by specialization, as encouraged in the educational system.

The educational system’s focus on creating specialists aligns with success in the “E” and “S” quadrants.

However, ascending to the top of the “B” and “I” quadrants requires a broader skill set. Successful entrepreneurs and investors thrive as generalists, not specialists.

In the academic realm, grades reflect mastery in a specific subject, adhering to a binary system of right or wrong, pass or fail.

“A” students often become specialists working in the “E” or “S” quadrants, while those with “C” grades may possess talents allowing them to grasp the bigger picture.

This is why we observe that “A” students often end up working for “C” students.

Remember, starting your career in one quadrant doesn’t condemn you to stay there forever.

Transitioning between quadrants is possible, especially as your Professional Learning curve provides insights into your strengths and weaknesses.

The next lesson will explore different types of income.

3️⃣ Teach Kids All Types of Income

Transitioning between cashflow quadrants, as mentioned earlier, necessitates a shift in your primary source of income. There exist three types: ordinary, portfolio, and passive.

The key message here is that you need to educate your children on the distinction between ordinary, portfolio, and passive income.

Most schools predominantly focus on teaching ordinary income – the regular, steady paychecks that are taxed at the highest rates, even affecting savings accounts and 401(k) plans.

Understanding taxes is complex for everyone, making it crucial to start teaching your kids about it early on.

Moving up the income ladder, portfolio income, or capital gains, is where many investors place their money. While it’s an improvement from ordinary income, it still carries higher tax burdens and risks.

Even a supposedly diversified stock portfolio may not truly diversify, as investments often align within a similar field, making them susceptible to shared vulnerabilities.

On the other hand, passive income, also known as cash flow, comes from assets – things that put money into your pocket.

It’s essential to distinguish assets from liabilities; for instance, a rental property is a true asset, providing a consistent income source taxed at the lowest rates.

Passive income is the type that paves the way for financial independence.

Using Monopoly as a teaching tool can help illustrate passive income to your kids.

When you build houses or hotels in the game, you establish a steady income source, a strategy crucial for winning. Holding onto money without investing in properties leads to losses.

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Teaching your kids about these three income types equips them with a financial advantage in the future. However, it’s unwise to rely solely on the school system for this education.

Most teachers operate within the realm of ordinary income and may not even be aware of the three income categories.

Therefore, it becomes the responsibility of parents to provide their children with this essential financial education.

4️⃣ Financial Education Gives Kids a Sense of Security

Without a proper financial education, many individuals graduate from school in a state of financial desperation. Even if they secure a well-paying job, the fear of losing it often takes precedence.

This phenomenon is evident in the corporate world, where CEOs prioritize their own retirement packages over the well-being of the companies they lead.

This situation directly results from schools failing to address one of our most fundamental needs: safety.

The key message here is that financial education allows young people to feel a sense of control and security over their future.

In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow introduced the Hierarchy of Needs, depicting a pyramid starting with basic physiological needs at the bottom and advancing to safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization.

Safety, the second level, encompasses employment, morality, property, and resources.

By neglecting financial education, schools fail to meet this crucial safety need in students, leaving graduates uncertain about their future and desperate for employment.

Desperation often leads to drastic measures.

Contrary to the stereotype that portrays rich individuals as greedy, it’s desperation that drives people toward greed.

True capitalism is not aligned with a sense of entitlement fostered by desperation. Rich individuals can, in fact, be remarkably generous.

Parents can address this need for safety through education by encouraging their children, as they enter the workforce, to seek opportunities beyond traditional part-time jobs.

This might involve working for a mentor, gaining compensation in real-world experience rather than just a paycheck.

Alternatively, finding a job in a fast-food restaurant that allows them to experience various roles within the business can be valuable.

At this stage, accumulating diverse experiences can be more beneficial than a minimum wage paycheck.

These simple strategies can instill a sense of control over young people’s financial futures. Only when they feel secure can they progress toward total self-actualization.

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5️⃣ Don’t Just Give Kids Money for Nothing

As discussed previously, the pervasive sense of entitlement in society can be fueled by desperation.

In our world, many individuals believe they deserve something for nothing, a mindset we wouldn’t want to pass on to our children.

The key message here is that you shouldn’t just give your kids money for nothing.

Regardless of their financial status, some parents have the habit of expressing love through monetary gifts, from expensive shoes to toys and even cars.

When this becomes a consistent practice, children grow up expecting to receive whatever they ask for.

The entitlement mentality is further fueled by societal practices, such as everyone getting a trophy in school tournaments just for participating.

It’s crucial for children to understand the true nature of money – a means of exchange. If you do something, you receive something in return, and the more you give, the more you receive.

Entitlement takes root when children are simply handed things without earning them.

Instead of a regular allowance, consider a system where children are rewarded for their hard work and exceeding expectations.

This approach not only instills a strong work ethic but also introduces the concept of generosity. The more they contribute, the more they gain – not just monetarily but in experience and education.

The proverb, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime,” encapsulates the case against the entitlement mentality.

Before providing a handout to your children, ask yourself whether you are teaching them to fish or merely showing them how to ask for a fish.

6️⃣ Financial Advise Is Not Financial Education

Many financial challenges stem from a common root cause: the confusion between financial advice and financial education. Though they may sound similar, there’s a substantial difference.

Seeking financial advice means asking someone to dictate what you should do with your money.

In contrast, financial education involves learning what to study so that you can make informed decisions independently.

The key message here is to teach your kids to distinguish between financial advice and financial education.

When someone offers financial advice, it’s crucial to question their motives. Financial advisors may recommend diversifying your stock portfolio, but they often lack insight into individual stock performance.

Their commission-driven incentives may overshadow their concern for your financial well-being.

Similarly, bankers encouraging savings might have ulterior motives, seeking to promote credit cards and home loans where they profit from your debt, not your savings.

In such scenarios, you become a customer, and your financial ignorance contributes to the profits of stockbrokers and banks.

A financial education empowers you to retain those profits for yourself. The foundation of financial education lies in understanding the language of money, not just the words but the relationships between them.

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For instance, a fundamental term in the language of money is “income.” By purchasing an asset like a rental property, you can visibly demonstrate how income increases.

Conversely, it’s evident how a liability can cause income to decrease.

The term “debt” is often misunderstood. While conventional wisdom may paint debt as inherently bad, it can be used strategically to your advantage.

Taking a bank loan to invest in a rental property, for instance, can not only repay the loan but also boost passive income, turning the debt into an asset.

True education lies in the ability to see multiple perspectives simultaneously. Debt can be both good and bad, depending on its purpose. This is the critical skill we want to impart to our children.

Instead of dictating what they should do with their money, equip them with the tools to make informed decisions on their own.

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Why A Students Work for C Students Review

The key message emphasized in these insights is the pivotal role of a good financial education in providing our children with a significant advantage in life.

Rather than relying on external sources, it becomes the responsibility of parents to impart this crucial knowledge in the language of money.

Designate one night each week as “Financial Education Night.”

Utilize this time to engage in activities such as playing educational games like Monopoly, discussing your family’s financial situation, or setting goals for your children’s financial future.

Consistently dedicating a small amount of time each week to financial education can have a profound impact on your children’s financial literacy and preparedness for the future.

Why A Students Work for C Students Quotes

Robert Kiyosaki Quotes
“Asking for advice means, ‘Tell me what to do.’ Seeking education means, ‘Tell me what to study so I can learn what I need to do.’”
“In the words of Albert Einstein: ‘Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.’”
“In the big picture, life is not about grades. Life is about what you choose to study.”
“Once a President or congressman is elected, we the taxpayers take care of them for life. If they are qualified to be our leaders, why can’t they take care of themselves?”
“Preparing a child for the world of tomorrow is one of the most important roles a parent plays in a child’s life.”
“American people, always in search of a bargain in the name of ‘saving money,’ send the money they earn to countries that produce these low-cost bargains. That money costs them their jobs and as well as our country’s wealth.”
“Social welfare is destroying the soul of America. Social programs are cancers growing within the spirit of the people they were created to serve. Social programs do not make people stronger. They keep people weak, depending on the government to solve their problems.”
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald”
“If your mind is open to opposing ideas, your intelligence will go up.”
“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift… You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.”
“You cannot teach a poor person to be rich until they change their context. Teaching a person with a poor or middle-class person’s context is a waste of time…and it does annoy them.”
“It is this entitlement mentality that is eroding the foundations this country was built upon. The ‘entitlement mentality’ is bringing down the American empire and the world.”
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Hey — It’s Pavlos. Just another human sharing my thoughts on all things money. Nothing more, nothing less.