481. Definition of Ingenuity

The definition of ingenuity is that it is the invisible thought process that turns a liability or neutral possession into an asset.

The real power that you have is your thought process. The secret of this power is in developing your follow-through. Acquire the practical skills needed for follow through.

Do not work simply for money. Your real job is to create assets.

The acid test of an asset is to ask if you can pass it on to your loved ones. If you can and it continues to put money into their pockets then it truly is an asset.

The Ten Principal Upanishads

479. Become a good Investor

Keep your earned money secure by converting it into property and shares that will become assets to return income to you. It is your responsibility to determine whether your securities become assets or liabilities. This is called Risk Assessment. Be a good investor not a risky one. There are no risky investments, only risky investors.Rich Dad's Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest in, That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!

2. On Exploitation

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A WELL ADJUSTED SLAVE.

There is a legal doctrine called Quantum Maruit which is simply Latin for "The amount earned." It simply means that the labourer is worthy of his hire. You may be asked to do voluntary work for the sake of a good cause. This is a good and generous thing to do. Do it with an open heart and as a gift, expecting no reward or else refuse if you cannot do it in that spirit. If you feel you are being exploited, the chances are that you are picking up some subliminal signals that your generosity is indeed being plundered for the benefit of someone else's bank balance. As the anti-drugs campaign says : "Just Say No !"

Exploitation takes many forms but it is usually in the form of low or absent wages. The person who is insisting that you should work for free is usually very well paid on a regular basis themselves. Ask what the monetary value of whatever is being offered in exchange is. You should have some idea of what the hourly rate for your labour is and refuse to work for less. When I was 14 years old, I was offered the princely sum of £5 per week working in a dusty factory. I refused because I already had a job paying me £22.10 per week plus all the adventure I could handle at sea. Indeed you should realise that exchanging your labour for cash is really a poor bargain. It makes much more sense to exchange your labour for assets which will in turn provide you with cash for years to come.