"Rich Dad Poor Dad"

government school teacher, embodied this philosophy. His life was a testament to frugality & academic achievement, yet despite his sacrifices, financial freedom remained elusive. We lived paycheck to paycheck, & the anxiety of unexpected expenses was a constant shadow. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad during a low point in my late 20s that my worldview shattered—& rebuilt itself.

The Wake-Up Call

I discovered the book in a cluttered bookstore, its title nudging me like a forgotten promise. At the time, I was drowning. Freshly laid off from a corporate job I’d hated but clung to for "stability," I’d maxed out credit cards to maintain a facade of success—a sleek car, dinners at expensive restaurants, gadgets I didn’t need. I was the epitome of Kiyosaki’s "Poor Dad" mindset: equating income with wealth, confusing liabilities for assets. The first chapter felt like a mirror, reflecting my recklessness.

Kiyosaki’s contrasting fathers—his educated but struggling "Poor Dad" & the street-smart "Rich Dad"—resonated deeply. My own father had warned me against debt, yet here I was, enslaved by it. But Rich Dad’s lesson, "The poor & middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them," ignited a spark. For the first time, I questioned: What if everything I knew about money was wrong?

Assets vs. Liabilities: The Car That Broke Me

The book’s central theme—"Know the difference between an asset & a liability"—hit home. I’d financed a car loan, believing it was an "investment." But Kiyosaki’s blunt truth—"A car is a liability the moment you drive it off the lot"—forced me to confront my ignorance. That depreciating metal hulk wasn’t wealth; it was a chain.

Emotionally, this realization was brutal. I felt shame, regret, & anger—at myself, at the system that glorified consumerism. But Kiyosaki’s words also offered hope: "Every dollar in your asset column is like an employee, working 24/7 for generations." I sold the car, paid off the loan, & redirected funds into my first true asset: a rental property. It wasn’t glamorous, but watching tenants’ rent checks chip away at the mortgage gave me a thrill no luxury car ever could.

Financial Education: From Fear to Fluency

My "Poor Dad" upbringing had equated financial literacy with greed. Rich Dad’s mantra—"Mind your own business"—taught me otherwise. I devoured books on investing, attended workshops, & soaked up podcasts. The more I learned, the more I realized how schools had failed us. Algebra was mandatory, but budgeting? Compound interest? Silence.

One memory stands out: sitting at my kitchen table, trembling as I invested ₹10,000 in mutual funds—a pittance to many, but a leap of faith for someone raised to hoard cash. When the portfolio grew 15% in a year, I felt a mix of pride & resentment. Why hadn’t anyone taught me this sooner?

Entrepreneurship: Trading Security for Freedom

The book’s most jarring advice was "Don’t work for money; make it work for you." For someone conditioned to equate job titles with self-worth, this was terrifying. Yet, Kiyosaki’s stories of building businesses—not buying them—inspired me. I launched a freelance content agency, initially juggling clients between midnight & dawn. The first year was chaos: missed deadlines, client disputes, moments of paralyzing doubt. But gradually, it stabilized.

Quitting my 9-to-5 to focus on the agency was a visceral mix of terror & exhilaration. My father warned, "What if you fail?" Rich Dad’s voice countered: "Winners are not afraid of losing. Losers are." Today, the agency thrives, & the freedom to control my time—a luxury my salaried self never had—is priceless.

The Bumps Along the Road

Kiyosaki’s critics argue his advice oversimplifies complex systems. I agree—blindly following his steps without adapting them to India’s unique economy would’ve been disastrous. My first stock pick (a hyped tech startup) crashed, wiping out months of savings. Another lesson learned: education never stops.

Moreover, the book’s emphasis on real estate feels outdated in today’s digital age. Instead, I diversified—rental income, stocks, a blog monetized through affiliate marketing. Flexibility, I realized, is key.

A Legacy Rewritten

Today, I’m debt-free, with multiple income streams. But the true victory is emotional: the erosion of scarcity mindset, replaced by abundance. My father, initially skeptical, now asks for investing tips. My children won’t inherit fear; they’ll learn to make money their ally.

Rich Dad Poor Dad isn’t a flawless blueprint. It’s a mindset shift—a call to question, learn, & act. For me, it was the catalyst that turned despair into agency. As Kiyosaki writes, "The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire." My desire? To never feel trapped again.

If you’re ready to unlearn, to embrace discomfort for lasting freedom, this book is your first step. Just remember: the real work begins when you close the last page.

— Mohit