Published by Pearson Business (February 7, 2023) © 2023
Richard TemplarA personal code to think yourself smarter, wiser and happier
We all envy the natural thinkers of this world. They have the best ideas, make the smartest decisions, are open minded and never indecisive.
Is there something they know that the rest of us don't? Is it something we can all learn? The answer is a resounding yes. They know The Rules of Thinking.
These Rules are the guiding principles that show you how to make wiser decisions, stop procrastinating, know when to compromise, avoid mistakes, find other options, think well with others, stop obsessing about things, keep your brain active, be more creative, and have happy, healthy thoughts.
Thinking wealthy
1 Anybody can be wealthy – you just need to apply yourself
2 Decide on your definition of wealth
3 Set your objectives
4 Keep it under your hat
5 Most people are too lazy to be wealthy
6 Get a reality check
7 Understand your money beliefs and where they come from
8 Understand that wealth is a consequence, not a reward
9 Decide what you want money for
10 Understand that money begets money
11 Calculate the net return
12 If you see money as the solution you'll find it becomes the problem
13 You can make lots of money, you can enjoy your job, and you can sleep nights
14 Don't make money by being bad
15 Money and happiness – understand their relationship
16 Know the difference between price and value
17 Know how the wealthy think
18 Don't envy what others have
19 It's harder to manage yourself than it is to manage your money
Getting wealthy
20 You've got to know where you are before you start
21 You've got to have a plan
22 Get your finances under control
23 Insurance pays someone, and odds are it's not you
24 Only by looking wealthy can you become wealthy
25 Speculate to accumulate (no, this isn't gambling)
26 Decide your attitude to risk
27 Think through the alternatives to taking a risk
28 If you don't trust someone, don't do business with them
29 It's never too late to start getting wealthy
30 Start saving young (or teach your kids this one if it's too late for you)
31 Understand that your financial needs change at different stages of your life
32 You have to work hard to get rich enough not to have to work hard
33 Learn the art of deal making
34 Learn the art of negotiating
35 Small economies won't make you wealthy but they will make you miserable
36 Real wealth comes from deals not fees
37 Understand that working for others won't necessarily make you rich – but it might
38 Don't waste time procrastinating – make money decisions quickly
39 Work as if you didn't need the money
40 Spend less than you earn
41 Don't borrow money – unless you really, really have to
42 Consider consolidating debts
43 Cultivate a skill and it'll repay you over and over again
44 Pay off your loans and debts as a priority
45 Don't be too busy earning a living to make some money
46 Save in big chunks – or should you?
47 Don't rent, buy
48 Understand what investing really means
49 Build a bit of capital then invest it wisely
50 Understand that property, in the long run, will not outpace shares
51 Master the art of selling
52 See yourself as others do
53 Don't believe you can always win
54 Don't pick stocks yourself if you don't know what you're doing
55 Understand how the stock market really works
56 Only buy shares (or anything) you can understand
57 Use your head
58 By all means, use the investment professionals (but don't be used by them)
59 If you are going to get financial advice, pay for it
60 Don't fiddle
61 Think long term
62 Have a set time of day to work on your wealth strategy
63 Pay attention to detail
64 Create new income streams
65 Learn to play ‘What if?'
66 Control spending impulses
67 Don't answer ads that promise get-rich-quick schemes – it won't be you who gets rich quick
68 There are no secrets
69 Don't just read this – do something
Getting even wealthier
70 Carry out a finance health check regularly
71 Get some money mentors
72 Play your hunches
73 Don't sit back
74 Get someone to do the stuff you can't
75 Know yourself – solo, duo or team player
76 Look for the hidden asset/opportunity
77 Don't try to get rich too quickly
78 Always ask what's in it for them
79 Make your money work for you
80 Know when to let go of investments
81 Know your own style
82 Know why you should be able to read a balance sheet – and how
83 Be one step ahead of your tax collector
84 Learn how to make your assets work for you
85 Don't ever believe you're only worth what you are being paid
86 Don't follow the same route as everyone else
Staying wealthy
87 Shop for quality
88 Check the small print
89 Don't spend it before you've got it
90 Put something aside for your old age – no, more than that! 188
91 Put something aside for emergencies/rainy days – the contingency fund
92 You paid what for it? How to shop around
93 Never borrow money from friends or family (but you can allow them to invest)
94 Don't surrender equity
95 Know when to stop sharing your wealth
96 Use your wealth wisely
97 Never lend money to friends or family unless you are prepared to write it off
98 Don't lend, take equities
99 You really, really can't take it with you
100 Know when/how to say no – and yes
101 Find ways to give people money without them feeling they are in your debt
102 Don't over-protect your children from the valuable experience of poverty
103 Know how to choose charities/good causes
104 Spend your own money because no one will spend it as wisely as you
105 Take responsibility before you take advice
106 Once you've got it, don't flaunt it
107 What's next? Pacts with the devil?
The Rules of other people's wealth
1 Don't judge
2 Don't envy it
3 Other people's money belongs to them
4 They can give it all away if they like
5a Once they've gone, you can't ask questions
5b Once they've gone, you can't ask questions
6 Blood comes before money
7 Your children owe you nothing
8 Don't make money taboo
9 If they give it to you, it's yours