uldn't　say　anything　if　you　didn't　pay　yourself。〃

〃So　you　see；　after　paying　myself；　the　pressure　to　pay　my　taxes　and　the　other　creditors　is　so　great　that　it　forces　me　to　seek　other　forms　of　ine。　The　pressure　to　pay　bees　my　motivation。　I've　worked　extra　jobs；　started　other　panies；　traded　in　the　stock　market；　anything　just　to　make　sure　those　guys　don't　start　yelling　at　me。　That　pressure　made　me　work　harder；　forced　me　to　think；　and　all　in　all　made　me　smarter　and　more　active　when　it　es　to　money。　If　I　had　paid　myself　last；　I　would　have　felt　no　pressure；　but　I'd　be　broke。〃

〃So　it　is　the　fear　of　the　government　or　other　people　you　owe　money　I　to　that　motivates　you？〃

〃That's　right；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃You　see；　government　bill　collectors　are　big　bullies。　So　are　bill　collectors　in　general。　Most　people　give　into　these　bullies。　They　pay　them　and　never　pay　themselves。　You　know　the　story　of　the　96…pound　weakling　who　gets　sand　kicked　in　his　face？〃

I　nodded。 〃I　see　that　ad　for　weightlifting　and　bodybuilding　lessons　in　the　ic　books　all　the　time。〃

〃Well；　most　people　let　the　bullies　kick　sand　in　their　faces。　I　decided　to　use　the　fear　of　the　bully　to　make　me　stronger。　Others　get　weaker。　Forcing　myself　to　think　about　how　to　make　extra　money　is　like　going　to　the　gym　and　working　out　with　weights。　The　more　I　work　my　mental　money　muscles　out；　the　stronger　I　get。　Now；　I'm　not　afraid　of　those　bullies。

I　liked　what　rich　dad　was　saying。 〃So　if　I　pay　myself　first；　I　get　financially　stronger；　mentally　and　fiscally。〃

Rich　dad　nodded。

〃And　if　I　pay　myself　last；　or　not　at　all；　I　get　weaker。　So　people　like　bosses；　managers；　tax　collectors；　bill　collectors　and　landlords　push　me　around　all　my　life。　Just　because　I　don't　have　good　money　habits。〃

Ric