What Rich Dad Poor Dad Taught Me About Money (That School Never Did)

In Short

• Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad teaches us the power of mindset in wealth creation—how the rich think differently from the poor and middle class.

• He emphasizes the importance of financial education, not just academic excellence.

• The book challenges the "get a good job" formula and instead promotes building assets that generate passive income.

• It teaches the difference between assets and liabilities—a crucial lesson most people overlook.

• The core message: Don’t work for money. Make money work for you.

Let me take you back to a hot afternoon in 2010. I was sweating—not from the heat, but from reading my credit card bill. I was in my first job, earning decently, and yet I had more month left at the end of my money.

That’s when someone handed me a copy of Rich Dad Poor Dad. I thought it would be another "5 ways to save money on Tea" type of book. But no—this was different. Robert Kiyosaki’s book didn’t just throw tips at me. It shook the very foundation of how I thought about money.

The Tale of Two Dads

At the heart of the book is a simple but powerful contrast: Two dads. Two philosophies. Two drastically different outcomes.

"My Poor Dad said: 'Go to school, get good grades, and find a secure job.'"

"My Rich Dad said: 'Learn how money works so you can make it work for you.'"

Sound familiar?

In India, most of us are grown up hearing the "Poor Dad" mantra—study hard, get a job, settle down. But what happens after you get the job? EMIs, taxes, rent, and you’re back to square one every month. Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad had a different script—and it was all about breaking that cycle.

1. Job Security is a Myth

Kiyosaki points out, jobs don’t equal freedom. You're trading time for money. If you stop working, the money stops too. True financial freedom? That comes from assets that earn for you, even while you sleep.

Now, I’m not saying quit your job tomorrow and become a crypto influencer. But the idea is this: start thinking beyond your salary.

2. The Real Difference Between Assets and Liabilities

This was my "aha" moment.

"An asset puts money in your pocket. A liability takes money out."

Simple, right? But then I looked around. My shiny new car? Liability. The house I’m paying EMIs on but not renting out? Liability. My phone, laptop, Netflix subscription? You guessed it.

Kiyosaki teaches you to build assets: rental properties, mutual funds, side businesses, even intellectual property like books or content that earn passively.

I once met a guy in Bangalore who made more money from the 3 YouTube videos he posted on stock investing than from his job. That’s a Kiyosaki-style asset!

3. Don’t Just Work for Money—Learn How It Works

If there’s one thing schools should teach but don’t, it’s how money really works.

"The poor and middle class work for money. The rich make money work for them."

Kiyosaki emphasizes financial literacy—understanding taxes, debt, investing, risk, and opportunities. He says if you want to be rich, you need to be smart about how you handle and grow money—not just earn it.

Growing up, I could solve calculus problems but didn’t know how credit card interest worked. Not anymore. I now budget like a ninja and invest like a pro (okay, maybe a semi-pro).

4. Mindset is Everything

Rich Dad wasn’t rich because of luck. He thought differently.

He asked: How can I afford it? instead of I can’t afford it.What opportunity is in this crisis? instead of I’m doomed!

Your thoughts shape your financial destiny.

When I wanted to start this blog, I hesitated. “Who will read it?” But then I remembered Kiyosaki’s lesson: Every great thing begins with a decision to act, not just to think.

A Quick Note for Indian Readers

Yes, the book is American. But the principles are global. Replace “real estate” with “SIP in a mutual fund” if that’s more your jam. Or think side hustle: content creation, freelancing, reselling on Instagram. The idea is to create income beyond your job.

Also, Kiyosaki loves real estate—just remember, don't blindly follow him into debt. In India, property is expensive. Start small. Maybe with mutual funds, ETFs, or even a monetized blog or YouTube channel.

So here’s my challenge to you. This month, start one thing that builds an asset: Read a personal finance book. Start a SIP. Launch that side hustle you’ve been thinking about.

And if you haven’t read Rich Dad Poor Dad yet—what are you waiting for? It might just change the way you think about money… forever.

Liked this article? Share it with your WhatsApp group or the cousin who just bought an iPhone on EMI. Let’s all learn to make our money work harder than we do!

Until next time, stay smart, stay wealthy! 💰