If you’re young and starting to get into this whole world of personal finance, understand that you’ll get dismissed… A LOT.
By dismissed, I mean few people will pay much attention to you. Within CentSai, you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Unfortunately, CentSai is more of an exception to the rule.
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The first time I was blatantly dismissed happened when I was probably eight or nine.
I don’t remember anything else about that day except for this moment. I was at the bank my parents used, and I was with a personal banker and my mom. When I asked him questions about interest rates, he was very dismissive.
It was as though I wasn’t worth his time. Granted, I probably only had, maybe, $500. But still, couldn’t he see my potential?
Nope. I wasn’t treated well, so I took my business elsewhere (with my mom’s permission, of course… because I was eight or nine).
This happened to me again when I was making my first investment.
The broker kept talking to my parents. He barely acknowledged me. I was the one who wanted this appointment. Thankfully, my parents deferred his questions to me after I got noticeably irritated. I made the broker repeat everything he had said to my parents. Just for fun.
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These situations may happen to you as well. Most of this can be easily circumvented by using online banks and brokerage firms.
Online information doesn’t judge you. I prefer online resources anyway. You probably do as well.
What you don’t want to do at any point is surrender to your conditions. Always be strong. Realize you need to be in charge of your financial situation.
There are a few ways to get wealthy:
- Inherit it
- Sue for it
- Marry into it
- Win it
- Earn it
As I’ve blogged about before, 80 percent of millionaires are first generation millionaires. This means out of all of the above ways to get rich, earning it for yourself is actually your best shot. Sounds crazy, but statistically it’s true.
As you learn more and more about personal finance, feel empowered. Understand that you’re in control of your financial destiny.
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I used this example with a friend a few months ago. He was looking for another job and wanted to have one by Christmas. He doubted if he could. Here’s what I told him:
“If someone held a gun to your head and said, ’If you don’t get a new job by Christmas, I’ll blow your brains out.’ What would you do? Do you think you could get a job by Christmas? Of course! So yes, it is something you CAN do.”
Realize how much power you possess.
If you want to start your own business… could you? YES. If you wanted to get into a top college… could you? YES.
Get it into your head that the end result is your success. Then all you have to do is plan your route.
I think it’s kind of fun not being taken seriously while young. It gives you something to prove. The biggest motivator is having someone say you can’t do something. You can become wealthy enough to do what you please, whether that number be $40,000 per year or $40 million per year. Ignore the naysayers.
Work hard. Achieve success.
