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5 Greatest Financial Independence Books That Will Change Your Perspective on Money
Taking the time to learn and improve your financial literacy is arguably the most important thing you can do to get started on the path to financial freedom.
We are often not taught about finances in school, but there are many other resources to educate ourselves on this topic, such as books!
It is important to remember that money is not inherently good or evil. Money can be a great force for good and enable you to make a much greater impact on the world and your loved ones!
Having good finances in your life is a great blessing and can bring many more as well!
Let’s take a look at some of the most helpful books for building your finances.
This book makes you really think about exactly what you want in life.
Why do you wish to be financially independent in the first place? What things are truly important to you?
And is your dream lifestyle really that difficult to attain? Well, the answer to that last question is oftentimes no.
In our current society, we are brought up with this classic lifestyle of working hard until our later years when we finally have peace, relaxation, and freedom.
But many people are starting to realize that this way of life doesn’t seem to be very realistic or worth it.
This book goes over an alternative concept that many people are implementing in their lives which is switching between periods of work and “mini-retirements” throughout their lives regardless of age.
“Alternating periods of activity and rest is necessary to survive, let alone thrive. Capacity, interest, and mental endurance all wax and wane. Plan accordingly.”
This book talks about the fact that life does not have to be a constant difficult struggle where you only get happiness from intense prolonged labor and participation in rat race hustle culture.
Your goals, once they are defined clearly, are much closer than we realize. Many people have fallen to the trap of obsessing their whole lives over a mere concept they believe will make them happy.
This book also has many beneficial resources in the book itself as well as the blog on Tim’s website called https://tim.blog
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter is a fantastic book containing valuable lessons on growing wealth.
Much of this book talks about the importance of understanding the difference between assets and liabilities and analyzing different forms of cash flows.
“You must know the difference between an asset and a liability, and buy assets. If you want to be rich, this is all you need to know. It is rule number one. … ‘Rich people acquire assets. The poor and middle class acquire liabilities that they think are assets,’ said rich dad.”
This book also talks about the importance of your mindset and thinking of solutions to problems. This is the difference between thinking “I can’t afford that” vs “How can I afford that?”. Practicing finding solutions can also lead to great business ideas!
“I am concerned that too many people are focused too much on money and not on their greatest wealth, which is their education. If people are prepared to be flexible, keep an open mind and learn, they will grow richer and richer through the changes.”
Speaking of business, this book also talks about minding your own business, and how many people confuse their profession for their business.
In the long run, it is always good to have something just for you, something you work on that will make YOU rich, not someone else. Whether that is investments, a blog, or selling your old clothes.
You should always have something you are growing and investing in.
Overall, finding ways to invest in yourself, your learning, and your own business will inevitably lead you toward success in whatever financial goals you may have.
“Intelligence solves problems and produces money. Money without financial intelligence is money soon gone.”
The Richest Man in Babylon is a timeless classic in the world of personal financial literacy.
Like Rich Dad Poor Dad, This book talks about the importance of seeking financial advice from those who clearly know what they are talking about. You want to find someone who has already had success in that field.
“Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you only take what is worth having.”
Like most others, this finance book has a lesson about making your money work for you and investing in things that will generate money for you. Make your dollars be your employees!
Another lesson is making sure to pay yourself first always. Do not save what is left over from spending, spend what is left over from saving.
“A part of all I earn is mine to keep.’ Say it in the morning when you first arise. Say it at noon. Say it at night. Say it each hour of every day. Say it to yourself until the words stand out like letters of fire across the sky.”
It is also important to avoid risky investments that you do not understand. If you know nothing about owning or running a restaurant, it is probably not a good idea to impulsively start one.
“BETTER A LITTLE CAUTION THAN A GREAT REGRET”
Take action!
It is important to practice not procrastinating on good opportunities that come your way. You need to find a balance between being smart and patient with being quick to act, but it is worthwhile to keep in mind at all times. Try to trust your gut and recognize a good deal.
“Good luck can be enticed by accepting opportunity.”
Enjoy life and don’t be obsessive about money! Money is fantastic and can be enriching, but at the end of the day, it really isn’t the most important thing.
Don’t drive yourself crazy over making an extra buck.
This book is not as straightforward and the points can seem a bit cryptic at times, but it has fantastic messages and is still overall a very highly recommended book.
This book focuses quite a bit on your mindset and your drive. The way you think affects much more than you could possibly understand.
“It is your responsibility to make sure that positive emotion constitutes the dominating influence of your mind.”
Having a strong burning desire for financial independence is crucial to continuing on the path to success. When trying to make and learn about money, mistakes will inevitably be made.
To surpass the disappointment of a failure, it is always good to purposefully give yourself a motivational environment.
The true goal is to become unstoppable and fall in love with the processes of learning. That is, the process of screwing up, failing, and looking like an idiot, to then understand what went wrong, and be better than you once were.
“No one ever is defeated until defeat has been accepted as reality.” ― Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
The fear of failure is what holds every person back, and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is a skill that takes practice, not a talent one is born with.
The key is within you, the key to whatever goal you desire. It wants you even more than you want it. All you have to do is allow those dreams to find you. Because they are looking.
“Dreams are the seeds of reality.” ― Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
“We are what we are because of the vibrations of thought which we pick up and register, through the stimulus of our daily environment.”
This book is perfect for any current or budding entrepreneurs or business owners.
If you run, own, or want to start a business of your own, this read is a must. It goes over the most common pitfalls of people who start businesses with lessons on exactly what to keep in mind.
The main focus of this book is understanding yourself as well as the importance of systems.
Systems are what truly make your business a blessing instead of a burden. If your business cannot run without you being there constantly making sure everything runs smoothly, you no longer own a business, the business owns you.
“If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business – you have a job,” ― Michael E. Gerber, The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
Figuring out a good system and learning how to tweak it to perfection over time is the key to success when it comes to business.
If you decide to sell your business in the future one day, you definitely are going to want to know exactly how to prep it to not rely on you at all.
This book also does a fantastic job teaching about employees and management (without being super boring)! Many people who start businesses are completely unaware of how to effectively have others work for you.
There are very important techniques, as well as do’s & don’ts of managing people who are working for you. The book also goes over who to look out for when hiring and why.
Even if you do not plan on starting a business soon or ever, this book brings a lot of interesting insight into the world of business and entrepreneurship. It can be very valuable to anyone especially if you change your mind and want to try out having a business of your own.
“Simply put, your job is to prepare yourself and your business for growth.”
“my experience has shown me that the people who are exceptionally good in business aren’t so because of what they know, but because of their insatiable need to know more.”
