Just 100 years ago, approx- imately 85% of the U.S. population were either indepen- dent farmers or small shopkeepers. I know that both sets of my grandparents were small-business owners. Only a small percentage of the population was comprised of employees. I then say, "It seems that the Industrial Age-with its promise of high-paying jobs, job security for life, and pension benefits-has bred that independence out of us." I also add that our educational system was de- signed to create employees and professional people, not entrepreneurs, so it would be only natural for people to feel that starting a business would be risky. The points I make are: 1. Chances are that you all have the potential to be great business owners if you have the desire to develop the skills. Our ancestors developed and depended upon their entrepreneurial skills. If you do not have a busi- ness today, the question is: Do you want to go through the process of learning how to build a business? You are the only one who can answer that question. 300 Rich Dad's Guide to Investing 2. When people say, "I have no money to invest," or "I need a real estate deal I can buy for no money down," I reply, "Maybe you should switch quadrants and invest from the quadrant that allows you to invest with pre-tax dollars. Then you might have a lot more money to invest." One of the first considerations in your investment plan should be to decide in which quadrant lies the best opportu- nity for you to make the most money quickly. That way, you can begin investing for the highest returns, with the least risk, and you'll have the best chance of becoming very, very rich. Chapter 28 Keep Your Day Job and Still Become Rich Once I decided to build a business, the next problem facing me was that I had no money. First, I did not know how to build a business. Second, I had no money to build a business with, and third, I had no money to live on. Feeling weak in the stomach and lacking confidence in myself, I called rich dad and asked him what I should do. He immediately said, "Go get a job." His reply shocked me "I thought you were telling me to start my own business." "Yes I did. But you still have to eat and put a roof over your head," he said. What he said to me next I have passed on to countless peo- ple. Rich dad said, "Rule number one in becoming an entre- preneur is to never take a job for money. Take a job only for the long-term skills you will learn." The first and only job I got after the Marine Corps was with the Xerox Corporation. I chose it because it had the best sales training program. Rich dad knew I was very shy and terrified of rejection. He recommended I learn to sell, not for the money but to learn to overcome my personal fears. Each day, 302 Rich Dad's Guide to Investing I had to go from office building to office building knocking on doors trying to sell people a Xerox machine.