" I still recall experiencing the highest of highs and lowest of lows as I learned to build a solid business. I remember some of the advertising copy I wrote that never sold anything. I re- member some of the brochures I wrote where no one could understand what I was trying to say. And I remember the struggle of learning to raise capital and learning to spend the investors' money wisely in the hopes of building a powerful business. I also remember going back to my investors and telling them that I had lost their money. I am forever grateful for the investors who understood and told me to come back when I had another venture for them to invest in. However, through it all, each mistake was a priceless learning experi- ence as well as a character-building experience. As rich dad 368 Rich Dad's Guide to Investing said, the risk at the start was very high, yet if I could stick it out and continue to learn, the rewards were unlimited. In 1974,1 was very weak at every level of the B-I Triangle. I think I was weakest in cash flow management and commu- nications management. Today, although I am still not great on any one sector of the triangle, I would say I am the strongest in cash flow management and communications management. Because I can create synergies among all the levels, my com- panies are successful. The point I make here is that even though I was not strong at the start, and am still not great at this stage of my development, I continue with my learning process. For anyone who wants to acquire great wealth in this manner, I offer encouragement to start, to practice, make mis- takes, correct, learn, and improve. When I look at the 10% of Americans who control 90% of all the shares in America and 73% of the wealth, I understand exactly where their wealth was derived. Many acquired that wealth in much the same way as Henry Ford and Thomas Edison (who was worth far more than Bill Gates at his day and age). The list includes Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Warren Buffet, Rupert Murdock, Anita Roddick, Richard Branson, and others who all acquired their wealth the same way. They found their spirit and their mission; built a business; and allowed others to share in the dreams, the risks, as well as the rewards. You can do the same thing if you want. Just follow the same dia- gram rich dad guided me with: the B-I Triangle. Helen Keller said, "True happiness is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." Sharon's Notes The product is at the top of the B-I Triangle because it is the expression of the business's mission. It is what you are offering to your customer. The rest of the B-I Triangle lays Product Management 369 the foundation for long-term success of your business. If your communication to the marketplace is strong, your systems are set up to facilitate production, ordering, and fulfillment.