" "And why is that?" I asked. "Because following a simple plan to become rich is bor- ing," said rich dad. "Human beings are quickly bored and want to find something more exciting and amusing. That is why only three out of a hundred people become rich. They 82 Rich Dad's Guide to Investing start following a plan, and soon they are bored. So they stop following the plan and then they look for a magic way to get rich quick. They repeat the process of boredom, amusement, and boredom again for the rest of their lives. That is why they do not get rich. They cannot stand the boredom of following a simple, uncomplicated plan to get rich. Most people think there is some magic to getting rich through investing. Or they think that if it is not complicated, it cannot be a good plan. Trust me; when it comes to investing, simple is better than complex." "And where did you find your formula?" I asked. "Playing Monopoly" said rich dad. "Most of us have played Monopoly as children. The difference is, I did not stop play- ing the game once I grew up. Do you remember that years ago, I would play Monopoly by the hours with you and Mike?" I nodded. "And do you remember the formula for tremendous wealth that this simple game teaches?" Again I nodded. "And what is that simple formula and strategy?" asked rich dad. "Buy four green houses. Then exchange the four green houses for a red hotel," I said quietly as my childhood mem- ories came rushing back. "You told us over and over again while you were poor and just starting out that playing Monopoly in real life was what you were doing." 'And I did," said rich dad. "Do you remember me taking you to see my green houses and red hotels in real life?" "I do," I replied. "I remember how impressed I was that you actually played the game in real life. I was only 12 years old, but I knew that for you, Monopoly was more than a game. I just didn't realize that this simple game was teaching you a strategy, a recipe, or a formula to become rich. I did not see it that way." Getting Rich Is Automatic . 83 "Once I learned the formula, the process of buying four green houses and then exchanging them for one red hotel, the formula became automatic. I could do it in my sleep, and many times, it seemed like I did. I did it automatically without much thinking. I just followed the plan for ten years, and one day I woke up and realized I was rich." "Was that the only part of your plan?" I asked. "No, it wasn't. But that strategy was one of the simple for- mulas I followed. To me, if the formula is complex, it is not worth following. If you can't do it automatically after you learn it, you shouldn't follow it. That is how automatic invest- ing and getting rich is, if you have a simple strategy and fol- low it." A Great Book for People Who Think Investing Is Difficult In my investment classes, there is always the cynic or doubter to the idea that investing is a simple and boring process of following a plan.