So a true investor must also like what the crowd likes, and that is why I would not say I am a pure contrarian. I will not buy something just because no one else wants it." "So is there an investor basic rule number five?" I asked. Basic Rule Number Five "Yes, there is," said rich dad. "Investor basic rule number five is that a true investor is prepared for whatever happens. A non-investor tries to predict what and when things will happen." "What does that mean?" I asked. The Basic Rules of Investing 137 "Have you ever heard someone say, 'I could have bought that land for $500 an acre twenty years ago. And look at it now. Someone built a shopping center right next to it, and now that same land is $500,000 an acre'?" "Yes, I have heard those stories many times." "We all have," said rich dad. "Well, that is a case of some- one who was not prepared. Most investments that will make you rich are available for only a narrow window of time-a few moments in the world of trading or a window of opportu- nity that is open for years, as it is in real estate. But regardless of how long the window of opportunity is open, if you are not prepared with education and experience, or extra cash, the opportunity, if it is good, will pass. "So how does one prepare?" "You need to focus and keep in mind what others are al- ready looking for. If you want to buy a stock, then attend classes on how to spot bargains in stocks. The same is true for real estate. It all begins with training your brain to know what to look for and being prepared for the moment the invest- ment is presented to you. It is much like the sport of soccer. You play and play, and then all of a sudden the winning kick at the goal appears. You're either prepared or you're not. You're either in position or you're not. But even if you miss the shot in soccer or in investing, there is always another shot at the goal, or an investment 'opportunity of a lifetime' right around the corner. The good news is that there are more and more opportunities every day, but first you need to choose your game and learn to play the game." "So that is why you chuckle when someone complains about missing out on a good deal or tells you that you must get into this deal or that deal?" "Exactly. Again there are so many people who come from the mindset that there is scarcity, instead of abundance, in the world. They often cry about missing a deal and hang on to a deal too 138 Rich Dad's Guide to Investing long thinking that it is the only deal, or they buy thinking that what they are looking at is the only deal. If you are good at the 'B' and T side of the Quadrant, you have more time and more deals to look at, and your confidence is high because you know you can take a bad deal that most people would reject, and turn it into a good deal. That is what I mean about investing the time to be prepared. If you're prepared, there is a deal of a lifetime being presented to you every day of your life.