Where can you see all the presidents in one place at the same time? Welcome to Rapid City, South Dakota.

For almost 20 years, this South Dakota town has been home to life-size bronze statues of the nation’s past commanders-in-chief. This popular art instillation honors the historical legacy of the American presidency.

This summer, The City of Presidents Exhibit welcomes its newest installation with the presentation of a bronzed Barack Obama. The Obama statue joins George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan and his other successors in the streets and sidewalks of otherwise sleepy Rapid City. There is a popular Interactive tour that guides you through all President Statues and provides inside information about the President and the sculpture.

Local Rapid City artist James Van Nuys is the creator bringing 44 to life with his daughter Sasha, along with three other City of Presidents bronze sculptures, including Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson and Millard Fillmore. It took Van Nuys over two years to build and was inspired by a sweet moment between father and daughter, an image from election night 2008.

The City of Presidents organization team considered multiple designs for the Obama statue. They looked to some of the more popular sculptures in the series for inspiration, and found former presidents like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and George W. Bush – with their children, which lead them to ultimately choose the one you see today.

Not just statues. In addition to the City of Presidents, Rapid City offers visitors historical journeys into American history, with is many museums and historical sites.

Each of the bronze presidential sculptures is privately funded, and the design of placement is chosen to maintain a clear configuration and eliminate any inkling of political favoritism. The board and foundation behind the City of Presidents has already chosen an artist to create and sculpt the statue of President Donald Trump, which will be completed following his presidency.

So the next time you’re in South Dakota, don’t just visit the areas wildlife parks, plethora of new craft breweries and the famous Reptile gardens, make a detour to Rapid City and witness each serving president in all their bronze glory.

www.visitrapidcity.com

The post Presidential Stature: Bronze Number 44 Unveiled at City of Presidents appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

By Mona Gambetta

Have you ever wondered why some of life’s experiences are etched so vividly in our memories?

Incredibly clear and sharp—and as real, in our mind’s eye—as the day they occurred? Why are some experiences so much more memorable than others . . . more powerful or emotionally-charged or meaningful? A recent conversation with Robert Kiyosaki about a meeting in New York City, more than a decade ago, triggered that very question . . .

I can’t recall precisely how our conversation moved to a meeting Robert had with Donald Trump in January of 2007. It was a meeting I sat in on and one that had been scheduled for a very specific reason.

In my role in support of Robert’s book projects, I was often in meetings about books—and meeting with Donald Trump and his team about the books he and Robert have written together. In this particular one, I felt very much like the proverbial ‘fly on the wall’ because Robert had come to Trump Tower on a mission and I was there to support it—and him.

The timing was early January in 2007. The place: Donald Trump’s office in Trump Tower in NYC. And while meetings between Robert and DJT weren’t unusual—they have shared the stage at events around the world and have written two books together—this meeting was different.

And—did I mention this?—Robert had a check in his pocket (made out to Donald Trump) for $1 million.

I hadn’t planned to get into too much ‘history’ here, but a bit of backstory is important.

The two men met in the green room at a large-stage event at which Robert was introducing Donald Trump. Robert expressed his respect for a guy who had built an international real estate empire and leveraged his brand into a global powerhouse . . . and authored a book (The Art of the Deal) that showcased his approach to deal-making. When they were introduced, I remember Trump pursing his lips, nodding his head, and congratulating Robert on the phenomenal success of Rich Dad Poor Dad, the book that had become the number one personal finance book of all time and has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide. At some point, the idea that “we should write a book together” was floated . . . and that thought took on a life of its own—in the form of Why We Want You to Be Rich.

In October of 2006, Robert and DJT released that book, the first of their two co-authored books. The launch party at Trump Tower buzzed with dozens of international journalists as well as Steve Forbes, who wrote the endorsement ‘blurb’ on the back of the book jacket. Why We Want You to Be Rich hit The New York Times bestsellers list at #1 the week it was published and by the end of that year, the book had sold more than 500,000 copies. Nice payday for the author-partners, even though the revenue from book sales was only one small part of their businesses and revenue streams.

The event that really sets up that meeting between the two icons the following January was the fact that our book distributor at the time filed for bankruptcy protection on the last day the year in 2006. How that would all shake out (and it did, in a not-so-horrible way . . .) is immaterial to this story. I should mention, though, that DJT was not totally in favor of the publishing path we had chosen for their first book together, but his respect for Robert and the sustainability of Rich Dad Poor Dad sealed the deal. I’m sure that conversation, nearly a year prior, was on my mind and colored my expectations for that January meeting . . .

What is important is that there was ‘royalty’ money due to be paid to Donald Trump in January. And Robert and his wife Kim had a decision to make.

That’s where this story starts . . .

After boarding a plane in Phoenix with Robert, headed to NYC, he pulled a piece of paper from the inside breast pocket of his sport coat. He unfolded it, looked at it, and put it back in his pocket. He patted his chest, confirming to me that he had what we needed for the meeting he had planned.

“Do we have an envelope for that check?” I asked him. He shook his head. We had another 24 hours before Robert would hand over that check and it (already) wasn’t quite as ‘crisp’ as I hoped it might be . . . but that’s neither here nor there . . .

The following morning, we sat across the desk from Donald Trump. After a bit of small talk between the two, Robert explained the reason for their meeting. He recounted some of the backstory I shared earlier in this piece and explained how the unexpected turn of events with our book distributor would impact future distribution and sales of their book. Trump listened and nodded, but—as I recall—said relatively little. He did remind us that he had some reservations, early on, in terms of the overall publishing play, but more to remind us of his concerns (it seemed) than as recrimination or blame. They’d stay in touch on how things unfolded, they agreed, and Robert assured his co-author that we were already exploring several options that would keep the book distribution channels open in support of ongoing book sales and the licensing of global rights. Then Robert reached into his pocket and pulled out the (less-than-pristine) check, still folded in half.

Robert reached across Trump’s desk to hand him what must have looked more like a folded piece of paper than a check. DJT unfolded it, looked at it, nodded his head and then folded the check again, running his fingers along the crease. He didn’t say a word. Then he unfolded the check again, looked at it (again), folded it (again) and put it on the desk in front of him. He looked at Robert and asked, “Is this a hardship?”

At the time I recall thinking that of all the comments Donald Trump might have made and I would never have anticipated that one. I remember thinking, Well, isn’t that an interesting take on this business arrangement?

 Robert didn’t miss a beat and cut right to the chase: “We had a deal. And a deal’s a deal.” He assured DJT that he and his team would work through this unexpected speedbump and the terms of their deal would be honored. It was my impression that Trump was more focused on the ‘deal’—and the relationship it was based upon—than the $1 million check that sat on the desk between them.

So I wasn’t surprised when he asked again, “But is this a hardship?” To which Robert replied: “Thank you. No. A deal’s a deal. And you can count on more book sales and more revenue checks.”

As that ‘fly on the wall,’ it was interesting to see these two men—both men of relatively few words—display this show of respect, respect for each other and respect for the business deal they had made. I realized that the situation in which both men found themselves was a test of character—for each of them—and as I was witness to two examples of both character and strength, I was reminded that great lessons, in business and in life, are all around us if we’re watching for them. And, without a doubt, this was one of the most memorable of my business life.

But what I remember most—and what Robert and I talked about that led to this article—is that so often we’re so sure we know what to expect. I could have cited a half dozen things DJT might have said to Robert, based on prior meetings and conversations and the current state of affairs related to their first book. (Including: “I told you so.”) The fact that I never imagined that conversation to play out as it did has been a lesson that has stayed with me for more than a decade. As has the realization that I had made some assumptions that never even came into play. I was struck by what that said—about both men—and felt fortunate to have worked with and learned from both of them.

It would be quite the understatement to say that Donald J. Trump—as today’s U.S. President and as a businessman for decades prior to that—has surprised more than a few people in ways large and small. His reaction that day a decade ago surprised me in a way I had never expected. And the impact of that unexpected perspective—and his question—has stayed with me as I’ve watched his life take a path that led him to the White House. Some might say that meeting was an uncharacteristic moment. Others, a glimpse into his true character. In any case . . . it was one of those experiences that has stayed with me as a reminder that we don’t always see—or get—what we expect in life. In fact, what fun would life be without a few surprises now and then? My hour with Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump at Trump Tower that day made a powerful impression on me, a reminder that we can’t always predict how anyone will react to adversity or challenges or unintended consequences. And the pivotal role that character plays in decisions, actions, reactions and outcomes.

One thing I can say with confidence is that I wasn’t the first person who’s been surprised by Donald Trump’s perspective and actions. Nor, quite likely, will I be the last.  And the lesson for all of us might be found in the words attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus: character determines destiny. That story will be one for the history books.

Mona Gambetta is the Director of Global Publishing for Plata Publishing, publisher of the Rich Dad series and the two Trump/Kiyosaki books, Why We Want You to Be Rich and Midas Touch, and has worked with Robert on his books and book publicity for nearly 20 years.

By Robert Kiyosaki

People either love President Donald Trump or they hate him.

If you hate him, this article probably is not for you. If you want to learn more about a man who became the U.S. President, this article will share an insight into the most powerful man in the world, and one few people will ever see.

I met Donald Trump before he became President Trump. We met as teachers, two men, both with rich dads . . . rich dads who were our teachers. I met “The Donald” backstage in a green room, when we were doing a number of mega-real estate investment events. The largest event we did together was in San Francisco for over 65,000 people, all seeking wisdom and knowledge about real estate investing and a path to a better life.

We met as teachers, not politicians, because we had two shared concerns: the growing gap between the rich and the poor and shrinking middle class and the lack of financial education in our schools. Neither of us could fathom that few if any schools offered a ‘class’ on the education we received from our rich dads.

While I do not agree with everything President Trump does or tweets, I did learn to respect the man during the eight years of speaking events and co-authoring two books together. We were in the process of writing a third book when he called to let me know the book deal was off and that he was running for President of the United States.

When Mona and I talked about this article for Jetset, of course I said “Yes.” Mona was with me every step of the way, and she witnessed things few people will know, things learned during the process of working with a future President of the United States.

Whether you love or hate the President, the purpose of this article is to give you a glimpse into the true character of a man who, today, is the most powerful man in the world.

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and 28 other books in the Rich Dad series, has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people around the world think about money and their financial future. With perspectives that often contradict conventional wisdom, Robert has earned a reputation for straight talk, irreverence and courage. He is regarded worldwide as a passionate advocate for financial education.

Robert’s new book—FAKE—goes on sale April 9.

The post A Deal’s a Deal: An Insight into the Character of Donald Trump appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

You’re in good company if you’re asking yourself: Why are kids killing kids? Parents, politicians, law enforcement, school administrators — students themselves — are asking: Is it guns? Is it today’s kids? Or is it us?

As a Marine Corps pilot and veteran of the Vietnam War, nothing ripped the soul out of me more brutally than seeing a parent grieving over their dead child, murdered by war. My Marine career ended when I had to decide what was right and what was wrong and how I would act. I remember it as if it were yesterday: A young boy, a child soldier, was planting a satchel charge in my aircraft. According to the rules of engagement, I could have shot him. According to the rules of being a human being, I could not. So I did not. My war ended that day.

Tragically today, all over the world, kids are killing kids, adults are killing kids, and war is killing kids. I ask myself: What is going on?

Too much change … too fast
In 1970, futurist Alvin Toffler (1928-2016) wrote the book Future Shock. That book — written nearly 50 years ago — was a look into today and today’s world. Toffler defines future shock as a perception of “too much change in too short a time.” I, without a doubt, am a victim of future shock. As an adult who grew up in the Industrial Age, I chronically feel obsolete, left behind, alone, out of touch and (most definitely) “not cool.”

I often wonder how a child handles “information overload” in the Information Age. It seems to me that many of the kids who kill kids, as well as adult mass murderers, are “outsiders,” not “insiders.” Are these mass murderers suffering from loneliness and depression, isolated due to too much change, too fast?

High Tech, High Touch
In 1982, John Naisbitt wrote Megatrends. It was his book on the future, and a New York Times bestseller. Like Toffler, Naisbitt was warning us of the coming Information Age. He developed the concept of “High Tech, High Touch.” He theorized that in a world of technology, people would long for human contact.

FYI: Many historians count 1989 as the official start of the Information Age. That was the year that the Berlin Wall came down and the World Wide Web went up.

Texting Not Talking
As an “old guy,” I sit — puzzled and perplexed — and watch entire families, sitting around a restaurant table, texting, not talking. When I asked a friend’s daughter who this family was “talking to,” she said, “Many are texting a family member who’s sitting directly across from them. They’re texting instead of talking.” Really.

No Touching in Schools
In schools, there are strict guidelines that dictate that teachers are not allowed to touch, much less hug, a child. With all the news about inappropriate relations between teachers and students, both male and female, I understand why touching is not allowed. Yet sometimes a gentle hug can go a long way to comfort a child in pain.

The Worst Punishment
A few years ago, I was in Australia, visiting the island of Tasmania. Some of the island’s most architecturally-stunning buildings, now abandoned, once served as prisons. When I toured one of them, my guide took me to the worst building on the sprawling property. It was the building where prisoners were held in isolation. Although the building had been vacant for over a century, I could feel the pain those men and women in isolation must have felt.

My question is: Are we doing the same thing today with social media? Could the isolation and loneliness of social media, which can be so anti-social, be killing our kids, even if not in a literal way?

Technology has always represented change. It has changed us — and our children. And it has impacted who (or what) we look to as a higher authority… our source for information and ideas that shape our thoughts.

The Radio
On November 2, 1920, radio station KDKA made the nation’s first commercial broadcast in America. Before radio came into our homes, parents would say, “Listen to me, children, this is the way life is.” And children listened.

After the radio entered our homes and our lives, when parents said, “This is the way life is,” the kids would say, “No, that is not true. I heard this on the radio …” The radio replaced parents as the higher authority in the home.

During Prohibition, and its ban on the production, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages, mom and dad were saying “drinking is bad” and “against the law.” Rather than listen to their parents, the kids were saying “drinking is good.” Before long, in came the Roaring ‘20s, the beginning of the end for Prohibition.

The Little Screen
Television then became the new higher authority for the baby boom generation, my generation, as we witnessed history being made.

President John Kennedy was assassinated on November 23, 1963. I was 16 years old when our school’s principle announced the death of a most popular President. As kids, we were the first generation to watch a President being killed on TV. We saw the graphic images of Jackie Kennedy’s blood-stained pink suit and Vice President Lyndon Johnson, with his hand on the Bible, being sworn in as our new President.

The Bloody Year: 1968
While Hollywood was pumping out John Wayne movies like The Green Berets that glorified war, television was bringing the horrors of the Vietnam War directly into our homes.

On January 30, 1968, Tet, a massive military offensive, caught the United States by surprise. On that day, the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong launched one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War: simultaneous attacks against over 100 cities, towns, and villages in South Vietnam.

Tet was a reference to the Tet holiday, the Vietnamese New Year. Among American Vietnam war veterans, the word Tet is spoken with reverence and respect. Tet was a bloody turning point in the war. Thousands of soldiers and civilians, including children, lost their lives during Tet. So much for Happy New Year. I watched the Tet Offensive on television while I was in military school in New York. Many of us knew we would soon be fighting in Vietnam.

Television continued to be our window on the world. On March 31, 1968, President Johnson announced:

”I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”

Johnson was yet another casualty of the Vietnam War.

On April 4 of that year, Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered in Memphis, Tennessee. Just a month later, on June 5, Bobby Kennedy, President John Kennedy’s younger brother and candidate for President of the United States, was assassinated in Los Angeles. The world watched Bobby bleeding to death on TV. And then that summer, on August 26–29, tens of thousands of baby boomers rioted at the Democratic National Convention to protest the Vietnam War.

Television was the new authority in the home.

The Times They Are A-Changin’
In 1989, the World Wide Web was born. Many young people today do not listen to the radio, watch television, or even wear a wrist watch. Yet they have access to billions of television and radio networks. A borderless world is their higher authority.

When Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan released his prophetic song, The Times They Are A-Changin’ in 1964, many saw it as a warning to politicians … and parents:

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.

Valentine’s Day Massacre
On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018, 17 students and adults were murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida by a 19-year-old former student at the school. On February 21, thousands of students across the country left school in protest against military assault weapons. That same day, President Donald Trump held a listening session with students and parents. He suggested arming teachers. Others called for a ban on all firearms. The NRA, the National Rifle Association, fought back.

My questions are: Will destroying all guns solve the problem? Or is the problem us? Is the problem too much high tech and not enough high touch? Are we hyper connected, but lonely?

Let’s pray that students armed with the power of technology, rather than assault rifles, can do what their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents could not do: bring peace to our world.

Is it time we listen to Bob Dylan and listen to our children? I’ve often wondered if children really do come to earth with a prior knowledge, knowledge not previously available to humans. Are our children the new higher authority in our homes and in the world? Do our children have the answers that we adults do not have?

We will never know … unless we listen. I mean really listen.

The post What’s Going On? Why Kids are Turning into Killers appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

In 1960, my parents dragged the four of us kids to hear Dr. Tom Dooley. Known as The American Doctor, Dooley was working to save lives in Vietnam and Laos. He was young, handsome, and charismatic, much like Senator John Kennedy, a man who would soon to be our president. Dr. Dooley’s talk struck a chord that had many people crying as he described the cruelty of the Viet Cong in Vietnam and Laos. I was 13 years old that day, just becoming aware of the world outside of my tiny hometown of Hilo, Hawaii.

My mother, a registered nurse, wept as Dr. Dooley described the wounds and trauma he and his team faced on a daily basis. After his talk, most people in the room gave generously; it was their way of fighting the war on terror. Afterwards, we drove home in silence. I could tell my parents were deeply disturbed and deeply in thought. Mom turned to us and said, “I hope you boys won’t have to fight in that war.” Nevertheless, a few years later my younger brother and I were fighting terrorism in Thailand and Vietnam….

Today we are threatened by terrorism from groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS. Terrorism has invaded our cities here, not half a world away in some remote Asian jungle. On September 11, 2001, we were attacked and 2,996 people died. It was the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 343 and 71 killed, respectively; on April 15, 2013, two brothers set off pressure cookers during the Boston Marathon; on December 3, 2015 in San Bernardino, California, 14 people were killed and 22 wounded in terrorist attack….

Millions wonder how we will fight today’s “war on terror.” How do we fight an enemy who may be a co-worker, a fellow passenger, a sports fan, a concertgoer…or the person living next door to us?

A Message from President John F. Kennedy

In the early Sixties, the world faced a different terror, the terror of nuclear war and possible annihilation of the human race. In schools we practiced hiding under our desks, in the event of a nuclear attack. How a desk was going to save us, I still do not know. Many families built fallout shelters; I remember going to fallout shelter parties and wondering where our family would hide, in the event of a nuclear attack. The words “Cold War” and “Nuclear Winter” were in thoughts and conversations daily. On January 20, 1961, President Kennedy’s inaugural speech carried words on fighting terrorism that are as relevant today as they were 55 years ago:

“The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe —t he belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.”

In 1962, my mom and dad took sabbaticals from their jobs and joined President Kennedy’s Peace Corps. The cut in pay put a strain on our lifestyle, but those years were our family’s happiest. Rather than dig a hole in the ground and build a fallout shelter, mom and dad went to work against two of the common enemies of man: poverty and disease. In 1966, at the age of 19, I sailed into Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam on board a U.S. Military Transport, delivering 500-, 750-, and 1,000-pound bombs for the military build-up in Vietnam. In 1972, I was flying in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine Corps pilot. I went into the service against man’s common enemies: tyranny and war.

How do we fight terrorism in 2016? Again, JFK’s inaugural address speaks to us today: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

In November of 2015, I was in Vietnam once again. I had time to visit the Củ Chi tunnels, just outside of Ho Chi Minh City (formally Saigon). It was my third trip back to Vietnam. I return periodically to make peace and seek answers to questions that may never be answered. Today, the Củ Chi tunnels are a tourist attraction. Rather than hide in tunnels from U.S. aircraft and bombs, tourists today pay to wander around the grounds, crawling in and out of the tunnels connecting underground rooms where the Viet Cong lived, fighting first the French and then the Americans.

As I wandered around, I was reminded of how many times the enemy just seemed to…disappear. Now I know where they went. More importantly, I began to understand why a poor, third-world country beat the most powerful country in the world. They wanted to win more than we did. It was not easy looking at captured U.S. weapons. It was not easy watching their films in which they proudly described how they beat French and American terrorists. It was not easy hearing the Vietnam War called the American War. It was not easy crawling in and out of underground rooms in which the VC lived, cooked, and cared for their wounded. I felt for the U.S. troops, known as “tunnel rats,” who went into the tunnels with only a flash light and a pistol.

My hosts were children of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese parents. One of the hosts, a young woman, said her parents fled South Vietnam and moved to North Vietnam, moving away from the unlawful American occupation of South Vietnam. Her parents did not want to live under a corrupt Ngo Dinh Diem government of South Vietnam. Diem’s government reportedly murdered and imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese, in compliance, some believe, with the wishes of the U.S. government and the CIA.

As I toured the Củ Chi tunnels, my guide’s words reminded me of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shia CIA puppet, who failed to unite the factions of Iraq. And what does Iraq have in common with Vietnam? That three-letter word: oil. Today the core of ISIS is made up of Sunnis, once members of the U.S.-trained Iraqi army. My other guide was a child of a Viet Cong doctor, fighting in the south. He said his father, a doctor in civilian life, left home in 1960 and did not return to his mother until 1975.

His father was much like Dr. Tom Dooley, caring for the wounded and dying, in the underground hospitals of the Củ Chi tunnels. Both of my hosts were born after the “American War,” and held no animosity toward America or me. For them, the American War was over. I was still in Vietnam on November 13, 2015, when the terrorists struck Paris. It was interesting to be in Vietnam, knowing that, to the Vietnamese, the French, and the Americans were former terrorists of some kind. I return to Vietnam to teach, to make peace, and to seek answers to unanswered questions, questions such as, “Why were we fighting in Vietnam?” “Why were we fighting people who had not attacked the United States?”

Today I ask similar questions. Like: “Why did we attack Iraq when the 9/11 terrorist came from Saudi Arabia?” “Where are the weapons of mass destruction?” “Why did we kill Saddam Hussein and destabilize the entire Middle East?” “How will the world deal with millions of refugees seeking a better life in the free world? Once again, President Kennedy’s inaugural address offers a vision of the future:

To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge — to convert our good words into good deeds — in a new alliance for progress — to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

Soon we will elect a new president. Let us pray that our new president, regardless of party, be a leader with the same heart, strength, and vision of John. F. Kennedy. Because JFK’s words are still true today: “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger.” Of course everyone remembers: “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” And it’s a great line. But I especially like the one that follows: “My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man….”

The post From Vietnam to the Middle East: Lessons from JFK on Fighting Terrorism appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

In Part One of this article, I shared my thoughts on the shrinking middle class in America, the death of the American Dream, the growing Entitlement Mentality . . .

as well as the insolvency of the Social Security program in the United States. I also introduced Josh and Lisa Lannon, passionate social entrepreneurs, who targeted a need in society and addressed it as capitalists. Part Two of this article will share their insights into the business they built — and why.

“Entrepreneurs … create jobs that generate tax revenue. When the government creates jobs, their jobs increase taxes.”

– Robert Kiyosaki

I believe that today, “we the people” have come to depend upon our government to do too much. I believe we need more entrepreneurs doing what the government cannot do. Personally, I started a financial education company, The Rich Dad Company, in response to the lack of financial education in our educational system. In other words, I am an educational entrepreneur outside the government educational system. We have built a profitable company, as well as a generous company… one that gives back and supports financial education programs and needs within our communities. Knowing that, I can truly enjoy my Ferraris. (And you may recall, from Part One, that I truly do . . .)

I’ve asked two of my friends and Rich Dad Advisors, Josh and Lisa Lannon, to contribute to this article. Their book — The Social Capitalist: Passion and Profits – An Entrepreneurial Journey — is an inspirational guidebook for entrepreneurs who want to do well . . . aspiring to join income earners in that top one percent by doing good for society.

I wrote about this in Part One, and it bears repeating: When entrepreneurs create jobs, they create jobs that generate tax revenue. When the government creates jobs, their jobs increase taxes. When taxes go up, the middle class shrinks and poverty increases.

The good news is, the more jobs an entrepreneur creates, the better able they are to afford their own Ferrari — or whatever else they dream of owning or doing.

None of us has all the answers to the demographic problems portrayed in the historical statistics I’ve cited in these articles, but each of us has some of the answers to the challenges that face society today. Josh and Lisa have agreed to share how they are doing well by solving problems our government cannot solve. Here’s their story:

“Just like a drug addict, people will fight for their ‘fix,’ the government programs they’ve become dependent upon to take care of them.”

– Josh & Lisa Lannon

Robert makes the case for what we see every day: a system that is breaking down. We have worked in law enforcement, nightclubs and in behavioral health for the last 20 years. Every day, professionally, we have dealt with people and their behaviors. As entitlement programs expand, the increased pressure to provide and change can crush people, causing them to act out, and, oftentimes, turn to drugs or alcohol to deal with their problems.

After I — Josh — got sober in 2002 and we started publicly talking about addiction, we quickly learned that we were not the only ones who were struggling. We found that there were so many families secretly dealing with addiction — and that it was tearing families apart. Like money, addiction is a topic that isn’t always talked about in our homes or in public.

Knowing nothing about the addiction business except our own personal experiences, we took a leap of faith. We raised capital and opened our first drug and alcohol rehab center, Journey Healing Centers. We knew the problem was a large one, but we soon discovered how big it really was. Alcohol abuse was number one among those we admitted, and prescription drug abuse number two. Then came all the illegal stuff — heroin, meth, etc. The face of addiction has changed.

With the expectation to ‘drink’ and ‘party’ and ‘unwind,’ alcohol consumption is accepted — and everywhere. What isn’t okay is when it becomes a problem. Factor in the ease of access to a never-ending supply of prescription drugs and doctors with very little medical school education in addiction . . . and we find ourselves living in a time that is unlike any other in history.

Going back to Robert’s question — “What do you see?” — in more detail, we see a growing dropout rate in our schools at one end of the spectrum and many people going back to school, thinking that more traditional education is the answer to the challenges they face financially and in the workplace, at the other. We see overcrowded jails, a War on Drugs that is failing miserably, increasing suicide rates (more people die now from suicide then car accidents) and a growing addiction problem that’s often related to money.

The government cannot stop this epidemic. Heck, in many cases they are the drug dealers! For example, if the government takes away the entitlement programs to which people have become addicted, we can expect social unrest. Just like a drug addict, people will fight for their ‘fix,’ the government programs they’ve become dependent upon to take care of them.

Our government is also addicted. Uncontrolled deficit spending, quantitative easing, and absence of fiscal budgets . . . the list goes on and on. Once their drug (printing-press money) is taken away and the party is over, the detox is likely to shake this nation at its core.

According to a national survey conducted by SAMSHA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, “Drug use is on the rise in this country and 23.5 million Americans are addicted to alcohol and drugs. That’s approximately one in every 10 Americans over the age of 12 — and roughly equal to the entire population of Texas.”

The problem is huge! Before Journey Healing Centers were acquired by a large health-care provider last year, we were able to serve over 123,000 people over 12 years and award over $2 million in scholarships to those who could not afford the services and support they needed. That is what a social capitalist does. We address needs in society, create programs and jobs, give back — and make a profit!!

Our next rehab center/social enterprise will be focused on healing addiction and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) among our military and first responders, including police, fire fighters and EMTs. We face epidemic numbers on this front, too. Among veterans alone, we are losing 22 of these struggling men and women every day as a result of suicide.

Governments cannot solve this problem . . . because it’s a problem they themselves created. Their solution for dealing with military addiction and PTSD is just too slow. They invest huge amounts of money to prepare soldiers and officers for the front lines and are backlogged when it comes to getting them support off the battlefield. Case in point: stories of “wait lists” and deaths at VA hospitals and the investigations that are underway.

Looking at the big picture, we have been slowly and systematically conditioned to hand over our money (Wall Street), our rights (Constitution) and our power (entitlement programs) — with little financial education on how to assist ourselves and those around us.

What created this great country and the American Dream was not handouts. It was men and women who were willing to take a stand. It was the entrepreneurs who could see what others could not. The American Dream was about sovereignty. That’s why we love Jetset Magazine: it speaks to the game changers of the world.

With the trends that Robert presented, it’s clear we’re headed into some rough waters. What side of the chart will you be on? Will you be a community leader or a villain? What problems do you see? We see a need for more entrepreneurs to solve problems, create jobs and do good in this world.

As Robert mentioned, in our book, The Social Capitalist: Passion and Profits, we lay the foundation to create wealth and make a difference. So many people today are looking for purpose. Gen Y and Millennials are looking for jobs that have a purpose, ones that they can feel good about. The challenge presented to all of us is to design businesses that speak to these new generations of employees or incorporate a purpose into your current business. A mission-driven, social enterprise that is generous and has a purpose can address many of the challenges we face as a country.

The government is not coming to save us. It’s up to us to take responsibility and create the life we want for ourselves, our families and in our communities. We challenge you, as we challenge ourselves, to be an agent for that change.

The post The Rich Get Richer: But What About Everyone Else? Part II appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

Part one of a two-part series with contributing authors: Josh and Lisa Lannon, Social Entrepreneurs and Rich Dad Advisors.

In early 2014, the good news from Ferrari was that car sales are up. What this stat means to me is that the rich are getting richer. My question to you is this: Does an increase in Ferrari sales mean that the economy is getting better?

Other questions that I ask myself are: What about the people who are not getting richer? What about the people who are hoping for a pay raise, a bump in the minimum wage of $7.25 an hour to $10.10? What’s happening to them?

“The American Dream is gone. It’s been replaced by the Entitlement Mentality.” – Robert Kiyosaki

In 2013, I traded my 2007 Ferrari 430 Spider for a Ferrari 458 Spider. I hated selling my 430, but I was now in love with the 458. For me, it was like dying and going to heaven. How Ferrari could make the 458 so much better than the already-great 430 is pure engineering genius. I loved my 430 and was glad when a dear friend and business partner bought that car from me. Today, he, too, drives to heaven and back every day.

As many of you may know, I have never been a bleeding-heart liberal or a progressive. I love making my money as a capitalist. At the same time, I continue to be very concerned about the growing gap between the rich and everyone else. It’s why I formed The Rich Dad Company in 1997 and why Donald Trump and I wrote the book Why We Want You to Be Rich in 2006.

Simply put, I believe in teaching people to fish. Unfortunately, today there are more people who believe in giving people fish. Today we are engaged in a raging battle between those who believe in teaching people to fish and those who believe in giving people fish. And we have an Entitlement Mentality that is threatening to crush the American Dream . . . once and for all.

For nearly two centuries, millions of people immigrated to America in search of the American Dream. The American Dream is the belief that everyone has a chance to become rich. Many of these immigrants left extreme poverty or persecution. America gave people the chance to become successful and rich, if they wanted it badly enough, and if they were willing to work hard to attain their dreams. Immigrants arrived at our shores, legally and illegally, with this dream of working hard and creating a better life for themselves and their children.

Today, the American Dream is gone. It’s been replaced by the Entitlement Mentality. The problem with the Entitlement Mentality is that the more you give someone — give them something for nothing — the more they expect for nothing.

Supporting the something-for-nothing mentality is a government bureaucracy that believes in taxing those who work and paying people who do not work, either by choice or because jobs are scarce. How much longer can this go on?

It’s this threat to the American Dream, the very spirit of America, that prompted me to invite Josh and Lisa Lannon to contribute to this piece on The Rich Get Richer. They are living the American Dream . . . as entrepreneurs and capitalists who saw a need in society and created a business that could do good in communities across the country and do well as a business that created jobs, paid taxes and turned a profit. They wrote a book —The Social Capitalist: Passion and Profits — an Entrepreneurial Journey — about their 12-year journey in creating Journey Healing Centers, addiction and substance abuse recovery centers, and how the sale of that company brought their story of the American Dream full circle. You’ll read more about their journey in Part Two of this series.

You Get What You Pay For

You’ve probably heard the saying “You get what you pay for. . .” If you pay people not to work, then more people will stop working. In some states, an unemployed person can collect the equivalent of as much as $35,000 a year in government services, support and benefits – for not working. In some cases, the “government assistance” going into a household can be the equivalent of working for $20 to $25 an hour.

At the same time, the government imposes more regulations on small business, making it harder for entrepreneurs to become successful and profitable. Entrepreneurs are the people who create real jobs, jobs that produce tax revenue. Governments create jobs that raise taxes.

And if all of this is not enough, our legal system has made filing frivolous lawsuits incredibly profitable. Millions of businesses, large and small, are afraid of taking risks and starting new ventures because they fear being sued.

In 1957, Atlas Shrugged, written by Ayn Rand, was published. It is a book about today. The following passage from that book describes our current situation as if it was written today, instead of nearly six decades ago:

“When you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing; when you see that money is flowing to those who deal not in goods, but in favors; when you see that men get rich more easily by graft than by work, and your laws no longer protect you against them, but protect them from you . . . you may know that your society is doomed.”

The modern Hollywood version of Atlas Shrugged is the movie The Hunger Games. I almost walked out of that movie, not because the movie was bad but because the movie was too good, too accurate, too real . . . as harrowing, believable fiction.

As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” I’ll be describing a few graphs I found on the Internet and I would like you to come to your own conclusions about our future.

Food Stamps

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson launched his “War on Poverty.” According to a graph on trivisonno.com, the number of individuals receiving food stamps has risen consistently from 2000 and dramatically — from approximately 28 million to 47.6 million people — between 2008 and 2013. It seems that poverty is winning the War on Poverty.

“Why is poverty increasing, why is the middle class shrinking, and why is the income of the top five percent of Americans declining?” – Robert Kiyosaki

The Future of Social Security

And what’s wrong with this picture? Social Security has transitioned from annual surpluses (in the late 1980s) to annual deficits (beginning in 2008), according to data from the Social Security Administration’s report, The 2013 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds, May 2013, and compiled by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. It’s projected that by 2090, the Social Security deficit will be a -1.7 percent of GDP.

What do you think about when you consider the projections on a bankrupt Social Security program? What does this information say to you? And how much longer can we afford to take from those who are working to pay Social Security benefits to those who are no longer working?

The Gap

I have also studied charts and graphs that illustrate the gaps between different income groups in America. One that I believe is especially telling shows the growing gap between the rich and everyone else. The line on that chart that got my attention is the 95 to 99 percent line, the upper middle class. I noticed that this line, the top five percent of annual household capital income, took a sharp downturn and it made me wonder what was happening to this group of “affluent” people. What do statistics like these say to you?

In case you are interested, it requires only $380,000 in annual income to be classified within the top one percent. Obviously, this number is not accurate. It is far too low.

“Being part of the solution or being socially conscious can be a part of a business, the whole business, or even a worthwhile hobby. Following your passion—and figuring out how you can make it profitable, meaningful, and generous—are the hallmarks of social capitalism.” — From The Social Capitalist by Rich Dad Advisors Josh and
Lisa Lannon

The Middle Class

In the 2012 Presidential election, both candidates — Barack Obama and Mitt Romney — promised to save the middle class. Another chart I’ve studied shows why both men made that promise. It’s been reported that, between 1970 and 2010, the percent of U.S. households with annual incomes within 50 percent of the median has fallen from 50.3 percent to 42.2 percent.

When I see these trends, I ask myself: Why is poverty increasing, why is the middle class shrinking, and why is the income of the top five percent of Americans declining? To me, the charts and diagrams I’ve referenced in this article are saying what Ayn Rand stated in 1957 — and what The Hunger Games movies are saying today. So the relevant and pivotal question is: “What can a person do?”

As you might imagine, I have some thoughts on this subject. And that’s where we’ll begin Part Two of this article . . . in the next issue of Jetset.

The post The Rich Get Richer: But What About Everyone Else? Part I appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

During the U.S. government shutdown, every time I saw President Obama, Senate Leader Harry Reid or Speaker of the House John Boehner on television, I turned it off.

All they were doing, day after day, was blaming the other guy for their inability to lead. When I think about the word blame… I see it as the shortened form of two words: be lame. In my opinion, we have some pretty lame leaders.

Those of you fortunate enough to be flying on private jets know that being lame did not get you into that world. If someone has set their sights on being a strong leader who can start or grow a company or affect global change, there isn’t much room for blame or being lame. Playing the blame game is for losers.

One advantage I have in business is that I had four years of military school and six years as a Marine officer and pilot with a year’s tour in Vietnam. Our job as Marine Corps Officers was to lead our men into some of the most hostile environments in the world – and do our best to bring them home alive. Although I went down three times while in Vietnam, losing three aircraft, I am proud to say that I went over there with 16 men and all 16 came home alive and whole.

“My Point To All This “War Talk” Is We Have A Nation Of Leaders Who Are Incompetent, Fearful And Panicked.”

– Robert Kiyosaki

A friend and fellow pilot was not so fortunate. On one particularly disastrous mission, he was hit by ground fire as he flew over the hot zone and panicked. Rather than stay low to the ground, as instructed, he “floated” his aircraft, a CH-53 helicopter that’s often called the Jolly Green Giant. Rather than fly at “tree top” level, he was floating above the zone at approximately 700 feet in the air – a perfect target. Suddenly, a streak of white smoke twisted and turned as it tracked the CH-53. The white smoke was the first SA-7 Strela, a Russian-made, heat-seeking missile fired from the shoulder rocket we had encountered. We had been “briefed” that the Vietcong were now armed with this new technology, but this was our first real-life encounter with it.

This new technology gave the Vietcong a huge advantage. With the SA-7, the Vietcong did not need much training. They did not have to go through four years of college then three years of flight school, as Marine pilots did. The Vietcong did not even have to go to the rifle range to practice. All the Vietcong did was pull the pin, point in the general direction of the target aircraft and pull the trigger. The rocket did the rest.

Sixty-two South Vietnamese Marines on board my friend’s aircraft lost their lives when the giant helicopter crashed and burned. The U.S. Marine pilots and gunners survived the crash and were rescued immediately.

I saw this friend, this pilot who lost his aircraft in addition to the 62 lives, at a squadron reunion about 10 years after the war was over. He was still “being lame,” refusing to take full responsibility for his incompetence, fear, panic… and the casualties that resulted from it. He was still blaming “new technology”— rather than the fact that he was “floating” above the zone, easy prey for the Vietcong.

My point to all this “war talk” is we have a nation of leaders who are incompetent, fearful and panicked. When I turn on the television and watch them speak, I wish they would be less lame and more forthright. I’d rather hear them say: “This problem exists because we cannot solve our problems. We as a nation are in serious trouble. Our national debt is beyond our abilities to fix. It is estimated that the true national debt, which includes off-balance sheet liabilities, is $50 to $200 trillion. We need to prepare for rough times ahead.”

To me, that would be leadership.

In the sidebar article here, my dear friend and advisor, Blair Singer, writes about the examples of leadership he witnessed while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with his son. It is an inspiring story and example of how even in the most remote places on earth, inspirational leadership is necessary – and found. He has titled his sidebar to this article Leadership at 19,340 Feet.

Leadership At 19,340 Feet

In a previous issue of Jetset, I wrote about our amazing experience climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. While I learned many life-changing lessons on that mountain, I’ve chosen to write about something I learned on that trip that may be invisible to most. It is a lesson about leadership.

Taking average folks from the comfort of their homes in Scottsdale to the outstretched arms and spirits of children in need in far-away Tanzania (and then safely to the top of the largest free-standing mountain in the world) is the work of incredible leaders. Leaders who, by the way, are unsung in the world of business, media and social circles.

The leaders of K2 Summit Productions did what I talk about in all my training programs – and did it in a way that I have seen few other do it. They created a context, or environment, without workshops, without preaching, without catchy slogans, without books, podcasts, seminars, titles, broadcasts, or endorsements. And what they accomplished not only transformed all of us on the expedition, but has become instrumental in transforming a country.

In the last five years, Kevin Cherilla and Kristen Sandquist have raised over $2.5 million for medical equipment, resources, and supplies for an orphanage and school in Moshi Tanzania. It is part of their quest to support disabled and disenfranchised children and families around the world by providing healthcare and education from the proceeds of their expeditions and charitable fundraising.

I could spend days – and thousands of words – talking about the immense heart and spirit that they and their team exhibit supporting kids that the world has given up on and left behind. They do this in Tanzania, Peru, Nepal and across the United States.

You come to see that each mountain that they climb represents the even bigger mountains, mountains that these challenged kids have to climb every day to either stay alive or have a life… mountains of disease, abandonment, blindness, poverty, lack of education. As a student of great leaders and someone who is committed to helping organizations and companies and families build championship teams, I took note of what they did to get others to step up – literally – to such great heights.

In the next issue of Jetset, I’ll share K2 leadership’s ten secrets. As with Robert’s teachings related to personal finance and financial freedom, you’ll find that strong leadership starts not with words… but with creating a context – an environment – that creates extraordinary results.

There is a reason that I chose the topic of leadership for my contribution to Jetset. My message today is that we need more leaders like you to step forward… to fill a void that has the potential of impacting us all.

“To Those Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected.”

Blair Singer

I look forward to coming full circle on this topic in the next issue of Jetset, and that article will include more from Blair on K2’s leadership and their formula for success that has played such an important role in the work they do around the world.

In closing, I’ll leave you with a thought, a thread, that I will pick up next issue… a quote from Robert Kennedy…

The post The Blame Game – Part 1 appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

In my article in the last issue of Jetset, I wrote about leadership . . . and how the blame game affects us all and diminishes our power to affect change and impact the future.

As promised, my good friend and Rich Dad Advisor Blair Singer, an internationally-recognized expert on team building and sales training, will share more of the lessons he learned climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

“The blame game affects us all and diminishes our power to affect change and impact the future.”

In my last article, I wrote about my experiences in the Vietnam War and a friend and fellow helicopter pilot’s disastrous mistake. It was the result of fear and panic — and it cost lives. My reason for recounting that story was not only about that tragic casualty of war, but about the aftermath. How we deal with challenges, problems and disasters. How we take responsibility and shoulder blame, if necessary, to be the leaders that today’s leadership roles demand.

My point, in Part One of this article, is this: Today we have a nation of leaders who are incompetent, fearful and panicked. When I turn on the television and watch them speak, I simply wish they would be less lame and more forthright. No one person has all the answers and the challenges that the future presents — related to debt and entitlements. It’s time to demand that leaders step up to the challenge and to the responsibilities of leadership.

I see the U.S. economy today as a situation much like my friend’s helicopter disaster: “floating” over some serious problems and threats. To be fair, our current leaders did not create this financial mess. They inherited the financial crisis from previous leaders. The problem is, our current leaders are being lame — just like many of the leaders before them — “kicking the can down the road” yet again. The problem is that the road is coming to an end.

As I see it, we as a nation and a world are faced with three options. They are:

• Pay off the debt
• Default on our obligations
• Print more money

If we pay off the debt, the U.S. economy would collapse. If the United States defaults on its debts, the world economy collapses. If we print money to pay off our debt, we would have hyperinflation, then hyperdeflation . . . and then we collapse.

These are not very exciting or appealing options.

Personally, I (as many of you) have enough money and am old enough to collect Social Security and Medicare benefits. As we all know, the entitlement programs are in dire straits and Social Security and Medicare benefits represent money the government doesn’t have.

In my opinion, this isn’t a time for me to step backwards. It’s not a time for me to ratchet down my commitment to being an agent of change. Rather than retire — play golf, be lame and blame our leaders for our problems — I believe it’s time for me to do more.

In 2014, my company, the Rich Dad Company, will launch two global initiatives to teach financial education, a subject that should be taught in schools to anyone who wants to learn. One initiative is via the Worldwide Web, using games to teach finance, entrepreneurship and investing. The second is a grassroots approach of teaching those same subjects via clubs in cities throughout the world. You may have noticed that I apply my military school training to business strategy, utilizing both “air” and “ground” vehicles to solve a global problem.

My message to all of you is we need more leaders like you to step forward like Kevin and Kristen of K2Leadership have, like so many of you already have. In Part One of this article, Blair Singer contributed the story of his experience with K2Leadership. Here are his insights into that company’s leadership secrets.

“To be fair, our current leaders did not create this financial mess. They inherited the financial crisis from previous leaders.”

– Robert Kiyosaki

My point for choosing the subject of leadership for Jetset Magazine is because the readers of Jetset represent the upper one-tenth of one percent of the U.S. population. Life has been good to you, to us. The world needs our help. It is no longer enough to simply be lame and blame our leaders for the mess we are all in. We can all do something more.

I’ll close, again, with the words of Robert Kennedy:

“To those whom much is given, much is expected.”

– Robert Kennedy

In this new year, we have the opportunity to commit, anew, to taking responsibility for the future.

In the last issue of Jetset, I had the opportunity to contribute to Robert’s article on leadership . . . and responsibility. And, as promised, I’m including K2Leadership’s 10 secrets below.

As with Robert’s teachings related to personal finance and financial freedom, I think that you’ll find that strong leadership starts not with words . . . but with creating a context — an environment — that creates extraordinary results.

1. Create and identify narrow time boundaries.

Kevin and Kristen were always very clear in telling us to never ask about what was going to happen tomorrow or the next day. We were only allowed to ask about today. We were told how many hours we would be climbing and what to expect, but nothing more. Everything was compartmentalized into understandable and narrow, limited time frames. Wake-up to breakfast, hiking to lunch, hiking to camp, unpacking and rest, afternoon tea and dinner, then sleep. I always say that most people cannot plan past lunch. Long-term goals and strategies are fine, but to keep a team focused you have to shrink the space.

2. Eliminate uncertainty through preparation and frequency of contact

Lots of mental stress comes from not knowing how to prepare for the unknown. Every night at dinner we were told what the next day would look like, what to pack and how to pack it. How many times have you ever thrown your team into a task and let them “figure it out” for themselves? Months before leaving on this trip, we had team meetings, team hikes and team packing parties. We learned to be comfortable with our gear, our bodies and our tasks. It eliminated a whole chunk of potential anxiety and worry about what will happen and questioning ourselves, “Am I prepared?”

3. Tight rules

They were clear and firm: Never pass the lead guide on the trail, stay together, be on time, drink lots of water, etc. These tight rules brought the team closer together. You felt safe because, even though you were way outside your normal comfort zone, you were safe inside a bandwidth that you knew you could trust and did not have to think about. Once at the summit, our orders were clear: Take your pictures and start your descent right away. Those who were showing signs of altitude sickness headed down immediately. Even in moments of victory, close vigilance was maintained. Many times, when we celebrate, that’s when we take our eyes off the game. Lives depended on it.

4. Lots of humor

Everyone on the team got a nickname. My son was “sleeping beauty” because while most of us had trouble sleeping at higher altitudes, he would crash at 7:30 in the evening and sleep like a rock until 6:30 the next morning. It made for lots of laughs. My nickname was “peebottle” because it took me two days to finally use a pee bottle in my tent at night rather than getting dressed and having to go out of my tent to fight the cold in the middle of the freezing nights. Laughter breaks the tension, reminds you that you are human, and that nothing is so big that you cannot enjoy and laugh, at and with each other.

5. Forced focus and presence

We were continually told to focus on our feet, one step at a time. Only inches at a time. It forced your whole perception to narrow to a very small space at your feet. We were told, “rest, step and pressure breath,” over and over. That became a kind of mantra that created both a rhythm and a focus that, over five days, got us to the top.

6. Removal of distractions that would cause stress to the team

There were three porters for every one of us on the climbing team. They carried the food, tents, supplies and most of our mountain gear. They were at our tents at 6:30 every morning with coffee and tea, cooked delicious meals, cleaned up, broke camp and set it up again the next day. All we had to worry about was ourselves, getting rest, eating a lot and hiking. As a leader, you need to eliminate the distractions that cause your team to wander, lose focus and stress out. Your goal is to keep them focused on what they are setting out to achieve. It’s good to ask yourself: How well do you take care of them?

7. Being tireless students of their own trade

Kevin and Kristen continue to take classes on mountain safety, being a first responder, the local culture and the details of conditioning and training. Do you love what you do enough to be a voracious student about it? When you do, it’s reflected in both the quality of your leadership skills and your success.

8. No smoke but tons of encouragement

They rarely told us, ”you will make it.” Rather, they were always there in or alongside our team hiking column, periodically saying, “Great job, keep working, you’re doing great!” Their words always came at the right moments to feed depleted lungs and tired muscles with the right amount of energy.

9. Continually watching the team

Kevin and Kristen seemed to know exactly when the team was waning a bit. They watched us all day like hawks, coming up to us individually and asking how we were doing, how we were feeling, and — just as you thought you were fading — they would magically call a break for rest, food and water. It always seemed like it came at the perfect time. It triggered this question to myself: Are you focused only on the objective or are you continually watching and calibrating your team?

10. Incredible graciousness

Their treatment of the porters, guides, locals and the community was nothing short of magnificent. In fact, the whole reason for the expedition was to support the kids in the school and orphanage, the story I shared in the previous issue of Jetset. Serving others who serve you is the stuff of great leaders. The friendship, trust, camaraderie and caring between K2 and those who supported our expedition creates a context in which K2 is always welcomed back, always watched out for and always appreciated.

At 19,340 feet it seems to come together, but do you know what? It starts way before that. It is about creating a context that is specifically designed for the outcome that you want. Creating an environment that is safe, certain, gracious, fun and rigorous takes work. What I can tell you is that their work changes lives. And they’ve given me lessons in leadership that are inspiring and that I can share with those I teach.

Thank you, Kevin and Kristen, for giving so much by being the awesome leaders that you are. Thanks, too, to Robert for the invitation to collaborate on this article… and to Jetset for this awesome, world-class forum.

The post The Blame Game – Part 2 appeared first on JetsetMag.com.

The Power of Strong Women
By Robert Kiyosaki and Kim Kiyosaki

Robert’s Story …

Twice a year, my company has a meeting that brings in people from all over the world. These meetings are not about sales, projections or new products. The meetings are three days of studying together in ways that will unite the company. Since we are an education company, we believe in practicing what we teach.

The book we studied for our last meeting was The Warrior Ethos by Steven Pressfield. It is short, easy to read and straight to the point. It can be read in two hours or less, and everyone is required to read the book prior to the meeting. We then spend three days of study, which includes bringing in other speakers – such as a three-star Marine Corps General and a Silver Star recipient who was shot seven times in Afghanistan – to discuss the content of the book.

I’d like to share three paragraphs from the first chapter of that book, a chapter titled Tough Mothers.” (I caution you: The messages are blunt.)

“A messenger returned to Sparta from a battle. The women clustered around. To one, the messenger said, “Mother, I have sad news: your son was killed facing the enemy.” The mother said, “He is my son.” “Your other son is alive and unhurt,” said the messenger. “He fled the enemy.” The mother said, “He is not my son.”

“Two warriors, brothers, were fleeing from the enemy back toward the city. Their mother happened to be on the road and saw them running toward her. She lifted her skirts above her waist. “Where do you two think you’re running? Back here from whence you came?”

A Spartan colonel, a man in his fifties, was accused of accepting bribes in an overseas command. When his mother back home learned of this, she wrote him the following letter: “Either quit your thieving or quit breathing.”

There is Greek myth and a Hollywood movie, 300, about the 300 Spartans who defended the narrow pass of Thermopylae against a Persian Army of thousands. Legend has it that the 300 were chosen not for their personal strength, but for the strength of the women in their lives. Two hundred ninety-nine of the 300 died, yet their valor inspired thousands of Greeks to rise up and fight on.

Milestones

In 2012, New Hampshire elected the first-ever, all-woman delegation. There are now five women – two senators, two congresswomen and a governor – running that state.

In 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta lifted the ban on women engaging in direct ground combat.

I am glad to see women stepping out from behind men and playing leading roles. I believe that many of our global problems have been caused by men having too much power, and women not exerting the power they have.

The Weaker Sex?

The idea that women are the weaker sex may have been true in Sparta centuries ago, but not today. You need strength to carry a shield and swing a sword, but it takes very little physical strength to pull a trigger.

As a former Marine Corps pilot and Vietnam veteran, I know an aircraft does not care if a man or a woman is at the controls. A woman can fire the machine guns and rockets as well as a man. The same can be true in business.

In my personal life, I intentionally married a strong woman. My idea of marriage is not a “me Tarzan, you Jane” relationship. Kim is a strong woman. And she is, first and foremost, my best friend. When playing golf, she tees off from the men’s tees and outdrives many men, including me. Secondly, she is my business partner. Together we raised the capital and started The Rich Dad Company. Today, it is a multimillion-dollar, global business. Thirdly, she is my wife. We made a vow to stick together for better or for worse and have kept that vow for nearly 27 years … and together we have faced some horrible times over the past few decades.

A few months ago, we were asked to host a fundraiser for a prominent charity. At first, I did not know what to say that would compel the audience to support what we believed to be a worthy cause. Looking around, I noticed many of the men were my age, and given the age differences, probably in their third marriage, the trophy wife stage of life.

Taking a calculated risk, in my pitch asking for money, I stated, “I know Kim did not marry me for my money. When we met, I had no money.” I briefly explained our journey over the past three decades … from sleeping in a car because we were homeless to today and our life as owners of a multi-national business, several thousand rental apartments, a resort hotel and 36-hole golf course, plus oil and gas wells. I closed my presentation by saying, “I would not be here if not for Kim. Kim gave me a strength I do not have as a man.”

A few women cheered and few hid behind their wine glasses.

My point to all this is this: The world is in the midst of a massive transformation. In my opinion, it’s in need of one. Men have brought us this far, but it’s time for women to step out of the shadows and take the lead. This world needs their unique strength and power. The idea that women are the weaker sex is an idea whose time has passed.

Kim’s Perspective …

I am in my 50s and the youngest of three girls in my family. Although there were many stereotypes that young girls were exposed to back then – like Barbie dolls, Cinderella fairy tales, and Easy-Bake Ovens – I was raised by parents who (fortunately) gave me the freedom to do and be whatever I wanted. They instilled in me many values and the one that has been most precious to me is that gender has nothing to do with accomplishment or success. It was a value I took to heart.

As I grew up, I was very involved in sports – soccer, basketball, and track. In my college years, I competed against men in tennis because they offered tougher competition. I was by no means a girly girl. I love competition and I like to win.

When it came time to select a college major, I remember sitting in the off-campus apartment I shared with five other women and going through the list of possibilities. I chose business, and specifically marketing, because marketing was a game to me. I have always thought of life as a game.

After graduating with a degree in business, I worked in a top Honolulu advertising agency and in advertising sales for several magazines. And after five years, I was bored. I said to myself, “There has to be more to life than this! I wake up. I go to work. I get my paycheck and I pay my bills. Then I wake up, go to work, get my paycheck and pay my bills.” In my search for the meaning of life, I decided that New York City held the answers I was looking for. So I began preparations to make the move to the Big Apple. At that same time, in 1984, I had my first date with Robert.

On that first date in Honolulu, he asked me two questions. The first was, “What do you want to do with your life?” My immediate answer was, “I want my own business.” At the time, I wasn’t hanging out with entrepreneurs nor had I grown up around them. I had no idea what it took to start a business, but I knew that I was not a stellar employee and I had no ambition to be one. Climbing the corporate ladder had no appeal … but owning the ladder did. Did I mention that I was fired, not once but twice, from my first job out of college?

Once Robert knew I was serious about becoming an entrepreneur, he said to me, “I’ve started several businesses and I can help you with that.” Within two months, my first business was launched.

The second question Robert asked me on that first date was this: “What is your life’s purpose?” I just looked at him, dumbfounded yet totally intrigued. “What do you mean by life purpose?” I asked.

“I believe every person has a purpose in their life,” he said, “something greater than their daily lives. I believe each person is here on this planet to make a difference in the world. Your life’s purpose gives your life meaning.” I knew at that moment Robert was talking about what I had begun looking for two months earlier.

Defining Moments

In December of 1984, we left Honolulu and moved to San Diego to begin a new business together. To say we struggled is a gross understatement. Within three months, we were out of money. And the business was not yet off the ground. Some nights we slept in a beat-up Toyota Celica. Some nights we camped out on people’s floors. It was an extremely tough time, yet we kept going under these stressful conditions until the business began to grow, which took about a year. The easy thing would have been to just quit, to quit on our business and, ultimately, to quit on each other. But we didn’t. And that’s one of the things that I am most proud of. The stress of those early years caused us to grow together, rather than grow apart.

In life, we all have “defining moments,” those times after which life is never the same again. Leaving Hawaii – and taking a huge leap of faith in leaving job security in search of my life’s purpose – was a defining moment for me. I was transitioning from an employee to an entrepreneur. My life has never been the same since. The business we fought to launch eventually grew to 11 offices in seven countries.

In 1994, we sold that business. Robert and I were financially free. He was 47 and I was 37. Our friends and family, the same people who has advised us to quit on our dreams and get jobs, were now recommending we take life easy. But being entrepreneurs, we immediately started our next business. Today, that company is known as The Rich Dad Company.

A Message For Women

As Robert wrote earlier in this piece, “It’s time for women to step out of the shadows and take the lead.” I agree. As most of us know, the world is filled with women who marry for money. It is a popular sport, this third wives club: rich, older men hunting for younger trophy wives. I love sports, but that is not a game I ever wanted to play.

Several years ago, I wrote a book titled Rich Woman because I believe the world needs more rich women, women who use their strengths and talents and know how to make their own money, rather than marry for money.

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