Learning from a millionaire

Its amazing what I have learned from having Mr Piper as my millionaire mentor over the 2 years  I have known him. I have learned that he is very cost concious, and self-sufficient. He thinks about all his purchases before making them. He says wealth building, is like building a wall, and must be done slowly, brick by brick.

On the last time we met, last week, Mr Piper talked of how he was going to devise a system of using rainwater to flush his toilets, and then getting a water meter installed, to save more money. I laughed inside, as I thought he is a multi-millionaire, so why go to that trouble. Then I realised that most people I know who are not as well off, would also laugh, and would never do such a thing. That is why they are not as economically stable, as they do not look for more opportunities to save money.

Mr Piper was assembling an old glass greenhouse in his garden. It seemed like an intricate task. I said to him "have you ever assembled a greenhouse before?" He said "I haven't done most things before, but I just get on with it". Rather than waste time in doubt, as I would do, he just gets on with tasks and projects immediately. "But what if you break the glass?" I asked. He replied: "I've already  broken some of the glass panes, I just buy some more". This shows me that he takes action and does not wait to start things. He does not ask himself whether or not he could do a task. Whatever he has to do, he just does it, not constraining himself to any role. He does all his own handyman tasks and minor building work, including plumbing, car mechanics, and electrics. He proves that we can all adapt ourselves to any task, no matter what it may be.

Mr Piper goes to car boot sales every weekend. I will take on this habit. I have never been to a car boot sale before, but as it's the hobby of my millionaire mentor, I shall follow his actions, and see what I discover. I shall go to one as soon as possible.

I learn from Mr Piper mainly by watching his actions. By being around him, I can see with my own eyes the actions and beliefs that have made him rich, and continue to make him richer. Even if I never get to be a multi-millionaire like him, I will still be far, far richer, and more knowledgeable about money than I would have been otherwise.

There is a great book "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas Stanley, which details how most  real millionaires are always cost concious and do not waste money like the rich stars we see on TV. This is in my top 3 wealth building books of all time. Mr Piper fits the model described perfectly, and his example demonstrates the truth about what it takes to build a lasting fortune.