第11部分 (第8/8页)

　get　out　of　debt。〃 〃Work　harder。〃 〃It's　a　promotion。〃　〃Someday　I'll　be　a　vice　president。〃　〃Save　money。〃　〃When　！　get　a　raise；　I'll　buy　us　a　bigger　house。〃 〃Mutual　funds　are　safe。〃　〃Tickle　Me　Elmo　dolls　are　out　of　stock；　but　I　just　happen　to　have　one　in　back　that　another　customer　has　not　e　by　for　yet。〃

Many　great　financial　problems　are　caused　by　going　along　with　the　crowd　and　trying　to　keep　up　with　the　Joneses。 Occasionally；　we　all　need　to　look　in　the　mirror　and　be　true　to　our　inner　wisdom　rather　than　our　fears。

By　the　time　Mike　and　I　were　16　years　old；　we　began　to　have　problems　in　school。　We　were　not　bad　kids。　We　just　began　to　separate　from　the　crowd。　We　worked　for　Mike's　dad　after　school　and　on　the　weekends。 Mike　and　I　often　spent　hours　after　work　just　sitting　at　a　table　with　his　dad　while　he　held　meetings　with　his　bankers；　attorneys；　accountants；　brokers；　investors；　managers　and　employees。　Here　was　a　man　who　had　left　school　at　the　age　of　13；　now　directing；　instructing；　ordering　and　asking　questions　of　educated　people。　They　came　at　his　beck　and　call；　and　cringed　whe