You want to be rich, right?
Well, if you do, you’re in luck.
- 9/10 gurus agree that you should read Think and Grow Rich and Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
- 9/10 gurus agree that your mindset is the key to success.
- 9/10 gurus have a product you can buy at a discounted price for a limited time only
Unfortunately, 9/10 gurus never even asked you what you really want out of life.
The message is that money will fix what’s wrong in our lives and the suggestion is that there’s a simple solution…aren’t you glad that you’ve found it?
Let’s talk about the supposed secrets to wealth, health, and happiness.
The World’s Most Enticing Story
We live in a world of (largely unnecessary) scarcity. Too many people know the sting of living paycheck-to-paycheck. They live in a constant state of low level anxiety to crippling fear.
Naturally, for those living in the struggle, hearing a story that relates to us, and then offers us a way out, is enticing. To look at those who have some form of financial stability leaves many with one thought: I want that. How can I have it?
This demand for answers sprouted an entire industry to teach you “the secrets of millionaires.” It teaches you to think a certain way. It teaches you to mysterious ways of the successful elite. It’s all so easy.
- Before you know it, you’re waking up at 5:00am, that is, of course, only a stepping stone until you’re ready to start waking up at 4:00am.
- You make time everyday to visualize your wealth accumulating like a super powerful magnet attracting riches to your doorstep.
- You start planning to live more frugally, and intend to start investing soon.
Crash
Months go by, and you’re back to where you started. You’re waking up at 7:00, because there’s too much to do to get to bed at a reasonable hour. You stopped visualizing but plan to start again tomorrow. The money you put in the market is down 4% leaving you wondering: who the hell has money for an investment property?
Something doesn’t feel right, does it? All of these fast talking internet people make it seem so easy. They’ve got private jets and sports cars. They dress so well.
They had testimonials!!!
They must know what they’re doing.
What am I doing wrong?!
The Math Doesn’t Work…Does It?
Do the people making your food and cleaning your house not have strong enough powers of visualization? Did they just not want it badly enough?
Anyone can do it, right?
Millionaires are sharing their secrets, why don’t these people just pick up the book?
The unfortunate truth is, the system isn’t designed for everyone to make it. These “entrepreneurs” know it, but their product isn’t your success, it’s their own.
The truth is, it’s a con. It’s “contrepreneurship” because if it wasn’t, they’d be telling a very different story…and if you don’t believe me, ask any entrepreneur.
The Secret Language
I like to read. Much like watching hit TV shows, reading what others are reading, can give you a shared vocabulary or set of reference points.
As I watch these guru types go on and on about the secrets of success, I notice certain trends coming up again and again. I’ve noticed that I can see through their BS quite clearly and wonder why others can’t.
So today, I’d like to give you the list of books you’ll need to be impervious to the methods of influence that the contrepreneurs use to dupe you into buying their courses, products, and masterminds. Once you see the methods they use, it will be far less likely that you fall for the trap. You’ll be able to see the Matrix.
The 10 Books You Should Read
…if you want to avoid being taken advantage of by con-artists
AN IMPORTANT NOTE
These books are (almost all) truly phenomenal. Giving you this list is not an indictment of the book, the author, or those who use the lessons contained therein. I simply wish to show you the source material from where the con-artists draw their power. As with any power, it can be used for good or evil. I hope you’ll use the books below to inoculate yourself from the con artists, and help shape the world to be a kinder, safer, and more equitable place to be.
1. Influence by Robert Cialdini
The seminal work on the subject of influence. You will see all of the 6 7 weapons of influence on full display with every contrepreneur, most notably scarcity (or artificial scarcity), reciprocity, and authority. This is perhaps the most important one you should read from the list.
2. The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
Robert Greene has written many masterpieces on the subject of humans. The 48 Laws of Power is a deep dive on the methods most notably used by those in pursuit of power. If you wish to tune your radar for those who seek to manipulate you, read this book.
3. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Based on how the system works, this is how rich people get rich. Long story short, one dad had a job, the other told him about “building a pipeline.” This is the whole narrative about the sham of working for a paycheck, getting out of the grind, and becoming an investor. It’s the same story, and they all tell it.
4. The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
How would you like to live in Costa Rica while virtual assistants put out eBooks that make you money while you’re out surfing? This is the book that inspired so many to tell that story.
5. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
This is one that I am personally not a fan of. It’s a bunch of woo-woo from an extremely questionable source. That said, reading it will give you a glimpse into the pseudo-scientific, money obsessed philosophy that many contrepreneurs will lean on.
6. Pre-suasion by Robert Cialdini
As a follow-up to Influence, Cialdini went further down the rabbit hole of Influence by exploring how we set the environment and timing for persuasion. Lots of what is in here is so subtle but once you read it, you’ll see it in action everywhere.
7. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Among my favorite books of all time. The contrepreneur will often cite this book in an attempt to show you their pure intentions. Don’t believe it as their use of acknowledgement is probably just one step on the way to an offer that ends in a 7. (e.g $997)
8. Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff
Another of my favorite books of all time. Read this book to learn about frame control and frame stacking. It could save you a ton of money from contrepreneurs and in business.
9. The Game by Neil Strauss
This is a book about dating and sexual promiscuity with lessons derived from the secret society of pick up artists, but many of the concepts are widely used in business. Start by learning about negging, and then keep an eye out for the rest of the concepts.
10. The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene
This is the magnum opus on the subject of humanity. Robert Greene once again goes deep to unpack the nature of human behavior.
P.S. Watch this video by Contrepreneur Expert: Mike Winnet
