@@@@@ But of all the steps, this step is probably
@@@@@ But of all the steps, this step is probably the most difficult to master if it is not already a part of your makeupI would venture to say that it is the lack of personal self-discipline that is the No1 delineating factor between the rich, the poor and the middle class
Simply put, people who have low self-esteem and low tolerance for financial pressure can never, and I mean never, be richAs I have said, a lesson learned from my rich dad was that "the world will push you around The world pushes people around not because other people are bullies, but because the individual lacks internal control and disciplinePeople who lack internal fortitude often become victims of those who have self-discipline
In the entrepreneur classes I teach, I constantly remind people to not focus on their product, service or widget, but to focus on developing management skillsThe three most important management skills necessary to start your own business are:

1Management of cash flowManagement of personal time

I would say, the skills to manage these three apply to anything, not just entrepreneursThe three matter in the way you live your life as an individual, or as part of a family, a business, a charitable organization, a city or a nation
Each of these skills is enhanced by the mastery of self disciplineI do not take the saying "pay yourself first" lightly
The Richest Man in Babylon, by George Classen, is where the statement "pay yourself first" comes fromMillions of copies have been sold But while millions of people freely repeat that powerful statement, few follow the adviceAs I said, financial literacy allows one to read numbers, and numbers tell the story By looking at a person's income statement and balance sheet, I can readily see if people who spout the words "pay yourself first" actually practice what they preach
A picture is worth a thousand words So let's again compare the financial statements of people who pay themselves first against someone who doesn't

People who pay themselves first

+------------------------+
Job--------------->|Income |----
^ |------------------------- |
| | Expense | |
\ +------------------------+ |
\ +--------------------------------------<
----\-----|------------------------+
| Assets | Liabilities |
| | |
|_________|____________|

Someone who pays everyone else first- Often there is nothing left

+------------------------+
Job--------------->|Income |
|-------------------------
| Expense | ----> Nothing left!
+------------------------+
-----------------------------------+
| Assets | Liabilities |
| | |
|_________|____________|

Study the diagrams and notice if you can pick up some distinctions Again, it has to do with understanding cash flow, which tells the storyMost people look at the numbers and miss the sto