Getting rich can be a noble endeavor -- Page 2

My answer to these questions is "No!" And so it appears that I'm destined to rank among the middle class with the goal of achieving a modicum of comfort.

In this chapter, Eker quotes a passage from "A Return to Love" by author Marianne Williamson:

"You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Eker's take: Be the best that you can be and get rich at the same time. "Big thinking and big actions lead to having both money and meaning. The choice is yours!"

Simple, rare advice
Altogether, 17 wealth files are presented in the book, as well as dozens of wealth principles. Some seem hokey, such as expecting a response from the universe, but only if you are clear about your intentions. But who am I to judge a multimillionaire's techniques? Eker has been teaching wealth seminars for many years, and these techniques have worked for him. Also, it helps that he charges big bucks for those who attend his seminars. (Note: For a limited time, purchasers of his book plus one family member can attend his three-day Millionaire Mind Intensive Seminar for free; proof of purchase is required.)

About midway through the book, Eker offers what he calls simple, but extremely rare, advice. "Here it is: If you want to get rich, focus on making, keeping and investing your money. If you want to be poor, focus on spending your money. You can read a thousand books and take a hundred courses on success, but it all boils down to that."

This advice is actually not rare. Bankrate has been saying the same thing for years in hundreds of different ways in various articles for the consumer. And, of course, you'll find that advice elsewhere, too.

Toward the end, Eker reveals how to achieve financial freedom. You can quit working when your money works for you. When you accumulate enough capital, your money can start generating passive income, whether through real estate holdings or stock dividends or bond interest. These are not secrets, but well-known investment strategies that are available to anyone who accumulates enough money. And that's generally the goal that everyone should have for retirement.

• Wealth File No. 12: Rich people think "both." Poor people think "either/or."

In this section, Eker pummels the concept of scarcity, that there's not enough money to go around, as well as the idea that if you have more money, someone else gets less. Actually, there's plenty for anyone who's committed to making it.

And it's quite possible to be virtuous and have money at the same time. Or as Eker puts it: "You can be a kind, loving, caring, generous and spiritual person and be really ... rich." (His earthy adjective deleted.) He suggests that a good reason to get rich is to "spread more money around" in charitable ways.

There certainly are lots of opportunities to spread money around. We live in the land of plenty, where rags-to-riches stories abound. Here we can realize our dreams, reach our potential and get handsomely rewarded for it. If we fail, we can pick ourselves up and start again. If we make mistakes, we are easily forgiven.

Life is much harder in developing countries, where more than 1.2 billion people earn less than $1 a day. The wealth maxims in "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" wouldn't work in these places. But then, perhaps it is our responsibility as fellow human beings to correct these inequities.

Some of our wealthiest capitalists -- Bill Gates comes to mind -- have taken initiatives to assist those in need. Philanthropy is the lifeblood of charities and foundations that help the disadvantaged. And the rich are the ones best able to pump significant money for these causes -- which they do.

So getting rich is a worthy endeavor when the money is put to good use, regardless of whether the altruism comes from a sense of duty, guilt or spiritual understanding.

In short, the book is worth reading. It may not nourish the soul, but it does offer plenty of food for thoughts that can turn to riches.