The Art of Asking for ...

The Smallest Ask is Often the One That Changes Everything

I grew up listening to Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn Bob Proctor, and Brian Tracy, to name a few. Those guys were masters of their trade. Motivation and Inspiration, with a little How To sprinkled in. I was recently listening to an old Jim Rohn video, and if you aren’t familiar with him, you are in for a treat (video below).

This particular video is about how you get what you want in life, and how simple it is.

Most people don’t get what they want.
It’s not because opportunity is scarce.
But because they never actually ask.
Not out loud. Not clearly. Not consistently.
They whisper it. They mumble it. They hope the universe is a mind reader.

They is possibly you!

Here’s the truth:

The asking—done right—isn’t weak. It’s brave. It’s the starting gun. It shifts the world a few degrees on its axis, just enough to make room for what’s next.

But asking isn’t automatic.

We’re taught to wait. To be humble. To let our work “speak for itself.”
Except silence rarely starts a revolution.

Instead of being polite, try this:

Ask with precision.
Not “I want success.”
Try: “I want 10 closed loans per month from advisors within 18 months. I want 5 from insurance agents and 5 from financial advisors. I want an average loan amount of $500,000, and I want this on top of my existing clients and realtor referrals.”

Ask with belief.
Like a kid writing a Christmas list with absolute faith that Santa starts building what you want in his workshop, the second your intent is clear.

So, the invitation:

For the next 90 days, ask for this like it matters.
Be clear. Be bold. Be a little unreasonable.

Plan like an engineer.
Believe like a child.
Act like it’s already happening the second you share your ‘ask’ with the universe.

Because the ocean isn’t short on water.
But if you show up with a teaspoon, that’s all you’re getting.

a BORROW SMART CONCEPT
Buy, Borrow, Die?

The Three Types of Income

Robert Kiyosaki, a guy who’s right more often than he’s wrong, breaks income into three types:

1. Earned Income: Money you work for.

2. Portfolio Income: Money your investments work for.

3. Passive Income: Money your assets work for.

Earned income is taxed at over 30% in most places — and up to 50% if you’re making serious money. That’s a tax haircut so brutal you might need therapy. If you’re stuck here, your first move is to get out.

Then there’s portfolio income — capital gains and dividends. Taxed at 20–25%, this type of income lets you keep $3 out of every $4 earned. If you’re making $100k a year and suddenly switch to this, it feels like getting a $150k salary overnight.

Finally, passive income. Kiyosaki preaches that the only real way to get this is through real estate. He’s got a point: by deducting expenses like repairs and insurance — and leveraging tax benefits — you can pay 0% tax on rental income. But let’s be real, real estate isn’t for everyone. Nowdays he’s focused on Bitcoin, and he’s been right again on that topic!

Enter the “Buy, Borrow, Die” concept.

The “Buy, Borrow, Die” Strategy

This strategy is how the ultra-wealthy play the game. Here’s how it works:

1. Buy Assets: Acquire stocks, real estate, or anything that appreciates over time.

2. Borrow Against Them: Use those assets as collateral to borrow money — tax-free.

3. Die (or Don’t): When you eventually kick the bucket, your heirs inherit the assets at a stepped-up cost basis, wiping out the capital gains tax bill.

Meanwhile, you’re using the borrowed money to pay off loans, invest in more assets, and cover living expenses. No taxable income, no problem.

Why This Works

The genius of this strategy is that borrowed money isn’t taxed. You’re not selling your assets, so there’s no taxable event. Meanwhile, your assets keep appreciating. It’s legal, and it’s how billionaires live off yachts and private jets without ever touching their salary — if they even take one.

This is the game. Not working harder, but understanding how to leverage debt and taxes to your advantage.

So, the next time someone tells you to get out of debt, ask them: “Why play not to lose when you can play to win?”

Welcome to the real game of money: Borrow, Buy, and Die. 

Larry Ellison, the CEO of Oracle, is a pretty smart guy. Rumor has it he never pays any taxes. How? He borrows money against his stock portfolio on margin, and when he dies, his heirs will inherit it all tax-free. You can do that too, you could borrow against your house, your portfolio, etc., and never pay any taxes if you borrow smart!

LIABILITIES
What’s Happening?

REAL ESTATE
What’s Happening?

ASSETS
What’s Happening?

ON BEING HUMAN
What’s Worth Sharing?

DOPAMEMES
And Other Happy Moments…

AI
and The Future of Work…

Jim Rohn’s video above interpreted by NotebookLLM

“Don't wish it were easier. Wish you were better.”
― Jim Rohn

Borrow Smart University || National Institute of Financial Education