Five Secrets Hidden in Plain View
Many of life's secrets are hidden in plain view. No conspiracy
is involved, except perhaps a "conspiracy of interests."
These secrets are just bits of useful knowledge that most people
don't have, but can make your life richer. Here are five examples.
Rich People Buy Used Cars
While researching The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas
J. Stanley and William D. Danko found that 40% of millionaires
buy used cars. What is it they know that many don't know? They
understand that when a car is three or four years old, it still
has most of it's useful life ahead, but it cost only half as
much as when it is new. They may be buying used Mercedes, not
Ford Escorts, but the principle is the same.
Dirty Secret of 'Free Trade' Agreements
Ever wondered why so many people protest "free trade"
agreements? Are they all socialistic in their beliefs? Not at
all. In the U.S., Canada and Europe many are against free markets,
but what isn't commonly reported here is that the protesters
in many other countries are just as often protesting for
free trade (or at least fair trade).
These "free trade" agreements are about regulated
trade, and every country involved is seeking advantages that
have nothing to do with fair or free trade. For example, many
protesters understand that when the U.S. subsidizes the agricultural
industry (certainly not a capitalistic idea), their products
can be sold so cheap that they'll destroy those farmers in other
countries who don't have a government backing them. The U.S.
and western powers often want to avoid truly free trade, while
many small countries want it (or at least something closer to
fair). The title "Free Trade Agreement" is just an
expression used for political purposes.
Secret of Draft Beer
In blind taste tests, draft beer consistently tastes better
to people than the bottled version of the same beers. People
like the bottle in front of them as a matter of identity ("I'm
a Bud man"), or so they don't appear cheap. If you don't
feel that your brand of beer is important to who you are, and
you don't measure your worth by others opinions, why not drink
the better beer for less?
New Job Salary Negotiation Secret
After you're actually offered a job, you're in a much stronger
position to negotiate salary, so don't discuss it during the
first interview. You don't want them to think you are more interested
in the money than the job. After an employer has decided on you,
they don't want to start the whole interviewing and hiring process
over, and they generally won't if there is any way they can justify
paying what you are asking. Of course, be ready to help them
out. Have an answer to the question, "Why are you worth
it?"
Save on Oil Changes
Here's a secret that definitely is hidden in plain view. It's
right there in your car owners manual. Most auto makers recommend
an oil change every 5,000 or 6,000 miles, and some are now suggesting
10,000 miles. Would they recommend such an interval if they thought
it wasn't often enough, considering that most cars are under
warranty through many oil changes now?
What about the "3 months or 3,000 miles" wisdom?
It's a marketing idea from the oil change industry. Wouldn't
it reduce wear on the engine even more if you changed the oil
every 100 miles? Of course, but the small extra savings on wear
couldn't compare to the cost of the changes. For cheapest overall
maintenance follow the manufacturer's recommendation.
Look around and you may find there are a lot of secrets that
are hidden in plain view.
Why here? Why is this article on a website about brainpower?
Two reasons. First, as a reminder that being smart isn't just
about IQ. The other reason is to remind you about my Secrets Package,
which these secrets are excerpted from.
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