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game was to get out of the inside track…what Robert called the 〃Rat Race〃 and reach the outer track； or the 〃Fast Track。〃 As Robert put it； the Fast Track simulates how rich people play in real life。
Robert then defined the 〃Rat Race〃 for us。
〃If you look at the life of the average…educated； hard…working person； there is a similar path。 The child is born and goes to school。 The proud parents are excited because the child excels； gets fair to good grades； and is accepted into a college。 The child graduates； maybe goes on to graduate school and then does exactly as programmed： looks for a safe； secure job or career。 The child finds that job； maybe as a doctor or a lawyer； or joins the Army or works for the government。 Generally； the child begins to make money； credit cards start to arrive in mass； and the shopping begins； if it already hasn't。
〃Having money to burn； the child goes to places where other young people just like them hang out； and they meet people； they date； and sometimes they get married。 Life is wonderful now； because today； both men and women work。 Two ines are bliss。 They feel successful； their future is bright； and they decide to buy a house； a car； a television； take vacations and have children。 The happy bundle arrives。 The demand for cash is enormous。 The happy couple decides that their careers are vitally important and begin to work harder； seeking promotions and raises。 The raises e； and so does another child and the need for a bigger house。 They work harder； bee better employees； even more dedicated。 They go back to school to get more specialized skills so they can earn more money。 Maybe they take a second job。 Their ines go up； but so does the tax bracket they're in and the real estate taxes on their new large home； and their Social Security taxes； and all the other taxes。 They get their large paycheck and wonder where all the money went。 They buy some mutual funds and buy groceries with their credit card。 The children reach 5 or 6 years of age； and the need to save for college increases as well as the need to save for their retirement。 。
〃That happy couple； born 35 years ago； is now trapped in the Rat Race for the rest of their working days。 They work for the owners of their pany； for the government paying taxes； and for the bank paying off a mortgage and credit cards。
〃Then； they advise their own children to ‘study hard； get good grades； and find a safe job or career。' They learn nothing about money； except from those who profit from their na飗et？ and work hard all their lives。 The process repeats into another hard…working generation。 This is the ‘Rat Race'。〃
The only way to get out of the 〃Rat Race〃 is to prove your proficiency at both accounting and investing； arguably two of the most difficult subjects to master。 As a trained CPA who once worked for a Big 8 accounting firm； I was surprised that Robert had made the learning of these two subjects both fun and exciting。 The process was so well disguised that while we were diligently working to get out of the 〃Rat Race；〃 we quickly forgot we were learning。
Soon a product test turned into a fun afternoon with my daughter； talking about things we had never discussed before。 As an accountant； playing a game that required an Ine Statement and Balance Sheet was easy。 So I had the time to help my daughter and the other players at my table with concepts they did not understand。 I was the first person…and the only person in the entire test group…to get out of the 〃Rat Race〃 that day。 I was out within 50 minutes； although the game went on for nearly three hours。
At my table was a banker； a business owner and a puter programmer。 What greatly disturbed me was how little these people knew about either accounting or investing； subjects so important in their lives。 I wondered how they managed their own financial affairs in real life。 I could understand why my 19…year…old daughter would not understand； but these were grown adults； at least twice her age。
After I was out of the 〃Rat Race；〃 for the next two hours I watched my daughter and these educated； affluent adults roll the dice and move their markers。 Although I was glad they were all learning so much； I was disturbed by how much the adults did not know about the basics of simple accounting and investing。 They had difficulty grasping the relationship between their Ine Statement and their Balance Sheet。 As they bought and sold assets； they had trouble remembering that each transaction could impact their monthly cash flow。 I thought； how many millions of people are out there in the real world struggling financially； only because they have never been taught these subjects？
Thank goodness they're having fun and are distracted by the desire to win the game； I said to myself。 After Robert ended the contest； he allowed us fifteen minutes to discuss and critique CASHFLOW among ourselves。
The business owner at my table was not happy。 He did not like the game。 〃I don't need to know this；〃 he said out loud。 〃I hire accountants； bankers and attorneys to tell me about this stuff。〃
To which Robert replied； 〃Have you ever noticed that there are a lot of accountants who aren't rich？ And bankers； and attorneys； and stockbrokers and real estate brokers。 They know a lot； and for the most part are smart people； but most of them are not rich。 Since our schools do not teach people what the rich know； we take advice from these people。 But one day； you're driving down the highway； stuck in traffic； struggling to get to work； and you look over to your right and you see your accountant stuck in the same traffic jam。 You look to your left and you see your banker。 That should tell you something。〃
The puter programmer was also unimpressed by the game： 〃I can buy software to teach me this。〃
The banker； however； was moved。 〃I studied this in school…the accounting part； that is…but I never knew how to apply it to real life。 Now I know。 I need to get myself out of the ‘Rat Race。' 〃
But it was my daughter's ments that most touched me。 〃I had fun learning；〃 she said。 〃I learned a lot about how money really works and how to invest。〃
Then she added： 〃Now I know I can choose a profession for the work I want to perform and not because