By the time I had finished reading "The Richest Man in Babylon" I knew exactly how I could make myself a wealthy man. And the book had been recommended to me by a wealthy man. While I suggest you read it for yourself, your humble author will attempt to distill some of its nuggets.

In the story, King Sargon returns to Babylon, and to his dismay finds out that all the wealth of his once prosperous land has fallen into the hands of a few very wealthy men, while the rest of his people suffer and squander.

"One may not condemn a man for succeeding because he knows how. Neither may one with justice take away from a man what he has fairly earned, to give to men of less ability," the King's Chancellor warns. The King then retorts "But why, should not all the people learn how to accumulate gold and therefore become themselves rich and prosperous?"

The King and his Chancellor decide that they shall commission the richest man in Babylon - the man who has amassed the most wealth - to teach the rest of the nation how to stack those gold coins.

Babylon's wealthiest, Arkad meets with the King. Arkad admits to the King amassed his wealth from poverty. When the King asks how, Arkad humbly responds that it was simply his desire to accrue wealth and by taking advantage of opportunities available to every citizen. Arcade then confirms to the King that this is something teachable to others and agrees to take up the task.

So many ideas from those two exchanges resonated with a particular vibrancy. That it was possible to teach wealth to the masses, and that would strengthen the nation. "It is my desire that Babylon be the wealthiest land in the world. Therefore, it must be a city of many wealthy men. Therefore, we must teach all the people how to acquire riches."

The Five Laws of Gold

I. Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnigs to create an estate for his future and that of his family.

II. Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.

III. Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling.

IV. Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep.

V. Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.

Let that info marinate, chew on it, and don't just think about it TAKE ACTION. The Universe acts on a set of unfailing laws, and it's up to you to decide which side of the spectrum you'd like to be on.