Rich People Making Poor Decis… by Jamal Robinson

Jamal Robinson

Texas, United States

15 years ago, Jamal made minimum wage as a janitor.

Currently he's a Global Lead Architect for one of the largest tech companies in the world. He draws on his years of experience for "Rich People".

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About the author

Jamal currently is a Global Lead Architect for one of the largest tech companies in the world. 15 years ago he started off making minimum wage and has now grown his net worth and income to enter into the top 3 percent of all earners in the US. Through those years and on that journey Jamal has worked a wide variety of positions, from janitor to engineer to educator. Not just a diversity in roles but also a diversity in organizations. He has worked for Fortune 100 companies and also with non-profits and volunteering to satisfy his passion for helping underserved communities. His formal education includes study of psychology and an undergraduate degree in engineering with a masters in business.

All of this knowledge comes together when he writes, ensuring his readers get diverse point of views with a foundation in actual experience. His first book, “Rich People Making Poor Decisions,” stems from years of assistance in coaching others on transforming the way they think about life's decisions when it comes to health, relationships and wealth. His advice focuses on overcoming typical human behavioral responses to situations so readers can side step the psychological pitfalls of life to reach success.

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Rich People Making Poor Decisions

An exposition into bad decision making, its effects and how to improve.

Robinson relays rich and poor financial decisions he's seen during traveling and working positions from janitor to architect. He invites you to use the stories to examine your own decisions.

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	Personal Growth & Self-Improvement Storytelling
	40,000 words
	75% complete
	12 publishers interested
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Synopsis

"We all are inherently rich people, some of us just make poor decisions when it comes to achieving our goals in life."

In this book I identifying behavioral patterns I’ve seen over the years that represent poor decisions if your intentions are to live a rich life. By rich I don’t mean having a life with large amounts of money at your disposal. I mean living a life where you don’t have to worry about or taking on debt to pay for things you need. You have a relationship with yourself and others that isn’t influenced by the amount of money you have. You live without the psychological effects of fear, anger, panic, stress, powerlessness and self-esteem issues that not having money can bring. But more importantly, you are free to focus on and pursue those long-term life goals.

I relay the rich and poor financial decisions I’ve seen throughout my years of traveling the world and working positions from a janitor to a lead architect at a Fortune 500 company with over a $100 billion in annual revenue. The way I thought best to relay financial and life lessons I’ve learned is through my personal relationships established over the years. The relationships introduced in the chapters are ones formed from high school up until now and cover rich and poor decisions made along with their effects. The relationship stories cover decision making principles like

Taking Ownership. Taking ownership over your actions and future.

Social Pressure. Not allowing social pressures and vanity to influence your decision making process.

Setting Expectations. Mixing unrealistic expectations with a desire for others to solve your life’s problems.

Family. Understanding the influences of family and upbringing on your choices.

Relationships. How to effectively identify relationships that add value to your life.

Time Allocation. And utilizing effective time management to achieve what you set out to.

and a few others. All relationships ultimately illustrate the decisions we make are important and have a direct effect on our futures, good or bad. I tell these stories in an entertaining yet informative way and end the book with some financial commandments to live by.

This book is for someone who is just starting out and looking for sound financial principles to use for purposes of avoiding pitfalls that others before them in similar situations have fallen. It is also for people well within their financial journey but have ran into some of those pitfalls and are looking for a way to make effective changes in their life. For those who live a financially sound life this book is for you too as it is important to be reminded why you make the financial decisions that you do and potential consequences of not doing so.

Outline

Introduction

Covers why I wrote the book, what the book is about and who can benefit from reading it.

Chapter 1 – Taking Ownership

Covers a relationship with a friend through college and after. Different days but same story with this character as they never took ownership over their own life's decisions, it was always someone elses' fault.

Chapter 2 – I Just Gots to Shine

Covers a relationship with a friend that was financially vain, to the point they almost bankrupted themselves.

Chapter 3 - Divine Intervention

Covers a friend who always expected someone else to take care of her, whether it was an external force (God) or organization (lottery and social programs). She amassed six figures in debt and never took personal responsibility.

Chapter 4 – Make it Rain

Friend that applied the live today, don't worry about tomorrow philosophy. Blew cash as fast as it came. Had a high income but still lived check to check. Tried to impress others with his spending habits.

Chapter 5 – All in the Family

Character consistently followed bad habits passed down to her by her family without ever thinking to question, was their a better way.

Chapter 6 – Time Management

This character was very successful, put a lot of emphasis on time management and research in advance of purchase.

Chapter 7 - Rich Decisions

Reflects on most important lessons learned in each chapter, giving simple ways to incorporate the rich decision making process in your life.

Conclusion

Ending of book, call to action.

Audience

This book is targeted at ”New Adult" and Adult, meaning

Primary Target Audience

Female
Age 20-32
Has a desire to learn, looking to improve current life's circumstances, doesn't have an extensive background in finance or positive examples in their life of goal setting and achievement.

Secondary Target Audience

Male/Female
Age 26-45
In debt, consistently has made bad financial and life decisions. Has reached a point of frustration and looking for relate able advice to allow them to change or feel empowered. Wants to consume that advice in simple, easy to understand stories that drives the point home, not advanced financial or statistical analysis.

I’ve reviewed “A Snapshot of Reading in America in 2013” from the PewResearch Center. The report shows Women are also more likely than men to have read a book in the previous 12 months. The higher levels of income and education, the more the chances of reading a book in the past 12 months will increased. 75% to 85% of households with an income of $30,000 to $75,000, respectively, have read either a print, eBook or audiobook in the past 12 months. This is compared to only 68% for those under $30,000 annual income.

Millennials are the nation's largest living generation, ages 18-34 in 2015, now at 75.4 million.

At YALC, Meg Rosoff revealed that 55% of YA (New Adult) titles are bought by adults. Presumably, some of these are gifts for teenagers, but also for their own consumption.

Promotion

1. Social Media – Utilize Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/LinkedIN to connect with followers around topics related to the book (i.e. decision making, financial management, identifying the right/wrong opportunities).

2. Video – I plan to publish a series of short films covering the topics in the book. Make each one of the chapters it’s own <10min short film. Already have the camera gear and locations and half of the script written, looking for actors at the moment. After completing the film, also plan on submitting it to local/national film festivals for considerations.

3. Paid Media – I will launch a variety of paid campaigns to increase visibility. Google Adsense, Facebook ads, Twitter, etc.

4. Volunteer Work – Continue with my volunteer efforts across Houston, Austin and Dallas Texas utilizing those opportunities and organizations to cross promote my book. Any traffic they drive to the book will be redistributed to those organizations.

5. Writing Groups – Using Dallas MeetUp groups, I plan on joining and participating in 3-5 local writing groups to learn, get feedback and promote my book

6. Conferences - Travel to and participate in book/writing conferences in the Dallas/Houston/San Antonio and Austin areas. Next upcoming conference targeted is Dallas Fort Worth Writers Conference (dfwcon.org). Will have publishers, editors and writers there that I can showcase my book in front of.

7. Email list & Personal Contacts - I will utilize my email list of contacts acquired over the years in professional ventures and also utilize my family and friends to spread the word through their email distribution lists/connections.

Competition

Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill 1937

Both books cover behaviors of the successful, my book does so through common relationships which differs from T&GR as it covers historical figures that might not be as easy to relate to for readers in my demographic.

The Millionaire Mind by Thomas J. Stanley 2001

Both books cover behaviors of the successful, my book differs by using characters in similar situations and demographics as the expected readers. TMM also doesn't weave a story to relay its messages.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R Covey 2013

Very similar in format, difference comes in storytelling and character establishment. 7HHEP provides scenarios more so than establishing a story.

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert T. Kiyosaki 2011

Very similar in approach, stories are different as the author's lives are different. Also RPMPD has a more modern take as Kiyosaki wrote about a childhood over 50 years ago which isn't as easy to relate to for my expected demographic.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelo 2007

Alchemist tells a great story but doesn't put as much emphasis on the lessons you should take from it. RPMPD is more direct in what it is trying to relay to readers.

12 publishers interested

	Sourcebooks 500 copies • Partial manuscript • Looking for motivational, inspiration and the lighter side of business. Sourcebooks is an independent vision. We are a company bound together by the idea that Books. Change. Lives. For us, it means a passion for books and a dedication to the belief that books change lives. It means innovative publishing, where every book is personal and every author’s voice has a place. And it means not being afraid to say “I don’t know” and forging a new path when we have to. We are a group of passionate, energetic and enthusiastic book lovers, and we are committed to helping readers experience each book. Thank you for being a part of our story. Traditional publisher Mind & Body, Romantic Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide
	Agora Publishing Agora Publishing is a Canada-based not-for-profit organization, founded in 1997 with the aim of making book publishing accessible to all writers across Canada and internationally. We are the only hybrid book publisher which is also a cable TV show producer; newspaper publisher; social media marketer and search engine marketing organization. Do you have a Twitter following of at least 5000? We will interview eligible authors for 15 minutes for our cable TV show broadcast. If your raw interview footage generates at least 1000 views within a four day period, we will air your interview on our cable TV show. Contact us for more information. Applications are due Saturday, May 29, 2021. #authors #bookmarketing #writers #tv Hybrid publisher All categories Worldwide
	Austin Macauley 250 copies • Completed manuscript • Looking historical romances, celebrity autobiographies, illustrated children’s tales, in-depth technical manuals, hard-hitting thrillers, meditative poetry. With headquarters in London, New York, and Sharjah, Austin Macauley Publishers™ has established itself as an energetic and innovative independent trade publisher. We pride ourselves on our hybrid publishing model, a progressively more popular means by which both new and previously published authors can establish themselves in the increasingly competitive world of books. Hybrid publisher Children Fiction, Children Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Mythology & Folk Tales, Romantic Fiction, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Women's Fiction, YA Fiction, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Business & Money, Career & Success, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Communication Skills, Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Health, Fitness & Dieting, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, History, Humor & Entertainment, Journalism, Journalism, Mindfulness & Happiness, Motivation & Inspiration, Nature & Environment, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Philosophy, Politics & Social Sciences, Politics & Social Sciences, Popular Science, Productivity & Time Management, Religion & Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Science, Sex & Relationships, Society & Culture, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Technology & the Future, Travel, Travel, YA Non-Fiction, Science Fiction & Humour Australia, United Kingdom, United States
	Blooming Twig 500 copies • Complete manuscript. Blooming Twig is an award-winning boutique publishing house, media company, and thought leadership marketing agency. Based in New York City and Tulsa, we have represented and re-branded hundreds of thought leaders, published more than 400 titles in all genres, and built up a like-minded following for authors, speakers, trainers, and organizations with our bleeding-edge marketing strategies. Blooming Twig is about giving the people with something to say (“thought leaders”) a platform, walking its clients up to their own influencer pulpit, and making sure there is a like-minded crowd assembled to hear the meaningful message. Hybrid publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide
	Lulu Press, Inc. Since 2002, Lulu has enabled more than 1 million authors in more than 225 countries and territories to self-publish nearly 2 million publications. Our industry-leading tools, worldwide print network and global community help authors hone their craft and publish printed books and eBooks for FREE. Offering the largest Indie bookstore at Lulu.com and distribution services, you can sell in online bookstores around the world. With Lulu, authors are in control, forever owning the rights to their works, setting their own price and keeping 80 percent of their book profits and 90 percent of eBook profits. Hybrid publisher All categories United States
	Mascot Books Mascot Books is a full-service hybrid publisher dedicated to helping authors at all stages of their publishing journey create a high-quality printed or digital book that matches their vision. With comprehensive editorial, design, marketing, production, and distribution services, our authors have the support of an experienced publishing team while still retaining one of the highest royalty percentages in the business. Hybrid publisher All categories
	1106 Design, LLC Dear Author, You worked hard to write your manuscript; finally, it's ready to release. You know that expert assistance is needed, but perhaps you didn’t know that it’s no longer necessary to work with a publisher—especially publishers who charge fees to produce your book upfront and deduct more costs on the back end whenever a book is sold. 1106 Design is an author services company. We provide all the editorial and design services you’d expect from a publisher to turn your manuscript into a market-ready book—editing, cover design, interior layout, proofreading, eBook formatting, and more—at the traditional publisher level. Unlike a publisher, we’ll help you obtain print-on-demand printing and worldwide distribution in your name so that you earn, in most cases, several dollars more for every book sold instead of a measly “royalty.” We’ll customize a package of services to suit your exact needs at affordable prices ranging from $4,000 to $10,000, depending on your manuscript's word count and complexity. And we’ll manage all the intricacies of book production, so you don’t have to. After this one-time investment, every penny of net revenue from book sales goes directly to you, never to us. If this sounds like a better way to publish your book, I invite you to browse our services, design samples, no-surprises pricing, outstanding customer reviews, and educational articles at https://1106design.com. 1106 Design has been in business since 2001 and is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. We are a “Highly Recommended Expert” at IngramSpark.com and rated "Excellent" at Alli, The Alliance for Independent Authors, at SelfPublishingAdvice.org. How can we serve you today? Sincerely, Michele DeFilippo, owner Service publisher Children Fiction, Christian Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Essay, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Mythology & Folk Tales, Poetry, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Women's Fiction, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Children Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Communication Skills, Corporate Culture, Current Affairs, Economics, Education, Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Humor & Entertainment, Journalism, Management & Leadership, Marketing & Sales, Mindfulness & Happiness, Money & Investment, Motivation & Inspiration, Nature & Environment, Parenting, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Philosophy, Politics & Social Sciences, Popular Science, Productivity & Time Management, Psychology, Reference, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Sex & Relationships, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel, YA Non-Fiction, Science Fiction & Humour Worldwide
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Lottery Statistics 101

When considering why Sevinj or others play the lottery I definitely don’t believe it is due to their lack of understanding around the statistical likelihood of winning. In my Probability and Random Variables course, taken in engineering course study, I was lucky enough to be assigned a research paper on the state lottery focusing also on where money spent on the lottery went. The Powerball website tells you the probability of winning the jackpot is 1 in 292,201,338 as of changes made in October 2015. To understand, you have to know how the game works. In Powerball, a player first picks five different whole numbers between 1 and 69. One choice of numbers is (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Another is (1, 2, 3, 4, 6). You can keep going until you get to (65, 66, 67, 68, 69). Mathematics tells us the number of ways to choose five distinct numbers from 1 to 69 is 11,238,513. After choosing the five numbers between 1 and 69, the player then picks another number between 1 and 26, which is called the Powerball. So, we multiply the 11,238,513 by 26 and see that there are 292,201,338 possible Powerball combinations. Meaning Sevinj’s chance of winning is %0.00001 or a better way of looking at it is her chance of loosing is 99.99999%. I’ll save you the mathematical calculation but If she played twice a week on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s drawings at 10:59 p.m. Eastern, she would need to play 1.7 million years to raise her probability of winning to 50%. That is her spending $2.00 a week, twice a week, 52 weeks a year for 1.7 million years totaling around $354 million dollar spent just to have a 50% chance of winning. Truly amazing odds to overcome. Statistically we are significantly more likely to get struck by lightning, to drown or be killed by a meteor falling from the sky than to win the lottery. How about the odds of getting struck by lightning while drowning? Those odds are 1 in 183 million which still has a 63% higher chance of happening than hitting the Powerball. When asking Sevinj about her perceived chances of dying in her lifetime from drowning, meteor strikes or lightening it is something she and most other Powerball players never think of because they consider them in the realm of impossible. Yet they all have significantly better chance of happening than them ever winning the lottery.

Regardless of the statistical likelihood I can see how people can be confused on the benefits of the lottery. From an awareness standpoint lotteries are normally advertised more aggressively in poorer neighborhoods since the lowest income households make 50% of ticket purchases. Even popular news organizations run stories manipulating people to believe the lottery is a viable option to achieving wealth. One of the largest news organizations in America ran a story titled, “TIPS TO INCREASE CHANGE OF WINNING LOTTERY” with a description of "BUY AS MANY TICKETS AS YOU CAN AFFORD" and with the bottom news banner reading, “BIG PAYOUT”. And if you are wondering, yes the story’s font was in all caps. This practice of preying upon people’s desire for an external solution to their problems is not uncommon. My hope is for Sevinj and others in similar situations to examine themselves and their true motivation for expectation for something external to resolve their problems.

In Thomas J Stanley’s book The Millionaire Mind, he interviewed first-generation millionaires who weren’t handed money and came from middle to low-class beginnings. Their unanimous response to gambling or playing of the lottery was a negative one. They thought it made more sense to take researched, calculated risks in areas of their career they were experts, not out in Vegas at the crap tables or by scratching off lottery tickets. One person interviewed took it a step further and discussed the value of their time. Not only did they know the slim chance they had of winning but they also considered the value of their time and mental energy when it came to driving to the store to purchase a ticket. They weren’t comfortable with the mental focus spent in a dreamland versus taking actual action in their life that could drive effective change. It just wasn’t worth it to them. Sevinj had real issues to tackle in her life. With six figures in debt and a lack of clear understanding how to get out of that debt, could she really afford to spend time each week playing and focusing on the lottery? Not that purchasing tickets are a 50 hour a week affair but even a minute with the mindset that some type of magic or divine intervention like the lottery, God or chance is going to deliver them from debt they knowingly acquired is counterproductive to their end goals of being debt free and financially stable.

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Jamal Robinson

About the author

Rich People Making Poor Decisions

Synopsis

Outline

Audience

Promotion

Competition

Lottery Statistics 101