Ken Honda - Happy Money: The Zen path to a happier and more prosperous life

About the Book

For many of us, the subject of money is unavoidably stressful. Managing our personal finances is complicated, time-consuming and often, particularly in the slow countdown to payday, dispiriting. The good news is that in Japanwhere a Zen approach to life is more widely practiceda pathway to a better relationship is being carved by the Zen Millionaire, Ken Honda.

Based on the phenomenally popular Japanese bestseller, this beautifully written book will reinvent the way you see your personal finances. You will come to understand that money flows like water and arrives like a guest. Youll rethink your own attitudes and examine the way they were shaped by beliefs about money you were taught as a child. And youll transform your money from a tyrannical master or an unruly slave to a trusted friend. When we heal the fear and anxiety we have about money, we successfully achieve prosperity and peace.

Take the Zen path to financial security and happiness.

PREFACE
Is Your Money Smiling?

INTRODUCTION
Happy Money and Unhappy Money

CHAPTER 1
What Does Money Mean to You? Solving the Mystery of Money

CHAPTER 2
Money IQ and Money EQ

CHAPTER 3
Money and Your Life

CHAPTER 4
The Flow of Money

CHAPTER 5
The Future of Money

PREFACE

Is Your Money Smiling?

A few years ago, I had a unique experience that became the inspiration for the concept and title of this book. A woman whom I had just met at a party asked if she could take a look at my wallet.

As shocking as this question might be to some, it isnt particularly uncommon in Japanese culture to ask to see the contents of someones wallet. And since there were many other people in the room, I wasnt afraid she would run away with my identityor my money. So with little hesitation, I handed her my leather wallet.

I was a little startled, however, when she immediately went for the cash and began taking out all the large bills.

This ones okay. This ones good. This ones good too, she said quietly to herself as she assessed each bill. For a moment I thought she was searching for something in particular. Perhaps there are special symbols or markings on the bills? But I soon realized she wasnt looking for anything of the sort. Then she shocked me again and began sorting the bills in a way I had never seen before.

Good job. All of your money looks good, she said as she put the newly organized money back into the wallet and handed it back to me.

Thats great news, I said, confused yet somewhat relieved to have passed her test. But, if you dont mind me asking, what were you looking for?

Oh, I was checking to see whether or not your money was smiling.

She went on to explain that money can laugh or cry depending on how it was given or received. If it is given out of guilt, anger, or sadness, the money will be crying. In contrast, if the money is given out of love, gratitude, or happiness, the money will be smilingeven laughingbecause it will be imbued with the positive energy from the giver.

Money has the ability to smile or cry?

Money changes when it is given with a certain energy or feeling?

WHAT?

Even though I was already financially well-off at the time and thought I knew much about money, I was taken aback by these insights. You see, I had always been very fortunate with money. At the age of twenty, I made a choice to be happy and wealthy by the age of thirty. So I started my own consulting and accounting business, and during my twenties I helped many people with their financial and business needs.

In the process, I did all rightin fact, well enough that at the age of twenty-nine, when my wife and I had just welcomed a newborn baby girl into our lives, I had the freedom to decide to stay home and raise her. Those were some of the happiest days of my lifeand it was the best decision I ever made. Not just because I was able to spend as much time with my daughter as possible, but also because it was with her that I discovered my second career: helping millions of others lead happy, prosperous, and peaceful lives.

It all happened when I was at a park with my daughter on a gorgeous day. We were happily playing, when I saw a mother and her young daughterwho was about the same age as my own daughterfighting. The mother was distressed and in a hurry. She yelled, Your mom has to go to work! So lets go home. But the little one kept saying to her mother, We just got here. I want to play more! Please! After a few minutes of battle, the reluctant little girl was dragged by her mother back home. I felt so terrible for the girl and her mother. I knew that if that mother had a choice, she would have wanted to stay in the park too. After all, it was a beautiful and sunny day. What parent wouldnt want to be outside playing with their child? At that moment, I decided I needed to do something. I wanted to help not just this mother but all parents and people struggling to make ends meet. I wanted to take away her pain, stress, and frustration. So that very afternoon, after my own daughter was tired of playing, I decided I would write a short essay that would impart the wisdom I had gained over the years about making money and becoming prosperous.

When I first began, I thought I could write only five pages. But when I was finished for the day, I was amazed to see that I had written twenty-six pages in one sitting. I got so excited that I printed the essay out, stapled the pages together, and immediately started giving them away to friends. To my surprise, they loved it. Soon strangers began to call me and say they had heard about it and wanted copies of their own. So every day for several days I printed copies, stapled them together, and sent them to whoever wanted one. However, I quickly tired of stapling booklets together each day. After complaining to a friend about the process, he suggested a local printer. The salesperson on the phone talked me into ordering a 3,000 print run to cut down on costs. And, without thinking, I said okay!

Before I knew it, two trucks came to my home to drop off what looked like a warehouse full of boxes. You can imagine my wifes face when she saw the pallets of books, which filled an entire room in our house. Being the nice person she is, she forgave me. Sort of. She would let it slide this one time with one caveat: I had a month to get rid of all the boxes.

So what did I do? I started handing the booklets out to everyone I knewand people I didnt. But when they were all gone, I continued to get requests and orders. At first I didnt know if people were requesting them because the content was good or because it was free. Nevertheless, I knew I was onto something. And when I reached 100,000 copies given away, I definitely knew. At that point a publisher actually called me and asked me if I would be interested in writing an entire book. My first response: No way! I am not a writer! But the publisher was insistent: You have all the time in the world. Why dont you give it a try? I couldnt argue with his point. My daughter was on her way to kindergarten soon, and then what would I do with all my time?