The Zen Millionaire On Creating Abundance & Financial Freedom w/Ken Honda EP 1241

Today’s guest is Ken Honda, a best-selling self-development author in Japan, whose writings bridge the topics of finance, self-help, and generating personal wealth and happiness through deeper self-honesty. Ken’s financial expertise comes from owning and managing several businesses, including an accounting company, a management consulting firm, and a venture capital corporation. His approach to creating financial abundance really stood out to me and I was incredibly excited to dive deeper into his beliefs. Be sure to check out his latest best-selling book, Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money In this episode we discuss:Common traits that millionaires shareHow to shift our financial mindset from scarcity to abundanceWhy most of us are afraid to speak openly about moneyHow to heal our financial woundsAnd so much more! For more go to: www.lewishowes.com/1241Get Ken's Book: Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your MoneyMel Robbins: The “Secret” Mindset Habit to Building Confidence and Overcoming Scarcity: https://link.chtbl.com/970-podDr. Joe Dispenza on Healing the Body and Transforming the Mind: https://link.chtbl.com/826-podMaster Your Mind and Defy the Odds with David Goggins: https://link.chtbl.com/715-pod Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy! Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Lewis Howes?

  This is episode number 1,241 with Ken Honda. Welcome to the School of Greatness. My name is Lewis Howes, former pro athlete turned lifestyle entrepreneur. And each week we bring you an inspiring person or message to help you discover how to unlock your inner greatness. Thanks for spending some time with me today. Now let the class begin.

• 0:28Lewis Howes?

  Welcome back, my friend. Today's guest is Ken Honda, who is a bestselling self-development author in Japan, whose writings bridge the topics of finance, self-help, and generating personal wealth and happiness through deeper self-honesty. I loved the conversation that Ken and I just had, and Ken's financial expertise comes from owning and managing several businesses, including an accounting company, a management consulting firm, and a venture capital corporation. And his approach to creating financial abundance really stood out to me, and I was incredibly excited to dive deeper into his beliefs. So make sure to check out his latest book, Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money,

• 1:09Lewis Howes?

  as he sold over 8 million copies of all of his books combined, and this one is an inspiring one. But in this episode, we discuss the common traits that millionaires share, how to shift our financial mindset from scarcity to abundance, why most of us are afraid to speak openly about money, how to heal our financial wounds, and so much more. And if you're enjoying this, make sure to leave a review and subscribe over on the School of Greatness on Apple Podcast, and let us know your thoughts of the part you enjoy the most while leaving a review over on Apple Podcast. Okay, in just a moment, the one and only Ken Honda.

• 1:50Lewis Howes?

  Welcome back everyone to the School of Greatness. I am very excited about our guest. Ken Honda is in the house. Good to see you, Ken.

• 1:57Ken Honda?

  Hello Louis, I'm so happy. I just, uh, I just woke up at five. You know, I was too excited for the show.

• 2:05Lewis Howes?

  I love it. It's, it's early time where you are in Japan and we're here in Los Angeles. And you, I've been watching some of your stuff and learning about you over the, over the last couple of years since I found out about you. You've got this book called Happy Money, The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money. Most people that I grew up with, especially here in America, and I think around the world, don't feel any peace around money. They're afraid of money. They don't like to talk about it. They're scared of it when they have conversations. They, they're afraid when they have it. They're afraid when they lose it, when they spend it. They're afraid to go in debt, but they have too much debt. I'm curious, why in the first place,

• 2:47Lewis Howes?

  is it possible for us to have peace around money? And if so, what do we need to start shifting in our minds to create that peace?

• 2:56Ken Honda?

  Yes, I, I noticed when I was in North America, I casually asked, uh, I thought a close friend of mine, you know, I became very close to him. So I asked him, uh, how much do you make a year? Just casually. And I know I'd say something wrong because he looked so shocked. You ask me that? And I say, oh, oh, did I say something wrong? It's not so secretive in Japan that if you become close, you ask, you know, uh, how much money you make to each other. But in North America, you don't even do it among close friends, right? It's sort of like, uh, something that you don't touch.

• 3:37Lewis Howes?

  Even family, families don't talk about it. Why is it more openly talked about in a peaceful way in Japan or other places?

• 3:46Ken Honda?

  I think, uh, North American people tend to be, tend to tie how much they're worth or how much they make with their worth. Uh.

• 3:56Lewis Howes?

  Their self-worth.

• 3:57Ken Honda?

  Yes, we have self-worth. We have different value system, like how many friends you have, or are you married or not? Uh, do you like your job? So say there are certain points, right? So uh, money is one of them, but not the major part of it. But in North America, I think it's a cultural thing, and I'm not blaming it for. But I think uh, people think uh, how much they make, how much they're worth is it. You know, uh, you may be good-looking, but if you don't make much, like you're nothing. But if you make a lot of money, and if even if you're a terrible person, you get to be uh, respected. So I think it's a cultural thing, and it brings, seems to bring a lot of shame and pride from money.

• 4:40Ken Honda?

  Which I don't see it in so uh, other cultures. So I think it's very unique to uh, American culture.

• 4:47Lewis Howes?

  Interesting. What would you say is the secret then to creating abundance financially in your life? When most people struggle or fail to do that?

• 4:57Ken Honda?

  Mm-hmm. Yeah, so um, I've been talking about this um, over the past twenty years. And there are so many as- aspects of uh, abundance, you know? Uh, I call it vi- visible assets and invisible assets. So uh, financial value is just, just a very short um, small portion of your abundance. But uh, uh, uh, that is not included in the package, I guess. So that's why we're obsessed about making money, or we jump onto these investment ideas. And, and that's in- interesting cultural phenomenon.

• 5:37Lewis Howes?

  Gotcha. What would you say, so the invisible assets, would you say those are more important? To learn about and master in order to create abundance over the, the visible assets?

• 5:50Ken Honda?

  Once again, invisible assets is part of your life. So if I say, um, uh, going on fishing with your friends is so much fun for me. I'm not interested in doing much business. So by American standard, I become a loser because you know, I'm, I'm going enjoying fishing with a bunch of my friends. But they could be old millionaires, you know, who retired early. But I think going for fishing with a bunch of friends are not as respected as going on like a venture cap.

• 6:28Ken Honda?

  You know, venture business and trying to make money or just, you know, to start a company with Eurovisions. So I think it's a criteria. Uh, do you focus on more relationships or peace of mind? And the peace of mind is, is in the most precious invisible assets. But a lot of people trade for money and that's a sad thing. Um, all over the world, people do that. Uh, we think we have to do it to make, to bring food on the table. But is it really worth it to, um, uh, to trade with your peace of mind or with your integrity?

• 7:10Ken Honda?

  But unfortunately, many people do that.

• 7:14Lewis Howes?

  Is it possible to create peace of mind abundantly and also create profitable financial abundance at the same time?

• 7:26Ken Honda?

  Yes, that's what I've been teaching, but you have to prioritize it because, uh, all your questions come from, at the end, I want to be rich. So can you give up the idea of becoming a rich? Because you have to let go of this idea of, uh, becoming wealthy financially. My mentor. Um, who is called Warren Buffett of Japan. Uh, he said, if you want to learn uh uh about money from me, you have to forget about money. That was his first request. Wait a second. You're like, but how do I make more money?

• 8:07Ken Honda?

  Yes, uh, uh, so how can I, how can I learn about money if I forget about money? So he said, you're obsessed with money making uh ideas. So unless you forget about money, I cannot teach you about money. So his teaching was very zen. So I might be confusing a lot of viewers at the moment because I uh, a lot of people always think, okay, Ken, that's great. And then how can I? Then how do you make money? So you have to forget it, at least for the next uh half an hour or so. When you forget it, what should you be focusing on instead? What is the most important thing in your life? And and that could be your family.

• 8:47Ken Honda?

  That could be your hobbies, that could be uh certain causes and and if that's more important than money, you should go for it. And uh, I can teach uh many ways to invite money in after uh you find what you do. But there are only two kinds of life in uh on this planet. Uh, kind of like that you follow your heart, do what you enjoy. The other one is uh, the life that you cannot enjoy. So a lot of people choose the path that you cannot enjoy as long as they can make money. And then they think, okay, if I make enough money, I can retire and start doing what I want to do.

• 9:30Ken Honda?

  But uh, it doesn't happen that way. You'll be lucky if you can make a mon- a lot of money and then retire. But because you lose a lot of moti- uh motivation, you lose a lot of energy if you go take a path of making money. And then uh, you cannot make money. And even if you're lucky and you you made it, you don't know how to look for happiness. Because you sacrifice all the sac- uh happiness and your peace of mind for money. How can you change the attitude? It's it's very difficult because uh, all you think is uh.

• 10:08Ken Honda?

  Just a simple thing, you know, efficiency. How can I cut cost? How can I increase my wealth? But think about it this way.

• 10:20Ken Honda?

  If you just make a lot of money outside, but if you come home, do you always talk about cutting costs? You know, don't waste your time with your kids? Because all the fun time with kids are wasteful, you know? Just pull out all the tissue papers. That's a lot of waste. You know, making a pizza with your kids, it takes three hours or four hours. If you're a business owner, hire somebody to do it for you.

• 10:47Lewis Howes?

  Right, right. Order from delivery and it's gonna taste better.

• 10:51Ken Honda?

  Yes, like a cooking, something with a family takes three or four years, you know? And making terrible pastas. They don't look good, they don't taste good, but it's fun. So, but oftentimes, we tend to think like, well, we should hire somebody. We should outsource it. But how much do you want to outsource? Because you're losing all the fun. So that is my point.

• 11:13Lewis Howes?

  Hmm, so we should be forgetting about money initially for a moment and thinking about what are the things we enjoy doing the most? What are the things that bring us the most fulfillment? The most peace of mind? The things that bring us alive? And just getting back to that place as opposed to first obsessing over money first. Remove the obsession and focus on the enjoyment. What happens when we come from a place of enjoyment in life? Does money start to flow more effortlessly when we're being that way?

• 11:43Ken Honda?

  It depends. Because if you're doing a volunteer work, money may not follow. So one of my national bestsellers is, do what you love and make sure money follows you. That means there are so many starving artists. They do what they love, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they can make money.

• 12:02Lewis Howes?

  Right.

• 12:03Ken Honda?

  So you have to make sure. It's two different things. But I think if you do what you love, definitely you'll become happier. And less stress and you'll be more attractive as a person. And that person uh has a better chance of making money if they choose to.

• 12:20Lewis Howes?

  Um.

• 12:20Ken Honda?

  But just once again, forget about the money part because uh making money is just, uh, I'd say uh one of fourteen fields in the in life. Uh um you know, your self-image or your sense of contribution, uh you know, connectedness, uh sense of uh being connected uh with nature is often forgotten in Western world. So there are many fields of happiness. So if you focus only one or two business and money, you tend, you cannot see all the other twelve, for example.

• 12:56Lewis Howes?

  Um hum. And so and what happens if we don't do the other twelve in our life? Are we missing out on something or is it?

• 13:05Ken Honda?

  I think you just become a very boring business machine.

• 13:08Lewis Howes?

  Got it.

• 13:10Ken Honda?

  Yeah, you just talk about money or business all the time. And then uh I I have a few friends like that. Yeah, he's fun as long as we talk about business. But if he is, you know, if the topic goes on on to art, music, uh or like life, he he doesn't uh he suddenly becomes quiet because he has nothing. He has no art, he has no music, he has no girlfriend, so you know, uh no food. He doesn't, uh he only eats just quick burgers and, uh, you know, energy bars.

• 13:42Lewis Howes?

  Um hum. Just to have enough energy to go make more money.

• 13:47Ken Honda?

  Yeah, so I want to say there are so many um different fields than money. But we think that uh making money is the most important. And it's so sad because we are exchanging our life force energy with salary. So uh it's almost like we're cutting piece of our uh uh body parts. And if we do that, you know, that's illegal. But if we just cut up a piece of our life, which is time, somehow it's it's okay.

• 14:19Lewis Howes?

  Interesting. Why do you think people are so bad at attracting things they want in general? Maybe not even just money if we're freaking about that, but if they're wanting to attract a great relationship, great opportunities, great friends. Why do you think we're, in general, humans are bad at attracting what's really healthy and good for them?

• 14:39Ken Honda?

  I think everybody's attracting what he or she wants. So I think the the question should be, why do we keep attracting what we don't want? So because I think everybody's attracting what he or she truly wants. You know, one of my students was attracting bad guys. No money, no work, and terrible with he he always cheats. And she knows that. But she bumps into, she is a master of finding one bad guy out of a thousand good people guys, you know? I'm sure there are so someone like that in North America too.

• 15:19Ken Honda?

  So she is good at sensing, she is good at spotting, she's good at finding a bad person. So in a sense, she is she is a master of attracting that person. So I think attract attracting what what we deserve or attracting who we really want is like clarifying who we should attract is more important.

• 15:51Ken Honda?

  So but but, you know, that's how life goes.

• 15:55Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, so clarifying who we should attract as opposed to who we shouldn't be attracting? Is that what you're saying?

• 15:59Ken Honda?

  But unfortunately, my friend's mechanism psychologically, she is not ready for good, honest person. Because she gets excited when she gets abused in a certain way. So it's a programming. So you have to really start healing yourself. Otherwise, you don't know what what what to want. So I think the tragedy of this planet is people are confused about what they want. So they're complaining about what they attracted. And at the same time, Okay, this is life. So part of them are depressed and also given up.

• 16:43Ken Honda?

  And somebody like, very, very, very few people like yourself, Louis, know sort of like how to get out of this, you know, box, you know, and then look at yourself like, oh, I was a battery. And then stuff starts flying, right?

• 17:01Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. I'm curious, when I was younger in my career, I was, I was broke. I was living on my sister's couch. I was making, I don't know, a couple hundred bucks a month, maybe, in Ohio, in America. And I had a mentor that I was learning from and I was working for. And I was just kind of taking on every different job I could at this place to learn as many skills as possible. And, and after six months, I was trying to do my own thing on the side as well. And after six months, I remember saying to him, I was like, man, I feel like I could really use some money right now. I feel like I'm still struggling and it's, it's no fun just being broke every time, every day and relying on other people to help me financially. I could really use some money.

• 17:46Lewis Howes?

  And he said something to me, I'll always remember. He said, money comes to you when you're ready for it. And I, and I was like, I feel really ready though. I feel like I'm ready to make some money, you know? Like, bring it to me now. I need this. And he said, it'll come to you when you're ready for it. And it started to come maybe a year later. And then it started to really come the next couple of years. And I look back at that always. And I think I wasn't ready at that time. I, I wanted it, I needed it potentially, but I wasn't ready for it. How do we reprogram our minds to either heal or shift our perspective to be ready for the money, the relationship, the healthier opportunity for us?

• 18:30Ken Honda?

  I think the question should be, what do you need? Why, and why, what do you need the money for? Unless you're clear with what you want to do, I think you will never be ready. I, I have a, you know, young, young people, like your young, you know, your young person back there, back then, say, Ken, I want to make one trillion dollars. I wanna be a millionaire.

• 18:56Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 18:57Ken Honda?

  Okay, and and I say, uh, what are gonna you, what are gonna do with the money? And he says, I don't know. And if you don't know, you don't need it. And then, uh, people say, I need a million dollars. And I asked, my question is, why do you need the money? And they say, I want to feel secure. So, uh, do you think one million would be enough? And she or he would say, oh, three million, please. And then, life doesn't go that way. Money comes after what you give out to the world. It's just a reward, uh, uh, as I'd say, to be precise. It's just a one portion of the, uh, prize or reward that you've given out so much to the society.

• 19:42Ken Honda?

  So, that's why my mentor said, forget about the money. You know, you have to focus on what you want to put out. So, if you put out so much, ready or not, money will come. Just, just think about it. If you come up with a great app on iPhone and then release it, uh, worldwide, uh, like or not, ready or not, money will come flooding. So, if you find, um, something that will, um, change the way people live, or if you just, uh, if you can offer something to the world that people love enough to pay you, there will be money.

• 20:22Ken Honda?

  So, uh, if you get stuck with a mind game, uh, you have to really look at the reality.

• 20:30Ken Honda?

  Otherwise, you have to get stuck in this place of, I have low self-image, that's why I cannot make it, you know? Um, it doesn't really matter. You, you don't need confidence. You don't need, uh, college degree or MBA. Uh, all you need is curiosity. What if I become that? What if I, I have a million dollars? What would I do? And if you're so excited about the way to spend your first million dollars? You will find the shortcut to the million dollars. But by the way, the first million dollars you make, you're gonna waste your money anyway. So, as you know.

• 21:12Ken Honda?

  So, you know, the first million will be spent on something stupid. Somebody takes it. That's sort of like a membership fee.

• 21:21Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, the price to admission, yeah.

• 21:23Ken Honda?

  Wealthy people's club. So your first million will be lost anyway. And I've written a book on those. But, but if you know, and if you have this mission and passion of how to spend your first one or 10 million dollars, you are on the right track because now the energy will support you.

• 21:47Lewis Howes?

  I had a friend, going back to your point about, you know, how much money do you want? A million dollars? Well, actually, I'll take three million dollars. I had a friend who sold a company for nine figures recently. And his equity got diluted over time. So he really only came home with maybe 15 or 18 million, which is still a lot of money. But it was a nine-figure business that he created and launched. And at the end of it, he spent a bunch of money on some big party with friends. And then he bought like, you know, a boat or, you know, another house. And he's like, oh, I've only got like, I don't know, seven or eight million dollars left. And then to live a lifestyle that I'm at now, this only lasts so long. You know, I can't keep living this way.

• 22:33Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, it's only lasts a few years. So it's like, so part of it is adjusting your lifestyle to figure out what you need and why you really need it. And, and just being aware of that because, you know, one million turns into three, needing three million turns into needing 20 million. And it's never gonna feel enough if you're living in a certain lifestyle. And so what should we be thinking about instead of like, I want to make a million dollars? Should we be reframing that in a different way?

• 22:59Ken Honda?

  First of all, you really have to figure out what you want in your life. Do you want to, do you want to make it? Do you want to be a success socially? But you could become, you could end up being a loser personally. So do you want to be a happy person? Or do you want to be a wealthy person? You can take both. But the way to happy and wealthy people only has an opening for aim for happiness first.

• 23:29Lewis Howes?

  Hmm, I love this because most people think once I'm there, then I'll be happy, then I'll respect myself, then I'll get the attention I want. What I'm hearing you say is the only way to happy and wealthy is through happiness first.

• 23:43Ken Honda?

  Yes, and then if you're lucky, or if it's your destiny, I would say you may be rewarded with money. But you know, there are many lives that necessarily money will follow. But you can still enjoy life and stay very happy. Because if you go after money, you could, you're likely to lose everything. Your peace of mind and those people who who put money first. Your clients love that, you know, just think about two florists, by the way, I always carry

• 24:19Ken Honda?

  flowers like this, you know, in front of me. So there are two florists, for example, just nearby your house. One florist always think of the cost. Instead of 10 roses, I should, I should give nine roses, you know. And instead of good roses, maybe smaller ones so they can cost, right? The other florist always just bring in the best flowers and always take good care of it. So that it will last on their houses. Where would you go? You know, so if you are good at math and good at business in the short term, they will lose long term.

• 25:00Ken Honda?

  So people who love flowers and then uh he or she can talk about roses for hours, those people really care. That um you you just, they they care about the roses uh on uh in your house. You know, uh they're just praying their kids will stay longer. So you know, people can enjoy. Uh you know, they're not, uh they might think about the cost, but the love of the flowers is bigger. You know, than the business, but those people are the ones that I think all the clients would would go to. So eventually they will succeed.

• 25:42Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, I love that.

• 25:45Lewis Howes?

  Do you think it's possible then, because I heard you mention that, you know, some may not be your destiny. Do you think it's possible for anyone to achieve financial freedom? If that's what they're looking for and and stay happy?

• 26:00Ken Honda?

  Yes, uh theoretically, yes. But some people are not uh interested in money that much. I think you and I have this quest for truth, you know, quest for uh hunger for uh uh service, so those people uh could become financially success. But if you don't have the motivation and if you just uh kind of person who just enjoys uh enjoys looking at the flowers all day without anything. But those people uh may not achieve financial independence. But uh when I grab him, are you okay without uh uh achieving financial success?

• 26:42Ken Honda?

  And he would say, oh, it's okay as long as I I can take uh you know, um this time to look at roses all day. So it's, I think it's um his or her business if he or she wants to achieve financial independence. Because uh think about it this way. Uh even if you don't achieve financial independence, if you have twenty wealthy friends who take good care of you because they love you. Uh, do you think he or she needs to have a million dollars in a bank account? No. So, uh, if you become a lovable person and receives a certain respect, I think you're okay.

• 27:28Ken Honda?

  Yeah, that's true. Yeah, so you don't, you don't have to achieve financial independence. But you need to really figure out what's most important for you right now. Otherwise, all your life is filled with preparation for financial success and business success. But your most precious time is in your twenties and thirties and forties. By the way, uh, my, uh, national bestsellers, uh, series is uh, Seventeen Things to Do in Your Teens and Twenties and Thirties. I sold about more than two million copies. So I interviewed people in their twenties, people in their thirties and forties and fifties.

• 28:13Ken Honda?

  And the, the common question I ask of all their generations, what, what do you regret most that you didn't in your forties? Or what, what, what are the thing, three things that you regret most that you didn't do in your sixties? You know, I grabbed people in their six, seventies and eighties, you know, uh, looking back. Uh, so I'm in my fifties, so like I grabbed people in the sixties and seventies. What would you regret in, in your fifties? And, uh, you know, people often talk about, especially successful, uh, my older successful friends in their seventies, eighties, they have like a few public companies.

• 28:54Ken Honda?

  And they, uh, they say, I spent too much time and energy on business. Wow. Yeah, I didn't have to build this empire, you know? It's okay personally to have only five percent or 10% of the success I made. But I wish I was at the soccer game for my boys. You know, I wish I spent more, uh, dinner, uh, date dinner with my wife. I wish I spent more time on concert hall, but I just missed those, uh, because of my business meetings. And I was, I think I was very addicted to making money. And I regret that I, that I didn't spend much time, uh, traveling.

• 29:41Ken Honda?

  And chatting with friends, you know, talking nonsense, just laugh and over beer. I I wish I I could waste, go back and waste all my time.

• 29:53Lewis Howes?

  Wow. Why do you think that there are so many people in the world that have this idea they want to build an empire? But then later, I'm hearing you say a majority of people are saying. And maybe there are some people in their sixties, seventies and eighties that are like holding on to, they're really proud of the empire they've built and they don't regret anything. Maybe there's some people out there, but I'm hearing you say a lot of people wish they would take less of their empire for more time with people they cared about. Why is it so, why is it this thing that we think about building an empire?

• 30:26Ken Honda?

  I think it's embedded in our hu- human gene, I guess, you know, the Qing is Han of fourteenth century. Ninety-five percent of the time, he was in a battle. He ended up, he he built one of the biggest empires of the human history. But he ended up, he ended up dying in his temporary tent in the war. So all the business tycoons could end up dying in a hotel room where they were going to sign the biggest contract ever. So, once again, what do you want to do in your life? You know, what do you

• 31:10Ken Honda?

  respect or cherish most? And if you don't respect that now, you cannot respect that in ten years. And your precious life is only, I would say, from twenty-five to fifty-five. And if you are sixty-five, you can have a good time, but still, I think a lot of events happen from age twenty-five to fifty-five. And if you keep, and that's a working hours too. So, years. So if you just focus on life, mostly on business, you lose most of your fun time.

• 31:49Ken Honda?

  So if you're too business oriented, you really have to change the priorities of life. Otherwise, you're going to regret in twenty years.

• 31:59Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. I'm a big believer that you mentioned charity work that it may be if people are focused on charity where they're not focused on the money as much, then they may not build as much wealth for themselves.

• 32:14Lewis Howes?

  Let me know what you think about this thought. I'm a big believer that the amount of money we make is directly related to the amount of value we bring to others or to the marketplace or to the world. And our ability, and our ability to position and package that value in order to receive money. Would you, would you agree or add or, or take anything from that?

• 32:35Ken Honda?

  I, I agree with you a hundred percent. So, but that's only, as long as you're calculating to financial value. You know, there are certain things, like say a kindergarten teacher who spends, he or she spends all her passion, all his passion into kids in front of him or her. And he or she is adding great value, but only, only for five kids. And they're, they, they just love it. So I don't wanna talk to these guys, okay, you can leverage this. You can package your, your knowledge and just outsource it or start selling in a mass scale.

• 33:20Ken Honda?

  I wouldn't do that because they are truly enjoying their quality time. So, uh, certain thing is not measured by financial numbers and or, or, or elderly homes, you know, if I, I know a lot of people who work there. It's hard working time. I know they, they stay up all night. Or like nurses, you know, they're just doing so much. But that doesn't necessarily mean that she gets two million dollars a year. So this financial system is, I went too extreme. That's why I think there could be a big shift

• 34:04Ken Honda?

  happening in the past, in the next few years. So it'll be more fair to all the people.

• 34:11Lewis Howes?

  What happens when we compare ourselves to people on social media who seem to have all this wealth or financial abundance, or to our friends, or peers, or people at work, who are maybe making more or less than us? What happens to us personally when we compare our financial situation with others?

• 34:32Ken Honda?

  So I jokingly advise people, if you wanna be happy, stay away from Facebook, because it's likely to make you feel miserable if you're not ready. If you don't have, you know, a good mentality, Facebook is a killer for your happiness. Because there's always somebody out there somehow, who is eating at the better restaurant, who is dating a better-looking person, you know, both guys and women, and also who is buying a bigger house, a nicer house than we live in, nicer clothes, you know, so, and they're having a better vacation somewhere outside, exotic.

• 35:16Ken Honda?

  So, there's always somebody better, somebody who is worth more. But if you start comparing your friends and others with you, that is a shortcut to unhappiness. So, if you use Facebook to congratulate your friends and figure out what's possible for you, I think Facebook is a gem, you know, because you can see people's houses. I want that. Congratulations for you. Oh, I'm so happy that you find him, you know. If your mentality is like that, I think Facebook is a great place to be. But if you just feel jealous or you're competitive, I think it's such an exhausting place.

• 36:04Lewis Howes?

  And I mentioned this briefly, but I wanted to dive in a little deeper about this, about kind of healing your financial wounds. If, if, if we have a, you know, a wound financially, or we're in debt and we're ashamed of it, and we're not able to get out of that debt, how would you say we start the process of healing our financial identity or wounds that hold us back from financial abundance?

• 36:30Ken Honda?

  Uh huh, Louis, thank you. That's a very good question. Oftentimes, money can bring the worst and the best emotions out of you. Negative emotions could be anger, frustration, resentment, and the good, positive emotions could be like love and happiness. And if you're in debt, money only pulls out bad, negative emotions, such as shame, guilt, frustration. But it's because you look at money, debt, almost like a punishment or curse. But I always advise people who are in debt to turn that view differently. So I would say, you know, like five years ago, 10 years ago,

• 37:15Ken Honda?

  you borrowed the money from the bank or friends. That means they trusted you. They trusted your earning ability, so you can pay back. So debt is not a curse or burden. It's a trust placed on you. You know, a totally stranger bank, they knew, they figured out you'd be able to pay back. Isn't that great news?

• 37:39Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 37:40Ken Honda?

  Yeah. If you cannot trust that, I don't know if I can pay back, they did. So that means they have a better trust than you. So you can thank them for trusting you. So if, it's like your parents or grandparents who believe in you more than you do yourself. So those financial institutions are like mentors and supporters. So you can, I think, pay back their trust every, every month. So interest is a form of appreciation from you. Thank you for trusting me. So every time when you think of debt,

• 38:22Ken Honda?

  Instead of feeling, uh, I'm burdened, I'm chained, you know, like a slave. Just think of thi- this way, you know, you have such a trust and love from a total stranger, your ability to pay back. So you just imagine a few bankers faces and just say, thank you so much for trusting me. Thank you so much for believing in my paying back abilities. So to appreciate, to, to answer, uh, to respond to your, uh, trust and love, I'll make sure to pay back every time. And to show my appreciation, I pay you back the interest. So, thank you. Uh, every time you, you take, see a bill, instead of looking at it, oh, no, uh, like a curse

• 39:06Ken Honda?

  or death sentence, you know, you can say, oh, thank you, mm, I love you. So you can turn it around.

• 39:14Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. Was there ever a time in your life where you struggled with money?

• 39:19Ken Honda?

  Actually, to be honest, I have been lucky, uh, to be able to, uh, live my life without struggling with money. My father taught me well in my early teens and twenties. So I actually never borrowed anybody from, from anything. I borrowed ten dollars from a friend in college, but that's about the, the only, uh, cash I needed. I bought my real estates in cash, uh, bought cars, cars in cash. Uh, so I didn't wanna build an empire. So I, I, I'm not a billionaire, but I have enough financial resources, uh, uh, so I can, uh, act to live freely.

• 40:02Ken Honda?

  But I never, um, borrowed any money or I've never been in a financial situation that I, uh, needed to, um, struggle. Uh, because, uh, I had always great people, great friends who helped me with money, investing and enough trust. Yeah, so I, I'm, I'm one of the lucky ones. So in that sense, I cannot really teach people how to get out of a ba- bad place. Where many financial experts say, I had only two dollars in my bank account and now look at me, you know? I have been, uh, fairly wealthy all my life, that way.

• 40:40Lewis Howes?

  Gotcha. And what was another lesson that your mentor told you after he said, forget about money? What was the next few lessons that really inspired you?

• 40:50Ken Honda?

  I think arigato, arigato your money is a word he's, he, he used. So what can I do? You know, I wanted to know the uh stock tips. Okay, buy Apple or buy Sony or whatever that is. And then he, he said, arigato your money. And that is a shortcut to our financial independence. And arigato your money. And then that's it. You know, my attorney's gone and there are like uh a hundred other people uh wanting to ask him questions. You know, if you're with Warren Buffett, you cannot, you know, get his attention more than two minutes.

• 41:24Lewis Howes?

  Sure.

• 41:24Ken Honda?

  So I figure, I try to figure out arigato your money. And I just looked at everywhere, but there's no, no, nothing about thank your money. And then I became a student of Waihei personally. So I could spend hours, I spent hours with him afterwards. So I could really get to ask him about the meaning of uh thanking your money. He said, uh, when money comes in, say arigato or thank you to money. And when you pay money, when money leaves your life, once again, say arigato to your money. You bow to your money and then uh really thank the money for staying with you.

• 42:07Ken Honda?

  Even though it's a short visit, thank you for staying. So money will love that. And then at night, money will just start the chatter. Ken is a good place. You should go.

• 42:18Lewis Howes?

  I like that.

• 42:19Ken Honda?

  And then money will come back. So I, I couldn't really figure out why he was joking or not, but I think he sounded serious. So his secret is thanking your money. And I asked him why. He said, human mind can only focus one thing at a time. So if you focus on thanking your money, appreciating, appreciating your money, money appreciates. So his teaching is very zen. So once you think subconsciously, money is great. Money is fun. Money is lovable. And then you will become a magnet to money. But if you just go for money, uh, money will run away from you.

• 43:00Ken Honda?

  It's like dating, you know, if you just try to get girls or boys, they run away. But if you don't, they'll come to you.

• 43:08Lewis Howes?

  Sure. I love this approach and this is something I've been doing for years, actually. I can't remember if I learned this somewhere or if I just saw someone talking about this. When I see payments come through in my email or my bank or wherever they come through, I say, "Thank you." I say, "Thank you," every time, whether it's a dollar or, you know, a big check. I'm like, "Thank you, thank you, I really appreciate it." I don't, I don't say, "Thank you," when I'm paying something. Why, and I'm, I want to try this, because I think it's an interesting approach. Why should we also say, "Thank you," when we're sending out money to others?

• 43:42Ken Honda?

  Because if you get a, if you get a bill, that means you, somebody did something for you. For example, if it's an electricity bill, you know, because of the electricity company, I'm, I can use the internet, I can use the lighting and microphone and computer. And it's not only one man job. There is this service person, there's this people who are at the power plants. And also, there's somebody who just brought oil to Japan from Middle East. And, and there, I don't know, thousands of people working for the electricity. And they make sure that it's in my house, installed properly.

• 44:24Ken Honda?

  So there are millions of reasons to appreciate the electricity. And if it's, say, it's a, if it's $300 or $500, or maybe small or bigger, wow, you know, if I'm asked to install somebody's house with that electricity, I cannot do that with this money. So, thank you for just giving me the electricity. Thank, thank you for giving me water. Thank you for serving me a good meal at the restaurant. Thank you for giving me a ride, like Uber. So, you can thank the person who gave you the service and product.

• 45:05Ken Honda?

  So, the, the reason you, you have to pay, you're getting something in exchange. And usually, takes more than one or two, or could be 100 people's work. And then, you ask the money, thank them too. So, that means that the money you give to the electricity company will be paid to all the people. Wow. So like, I can, it's like a magic wand, even if it's a hundred dollars. This magic wand can, uh, will start saying, thank you, thank you, thank you, guys. And so, you know, it'll just, uh, thank, it's, it's like a dominant effect, effect of, uh, thank you. So it's not just thanking your money, thanking the people who are connected with me.

• 45:50Ken Honda?

  So, uh, we are all living on this planet together. So if we have this feeling, everybody's feeling this way, we all connected. We all connected with our people in the Middle East, we all connected with the people in Russia, Africa, China, US, uh, like it or not, we are all connected. So do we hate each other or do we appreciate one another? So if we start doing more, there will be, uh, no exploitation of any kind. That's the economy I want to see in the coming years.

• 46:25Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. It's such a, uh, simple philosophy and practice that I think if we can all start to do it a little more with money and with everything, the people that we see, our friends, thanking them when they're coming, thanking them when they're leaving for their time, their attention. My girlfriend does this with our meals, every time we eat together, she's really thanking, she puts a lot of time and attention thanking the people that just made this, the people that delivered the food to the restaurant, the people who harvested the food, you know, and all the people. And it's not something I did until about a year ago with food, and it's something that I've, I've noticed my digestive system relaxing, like me just taking in the moment and, and feeling

• 47:09Lewis Howes?

  a better sense of joy and happiness while eating food as opposed to just eating protein bars to get to the next thing. Um, but really appreciating it, and I think when we appreciate things, which I'm hearing you say, when you appreciate money, when it comes, when it goes, when you appreciate food, when you appreciate. Your home, your family, your friends, those things will appreciate in value and they'll wanna come to you more. Is that what I'm hearing you say?

• 47:35Ken Honda?

  Yes, exactly. And Louis, you know what I've been talking about. And you've been practicing it without knowing, maybe, but I think you've been doing it as a natural person. You know, there are certain things like a natural business person, natural artist. So you're one of the natural people who who just appreciate things. You know, that's why you're successful and people love you. And so if you want to be like, if the viewers like want to be like Louis, you have to learn what he's doing, you know. So it's not just small habits, but I think the attitude toward life. And somehow, there are only two kinds, you know.

• 48:18Ken Honda?

  One kind is people who keep appreciating. The other one keep complaining about it. So if you just, you know, it could be something very small, but after twenty years, your life will be very different. So I hope everybody will appreciate one another a little bit more from yesterday.

• 48:41Lewis Howes?

  And what happens if we start complaining about money more? Whether it be just kind of frustrated, little comments here and there. You know, what happens to money in our life when we complain about it as opposed to appreciate it and thank it?

• 48:55Ken Honda?

  So if you start complaining about money, like ninety-five percent of us, money, just look at from a money's perspective. You know, if you've been complaining about it, oh, I don't wanna go to him anymore. And then it's like a mutual feeling is mutual. Okay, you can complain, but okay, fine, I'm not gonna come to you. So and I think subconsciously, if you're complaining about money, you don't want it to be near you. So my favorite question to people is, if money was a person, who would it be?

• 49:35Ken Honda?

  That means uh if money was a person, would it be a fun person? Always joking, always making uh entertaining you? Or is somebody like a uh assassin, you know? Who's who's gonna try to hurt you or scare you? Or gangsters who try to, you know, uh uh intimidate you? So uh if you're complaining, money may not be a such a fun, good person. So I I think by complaining, you become uh you make money a villain. And you don't want that scary person to live in your house. So uh for happy wealthy people, money is their best friend. They're so happy to welcome them at home. You know, when you open the door, I find you, Louis.

• 50:20Ken Honda?

  Louis, thanks, just come on here, just, you know, grab a beer, just. You treat your best friend like that. But if you complain about that, and if uh you find that uh person in front of you doorstep? Money comes here? No, no, no, I don't need, I don't need you here, get out of here. So that person cannot invite money in.

• 50:41Lewis Howes?

  Sure, sure. What would you, you said you've been financially, you know? Uh. Free or stable your entire life? You haven't had like a an issue with it personally, you never had to really face that. Let's put a hypothetical scenario out there, and I'm sure people have asked you this before. But if for whatever reason, you you didn't have any money, it was gone. You know, you didn't have your businesses, you didn't have any money, didn't have any savings. For whatever reason, in this hypothetical world, it was gone. What would be your next three moves in order to just get back to a a stable financial place for yourself?

• 51:18Ken Honda?

  I just ask my friends, hi, hi, this is.

• 51:21Lewis Howes?

  Can I have some money?

• 51:23Ken Honda?

  I lost everything, can you wire me money? You know, I I don't need to borrow, I just want my friends to give it to me. So uh you don't have to, you know, just uh uh feel burdened, but what? How much is fun for you? Just wire it to me, my account is this, and then I just pray. And then we see.

• 51:46Lewis Howes?

  So you'd ask them just for for money without actually having to pay it back is what you're saying?

• 51:50Ken Honda?

  Yeah, thank you. Can you send me happy money, please? And then I'll probably do the same thing with my readers and and viewers. Uh, I have a, you know, I've sold eight million uh books and my uh podcast has a fifty million downloads. And I personally have heard so many fun, great stories how they achieve financial independence. So this is a time, okay, my friends, you know, you can pay me back now. I'm in need.

• 52:19Lewis Howes?

  Sure.

• 52:20Ken Honda?

  So if they feel like sending me a a dollar or two dollars, any dollars would be fine. You know, I will do a thank you, thank you live, you know, in two months. So please start wiring money now.

• 52:36Ken Honda?

  And see how it goes.

• 52:37Lewis Howes?

  See how it goes. Okay, that's step one. What would be the what would be the next thing you would do? I like the approach. Just sometimes sometimes just asking for what we want is what we need to start with, just saying, hey, can someone, can you give me five hundred dollars? Can you give me ten thousand dollars? Can you give me this? Are you open to it? People, maybe a lot of people say no, uh, and and that's okay as well. But just asking for what you want.

• 53:00Ken Honda?

  Yes.

• 53:00Lewis Howes?

  Is is a good first step. Okay, what else would you do?

• 53:03Ken Honda?

  So, uh, by the way, I wouldn't do something like crowdfunding, like if you just, you know, uh, pay me a hundred dollars, I'll do this. I that's a give and take. So what I would say is like, hi, guys, please wire me some money. That's for one thing, right? The other thing is like, I'll ask my friends uh who has um a extra uh guest room or guest extra house. And I I will ask them if I could uh use your extra room or extra house. And then um I'll ask them how how long and can I use your chauffeur and the housemaids there? And then and can I buy the foods, you know, on your account?

• 53:43Ken Honda?

  And so I'll just make sure and then I'll just stay there uh and or stay with my friends. And I'll just ask my friends, what do you think I should do? And then they'll give me advice and I'll just um I'll do that myself. Uh I'll do that uh tour for questionnaire tour. What should Ken do for the rest of his life tour? So I can even make it open to public. Uh if you let Ken uh Ken stay overnight and just tell him what he should do. Uh you have to give him food and shelter. Anybody is welcome. Here's a link.

• 54:26Ken Honda?

  So I'll I'm I'm kind of curious how many people will just sign up for that. So I'll stay over there there for a night and then I just listen. You know, I um without any advice, if they want advice, I'm happy to give one. But my I I only need only one bed, one night and also nice food. And I don't drink alcohol, so just uh orange juice or just water, you'll be fine. And if if they want me to um say something, I'm happy to talk. So let's see. So I have many creative ideas uh that people want me to do. So the reason I'm not afraid of money or I'm not losing everything is that um even if I lose everything, my friends will never let me down.

• 55:10Ken Honda?

  Uh and then um I at least I I can count on twenty or thirty friends who would probably give me uh an extra million dollars then for me to get going. Because they're pretty wealthy and I'm and I'm part of a um wealth building uh history for them.

• 55:29Lewis Howes?

  Right, you've helped them, you've helped them make a lot more money over time, so they'd be happy to give you some money. Got you.

• 55:34Ken Honda?

  I'm not gonna send them bills, but I'm sure my friends would uh be generous enough to uh give me something. So I'm not worried about that because I've done so much to support people, even strangers. Um so um uh this would be a fun challenge for me. It's a perfect uh surrender. So um I might do that in my sixties or seventies.

• 55:58Lewis Howes?

  There you go, yeah, just just lose all your money.

• 56:01Ken Honda?

  Yeah, so my inspiration is actually an American person, Buckminster Fuller. Uh you know, who's a great uh person. And what he did in his, uh, uh, his ending days was he donated all the money he had on the eve of the year. So he started, he started with zero.

• 56:27Lewis Howes?

  Every year?

• 56:27Ken Honda?

  Yes, that's what I heard. So every year he donated, he, he gave away all the money he made and then start his next year with zero. And, and I'm very enticed into his lifestyle. I cannot do that now yet, but I may be able to do that, uh, in my seventies and eighties.

• 56:51Lewis Howes?

  I'm curious, um, did he make more money every year, starting from zero?

• 56:58Ken Honda?

  I don't know, but, uh, but I think he didn't really care.

• 57:02Lewis Howes?

  I would, I would bet that if, let's say in five or 10 years, that you're like, you know what, I'm gonna donate all my money or do something with it and not have any. I bet in one year, you would earn more back than all the years combined with that experiment of I have nothing, or you wouldn't need to earn that much and you would just be like, people would give, giving you money to pay your bills and support you and you'd be happy and that's all you need.

• 57:29Ken Honda?

  Mm hmm.

• 57:30Lewis Howes?

  But I bet you could go around and ask 30 rich friends and say, hey, can you give me a half a million dollars each? And they'd probably do it.

• 57:37Ken Honda?

  Yeah. So it's not fun. So I wouldn't do it. So I'll, I'll just go into this, uh, total surrender and ask for help and ask strangers to let me stay. And I can write another international bestseller too.

• 57:49Lewis Howes?

  There you go. And you could generate revenue by creating that story. I like that.

• 57:53Ken Honda?

  Yeah. So.

• 57:55Lewis Howes?

  Do you, have you seen any situation with all the people you've helped and inspired and spoken with over the years? Have you seen any situation where money buys happiness?

• 58:05Ken Honda?

  Louis, you're asking me so many great questions I've never even thought of. So thank you for just, uh,

• 58:12Lewis Howes?

  Of course.

• 58:13Ken Honda?

  making me so creative. Yes, so I have seen so many happy stories and sad stories around money. Because without asking, these people come to me, Ken, do you have a minute? You know, amazing thing happened to me. So I have all the weird and strange stories that people would not believe it. So maybe I'll I'll come up with a fifty amazing stories, you know, uh, like my mentor, uh, Jack Canfield Chicken Soup series, you know? He's great. Money, uh, money stories are so fascinating. So a lot of happy money stories.

• 58:52Ken Honda?

  So one time, for example, uh, who was my student who lost everything, uh, and then he he, uh, no, she found out that she had cancer, she got fired. And then, uh, uh, her husband was cheating on on on her. And then, uh, he left. So she suddenly she she doesn't have a home, she doesn't have health, she doesn't have money. So she stayed with her best friend for a while. And then I just give my seminar for free, uh, like ten percent of the seats are free. Uh, so, uh, and I give it to financially challenged people now. So she, I think she was one of the, uh, you know, uh, paid paid forward seats.

• 59:37Ken Honda?

  And then she really got inspired. And so she said, within a year, I'll manifest, uh, like a jewelry designing. I'll manifest a jewelry designer job and also I'll find in the final independence. Now I'll find my partner, uh, better one than the last one in a year. And I said, a year? It maybe three years, you know, he says, not only a year. And after about that, she came back again and then then she said, you know, Ken, what uh, what happened? Uh, she was proposed by a owner of the jewelry store.

• 1:00:18Ken Honda?

  And then he's, you know, he has some money, you know, he's de- dealing with jewelry. And uh, he's such a sweet person. Uh, his wife died a few years before. So he's a very sincere person. So she got the money, the uh, you know, uh, the love of her life. And then he asked her, uh, I don't know if you would like working, but I want you to be part of this designing division. And then she got everything. So uh, life is uh, giving you a full of surprises if you are ready to receive.

• 1:00:54Lewis Howes?

  Wow, that's beautiful.

• 1:00:57Lewis Howes?

  I'm curious about morning routine of millionaires. And those that create financial abundance, what they do in their morning routine to help them attract more abundance. And I have a feeling that you're gonna talk a lot about doing the things you enjoy that bring you more happiness and fulfillment in the morning. So that you can be energetically a magnet for more opportunities during the day. But what would you say are some of the habits of happy millionaires? Where they're happy, healthy, living a rich, full life, but they're also able to create financial abundance?

• 1:01:38Ken Honda?

  For me personally, I always start thinking of fun things uh, that are going to unfold during the day. Like this morning, I woke up five, five and start thinking, oh, you know, I'm, I'm on Louis' show, thank him. You know, I'm, I'm, I'm thanking you in, in my imagination. Thank you, Louis, for inviting me. I can't wait to see. And I have another interview right after this. It's a Japanese interview. And I'm very uh, so happy to do that. And also uh, another meeting with uh, my editor. I'm finishing another book. So that'll be fun. And then a few other things, but.

• 1:02:18Ken Honda?

  So I just start uh sort of like rehearsing uh my my day and then uh imagine uh people that I thought I'm I'm going to touch through you, Louis, especially with you. I'm going to touch many people's heart with this. So I really appreciate you for giving me this opportunity uh to be able to connect with your friends and viewers, your fans.

• 1:02:43Lewis Howes?

  Absolutely.

• 1:02:43Ken Honda?

  It's such a great honor. So uh I feel so overwhelmed by the appreciation and uh and wow, this, think of this ripple effect. If ten thousand people really get it and then start treating them more nicely, their family members start saying thank you five times more than they did, what's going to happen? So I cannot uh you know, stop this excitement. So when I am full of excitement, I gotta get out of my bed and then start my day.

• 1:03:17Lewis Howes?

  Sure. So that's something you do. You really think about thanking the experiences that will come in, appreciation in the morning. Do you do anything else for yourself personally, or do you be heard of any other routines or habits of people that, what they do in the morning?

• 1:03:31Ken Honda?

  Yes, Louis, we're the same minds because I always ask the same question to other people. I can, I I can write a book for for you, you know, uh the morning habits of Japanese millionaires, right?

• 1:03:43Lewis Howes?

  I like that. Well, I wrote a, I wrote, I wrote a, I wrote a little mini book called The Millionaire Morning, which is, which is the habits and routines, but I'm always curious if there's other stuff in different parts of the world that people do to to bring in wealth and and abundance.

• 1:03:57Ken Honda?

  Yeah, so a lot of Japanese millionaires, they have a little shrine in their homes. So uh it it's a mini miniature design of a a house. I have it in in my uh private office. And they always pray uh for just a minute or two, uh sort of like a meditation. And uh this is like a appreciation exercise. So thank you for just, you know, uh for letting me be alive and thank you for uh my family's health, thank you for my business, and they all. Pray for the success and prosperity for their clients and customers. So a lot of millionaires, they pray for customers and clients here.

• 1:04:43Ken Honda?

  So their happiness. So I think that's probably the common Japanese millionaire's attitudes. They pray for their customers and customers, clients, and then their employees. And I'm happy and open for new opportunities. So that's how they pray to their ancestors and to the eight million gods around us and start their day.

• 1:05:10Lewis Howes?

  Wow, that's beautiful.

• 1:05:13Lewis Howes?

  Anything else?

• 1:05:15Ken Honda?

  In the morning, you know, there are, you know, no identical things because some people skip breakfast. Others eat big ones and I don't see any correlation with health either. If people are fine with only one meal day. People who eat eight meals, small meals a day, they're both perfectly healthy. So I think it's probably up to you, how you find your own sort of like a secret. Because it's very different and your wife could be different. So you really have to find your own habits and own lifestyle. And if you like it, you can keep going.

• 1:05:57Ken Honda?

  So I think the only criteria, if you, if it doesn't go, if you cannot continue, that's not your thing.

• 1:06:05Lewis Howes?

  Right, right.

• 1:06:05Ken Honda?

  Yeah, so don't, please don't force yourself to do it.

• 1:06:09Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. What about people, what about relationships? The people we choose to be in relationships with, whether it be our intimate partners, our spouses. How important is it for us to be in the right? intimate relationships in our life in order to energetically also bring in wealth.

• 1:06:32Ken Honda?

  I think partnership is one of the most important ones because if you say you have one hundred energy and she or he has one hundred energy, if it's multiplied, it becomes ten thousand. But if it's minus, one hundred minus one hundred is zero. And if you, even if you're one hundred, if he or she is minus one hundred, you become minus one, minus ten thousand. So you, I think it's the same with your team. You really have to find a trustworthy person who, who can multiply with you.

• 1:07:13Ken Honda?

  So I'm very picky about who to pick, a very sincere, trustworthy person. So I can, I can, I can just have my secretary manage all my assets. And then I'm okay. I, I trust her with all my, all my life. And all my people who are working with me have been working more than ten years. Wow. So I, I trust them with my life. I hope that they trust me with their life. So I think we have this very strong, deep bond. So if that happens, I think miracles keep happening. That's how I do business here.

• 1:07:53Lewis Howes?

  That's beautiful. Do you think it's, do you think it's easier to build financial abundance when you're in a beautiful flourishing intimate relationship? Or when you're single and alone?

• 1:08:06Ken Honda?

  So I don't want to sound judgmental. It's almost like a trip, you know, some trip, it's more fun to be alone.

• 1:08:16Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 1:08:17Ken Honda?

  But if you just can't bring your friends like uh uh four or five, that's fun. And if you bring your mate, you know, husband and a wife or girlfriend boyfriend, that's a different kind of fun. So if life is a trip, do you wanna go solo? Or do you wanna do with a couple or do you wanna go with a group? So um I think the business is the same. So uh personally speaking, I like uh my life with a partner. Uh and with my trusted friends. And I I like uh you know, I I I like reading tours, uh you know, uh trip with Ken Honda is a very popular one, you know.

• 1:08:58Ken Honda?

  I I'm on the bus and just bus guide saying, you know, uh bring people to Israel and the US and all kinds of places. It's part of my fun too. But I like my solo trip too. So if you like a solo trip, that's beautiful. And if you like a trip with your partner, that's beautiful too. So it's up to you.

• 1:09:19Lewis Howes?

  Yeah. And what is the Zen approach to investing? And what type of investments should we be making with our money, do you think?

• 1:09:27Ken Honda?

  Yeah, you need uh uh three hours uh for me to talk about that. Because I was with my Zen master, Warren Buffett Zen master, right? So uh he he said uh he you should invest in a company with a virtue, with a business code. Uh if the company has a high virtue, uh they're gonna flourish. If the company puts uh uh uh money first, they're gonna go down eventually. So you have to find a company with a high virtue and uh and and and highest self-esteem. So I asked why he uh so how can I find a company with a virtue?

• 1:10:13Ken Honda?

  And he said, uh if you don't have it, you cannot sit. So that's that was his answer. So find a company that has a great business code and motive. And that company will flourish. And but that depends on the management team and uh uh creator of the company. Uh and and if that person dies or gets sick, the company kind of goes down. So you really have to see that. That's why he said. But just one tip about investing.

• 1:10:50Ken Honda?

  These days, just regular people started asking me questions about investing. And I think it's a bad sign. You know, remember a shoe shine boy asked a wealthy businessman, what stock should I buy? And then he went back to his office and sold everything. That happened in nineteen twenty-nine. And then the similar things I hear now. Very young people in their in their high school day age. They ask me, Ken, how can I start investing? And I think it's a bad sign. So I think.

• 1:11:26Lewis Howes?

  Why is it a bad sign?

• 1:11:28Ken Honda?

  Because I feel this we are approaching to the end of the capitalism system. We've been developing at least for the past seventy years after the war, Second World War. And it's quickly changing. So I'm not commenting, I'm not going to comment on what's going on right now. But at the rate of it's going, I think we're going to experience something big fairly soon. So I cannot advise, I mean, that's my personal speaking. I can advise inexperienced, inexperienced investors to come in now.

• 1:12:08Ken Honda?

  Because they become usually the victim of the high overvalued price of stocks. And the same thing goes with Bitcoins. So, you know, I cannot advise

• 1:12:23Ken Honda?

  that all the things that may work for the past two years or five years or forty years may not work from now. That is something that you really have to watch out. Because all the people in North America, they've only experienced good times. You know, there was some bad time. But in Japan, we've been struggling after the bubble burst thirty years ago. So we have a better experience of what could happen next. And I think China is going to experience that, and so will be the world. So I think we have to be ready for the potential crisis.

• 1:13:01Lewis Howes?

  Let's say someone has an extra million dollars in the bank.

• 1:13:08Lewis Howes?

  Or let's say you had an extra million dollars personally. How would you distribute that into an investment? Would you keep some of it? Would you invest it back in your business and hiring people? Would you invest some in stocks or real estate or cryptocurrency? What would be your philosophy of how you want to invest that?

• 1:13:25Ken Honda?

  Yeah, I did a seminar with a few thousand people.

• 1:13:30Ken Honda?

  A year ago and then a few months ago. But this is a tricky subject because if people watch this a year from now, it could be a different story.

• 1:13:41Lewis Howes?

  Different, yeah, yeah.

• 1:13:42Ken Honda?

  Yeah, so I don't want to comment on the detail ones. But I think anybody, what anybody can do is investing your friends. You know, take your friends up for dinner and then become closer. Or just give something to your clients and the customers. So I think it's a better investment than investing in bitcoins and gold and all the other things. Because if, if the next financial crisis happens and then you lose everything, as we said, you know, go, go back to your clients and then start, ask them to start business again. And if you have done some good favor, say,

• 1:14:27Ken Honda?

  give one hundred dollar worth of something to 10,000 people. You, that's one million dollars. But they remember you.

• 1:14:38Ken Honda?

  So there's a better chance of getting your business back in the next age. Actually, that's what I did 20 years ago. I had an extra one million dollars. I wanted to try it out, this fun experience. I already heard of this, what you give will come back to you. And I didn't buy that. So, okay, I'll just test it. So I printed my booklets for about 3,000. I started with 3,000. I ended up giving 2.3 million copies of my free booklets. That cost me about 3 million US dollars.

• 1:15:18Lewis Howes?

  Wow.

• 1:15:19Ken Honda?

  But anyway. So by the time I gave away my booklets for about hu- one hundred thousand copies, which cost me about one hundred uh thousand US dollars, a publisher called me and they want me to write a book and I did, which the rest is history here.

• 1:15:36Lewis Howes?

  Wow.

• 1:15:37Ken Honda?

  Uh, so I gave away uh my first uh million dollar project, right? And look what happened. Uh, I sold more than eight million copies of my physical books and uh all my seminars and all the uh other services. So the the two point three millions I began gave away came back uh so many ti- times back. So if you have an extra one million dollars, do good for the society. Do good for your clients. They remember you. They trust you. So uh I had a good reputation. Still I do because I gave away my physical copies for free and I paid even the postage.

• 1:16:21Ken Honda?

  At that time, nobody was doing it. People thought I was crazy. Now I was because I wanted to, I wanted to try uh this philosophy. Is that really true? What you give will come back? And it it it wasn't true. It it came back ten times more. So, you know, it's not equal.

• 1:16:43Lewis Howes?

  I love that. I love that you, I I love that you say to invest in your friends because when I, what two thousands, I guess, fourteen years ago, when I had nothing, literally nothing, I was living on my sister's couch for about a year and a half. I was making, again, a few hundred bucks a month at the beginning. Then I started to make more.

• 1:17:04Lewis Howes?

  All I said, I have nothing. I can't buy anything. I can't do anything for anyone. I can't, you know. Really, I I felt kind of helpless. And I said, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna shift this. All I'm gonna do is start investing and learning about other people, seeing what their greatest need is, where they're struggling, where their challenges are, and try to find someone else who can help them. And I was building this incredible network of people. I was using LinkedIn at the time to network. And I would just get on the phone with people and ask them stories about how they overcame their challenges, how they became successful. I would learn about it and people really enjoyed sharing their story of success or overcoming challenges.

• 1:17:45Lewis Howes?

  And I'd say, well, what's your biggest challenge right now? And they'd say, well, I'm looking to hire this type of person or I need an engineer or copywriter. And I was talking to all these individuals from all walks of life. I was like, I know a great copywriter. I know a great engineer, a great person for social media. I'd connect them. They'd maybe do business or they'd figure out other solutions and they'd always come back. Both would then thank me. Thank you for that introduction, that connection. And they'd, they'd want to help me further down the line. And I think when we invest in people, when we invest in friendships, like you said, relationships and just reaching out to friends and saying, hey, what are you up to today? How can I support you? What's the biggest need that you have? And trying to be a solution that will pay five, 10, 20 years down the line.

• 1:18:28Ken Honda?

  Definitely. And the game gets easier. Once you get the ball gets going, you know, you have more power to help. And then people will appreciate you more. So the game will be easier and easy. Once you go above the line, you will, you cannot lose because don't you, don't you, wouldn't you agree?

• 1:18:51Lewis Howes?

  Absolutely, absolutely.

• 1:18:52Ken Honda?

  Once you, you are over a certain level, it's just a win, win, win, win game.

• 1:18:57Lewis Howes?

  Absolutely.

• 1:18:59Ken Honda?

  Because there's no, there's no loser in happy people's world.

• 1:19:04Lewis Howes?

  Yeah, and I'm, I'm a big believer. I think about this a lot myself. I'm like, if I lost everything, what would I do? I would just reach out to my friends as well and figure out, or I'd say, hey, I'm happy to coach people. I'm happy to do something else. And, and just be of service if I need to and trade my, my, my talents or my service for the money. And thankfully I have a great network. I have great relationships because just like you, Ken, you've been adding value to the world for two decades now, a lot longer than me. But I've been doing my show and doing other free things for, I don't know, 12, 13 years, just trying to help people. Without expecting, without charging anything, you know, the podcast is free, the YouTube channel is free. It's just, hey, this is free value from someone like yourself.

• 1:19:48Lewis Howes?

  And if it helps you make a little bit more money, or helps you find more happiness, or helps you get out of that toxic relationship, then awesome. Hopefully, they remember that and they want to pay it forward, or, or buy something from me in the future, if it makes sense. But either way, it's, it's being a ripple effect, like you said. And the more we can do that with our friends, that'll ripple to their communities and the world, which I think is a beautiful philosophy.

• 1:20:14Lewis Howes?

  I've got a few final questions for you, Ken. This has been really inspiring and, and I hope when I'm in Japan, we can connect. And you can, you can share with me more of these philosophies in person.

• 1:20:23Ken Honda?

  Yes. Yeah, I'll just guide you through Kyoto. And by the way, you have more than a few extra rooms here, you know, I have a big place, so.

• 1:20:31Lewis Howes?

  Perfect. Me, me, me and my girlfriend, perfect, me and my girlfriend will come for sure.

• 1:20:37Ken Honda?

  With a sushi.

• 1:20:39Lewis Howes?

  I'm in, I'm excited. I've always wanted Japanese sushi. We've got pretty good sushi here in, in Los Angeles, but I'm assuming Japan is another level.

• 1:20:47Ken Honda?

  The authentic sushi places here.

• 1:20:49Lewis Howes?

  Ooh, I'm in, I want the fish like squirming, yeah.

• 1:20:54Lewis Howes?

  Is there any other final lessons that you would share from your mentor? That we should be thinking about as we, as we go into the next moment of our life after this interview?

• 1:21:06Ken Honda?

  So, uh, one thing I learned from my mentor, Wahe, is that he focused on receiving well.

• 1:21:18Ken Honda?

  Both good and bad. Because we tend to, we want to receive only the good things. So like, uh, if, if we pray, God, please give me good things, not bad things. But, you know, good things could be bad things. And bad things could be good things. You never know. Uh, the worst thing that happened to you could turn out to be the best thing in your life five years later. True. So you have to be a master of receiving it well. So I try not to judge things on the uh, on the, on the surface.

• 1:21:58Ken Honda?

  You know, I cannot really judge what's inside from the, from the uh, gift wrap. It might be wrapped well, but I don't know what's inside. So I try not, not, uh, not, I try not to judge, uh, when something comes into my life. I try not to judge uh, if it's good or bad. I receive it well. Wow. Uh, you never know because it could be bad, it could be good. So I let go of my judgment. Is this good? Is this bad? Is this a good decision? Is this a bad decision? I, I've learned how to trust myself and how to trust my intuition. So even though the things that may not go as I want it.

• 1:22:41Ken Honda?

  I think uh, if it's my destiny, the door will open. That's my philosophy. So when you feel stuck, uh, don't worry about it. It just, you know, deep, uh, get a few deep breath and just figure out which door will open for you. And your, your best friend or somebody will open doors for you. It's, it's usually the people. Hmm. And uh, and uh, and incredibly oftentimes a stranger or people who don't know mu- who don't know much about you could offer you money, the opportunity, a new guest room, whatever that is. So just, I think the world is so generous, full of love.

• 1:23:26Ken Honda?

  So trust life will take good care of you, especially in hard times. Yeah, that's beautiful.

• 1:23:33Lewis Howes?

  Very beautiful. Ken, I've got two final questions for you, but before I get into those questions, I want to highly recommend people check out your book, buy a copy, buy a few copies for your friends. It's called Happy Money, The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money. And a lot of my viewers and listeners, specifically in the, you know, North America, who maybe grew up more shy around money or insecure, or didn't have the right lessons or teaching from their parents or society about how to just talk about it, how to think about it, how to approach it. I think it'd be really helpful for so many people to dive into this message and get your book. I know you have many other books as well on this topic, but I think people should start there. If they go to

• 1:24:17Lewis Howes?

  your website, kenhonda.com, they can see all of your information there. They can get the book there. It's obviously on Amazon and everywhere else. And you're all over social media, Happy Ken Honda. You're like the happy, you're like the happy money Buddha. You know, it's like you got, you're like the happy guy. So I like that. You got the panda, the happy pandas in the background in the video. You got everything here. So people can follow you on social media as well. And is there, before I get to the final couple of questions, is there anything else we can do to support you today?

• 1:24:50Ken Honda?

  Thank you. I'm so happy to share what I know about money and happiness. So I'm so excited that I finally get to share my ideas and philosophy that I learned from many great mentors with English speaking people. I'm working on my English, so I'm just getting there.

• 1:25:13Lewis Howes?

  You're doing great.

• 1:25:15Ken Honda?

  But this is such a fun journey for myself. So I learned, I want to learn more about you, and I want to more about different cultures. They all fascinate me. So as much as I talk, I want to listen too. So I want to One day I want to have a chat with you.

• 1:25:32Lewis Howes?

  Yeah.

• 1:25:33Ken Honda?

  Learn about money with one another. So we studied a community called Arigato Living Community. So uh um we have uh uh twenty different country uh participants. So if you're interested in learning with these, uh just Google that, uh Ken Honda, Arigato Living Community. And uh we we do monthly calls and have a friendly chat like this. And this is the happiest time of my of my life. So I always appreciate this uh fun culture exchange for me.

• 1:26:06Lewis Howes?

  Hmm. That's beautiful. That's really cool. We'll make sure to link all those up as well. Uh it makes it makes you guys check that out. Uh Ken, final two questions. This one's called the this one's called the three truths. It's a question I ask everyone towards the end of our conversation. Uh it's a hypothetical question. So um imagine many years away, it's your last day here on this earth. And you have accomplished all of your goals, all of your dreams, your you've lived a life. But for whatever reason, Ken, you've got to take all of your books and all of your messages and groups and podcasts and interviews and content. It goes with you to another place. So no, no one has access to your information anymore or your content.

• 1:26:52Lewis Howes?

  But you get to leave behind three lessons with the world. Three things you know to be true that you would share with the world. It can be any lessons. I'm I'm curious, what would be those three truths for you?

• 1:27:03Ken Honda?

  Three? Huh. Interesting. I think the first one that uh comes into my mind is life can be more fun.

• 1:27:14Ken Honda?

  Yeah, that'll be the first one.

• 1:27:16Lewis Howes?

  Okay.

• 1:27:17Ken Honda?

  And uh also uh life is more fun when unexpected events keep happening. So because uh I really mean it because, you know, life brings me a lot of surprises. Yeah. And uh that the the third one is, I think probably relationships uh are everything, is everything. Relationship is everything is what I would say.

• 1:27:49Lewis Howes?

  So beautiful truths, Ken. I want to, before I ask the final question, I want to acknowledge you, Ken, for, for being such a, a great guide for so many of us, specifically over the last two decades, and for all the efforts you're going to continue to do for the rest of your life, for your ability to bring clarity, your ability to bring peace on your stressful topic for a lot of people around money, your ability to simplify things, and your ability to remind people that happiness, joy, love, appreciation, friendships are the most meaningful thing. And those things, when you appreciate them, will bring you other opportunities in your life. So I really acknowledge you for your gift, your creativity,

• 1:28:31Lewis Howes?

  and your talents, my friend, that I'm excited to, to connect in person, hopefully in Japan, someday in the near future. My, my final question is, what is your definition of greatness?

• 1:28:43Ken Honda?

  I think the definition of greatness is knowing who you are, and stay happy with it. I hope that answers the question. Did I?

• 1:28:53Lewis Howes?

  Perfect. That's perfect. Yes. Ken Honda, thank you so much for being here, my friend. I appreciate it.

• 1:28:59Ken Honda?

  Thank you so much, Luis. This is such a great interview. You're such a genius interviewer. And, you know, now I know why people love you and respect you. So I send my, all my love and respect for my newfound brother, and so, and also the viewers. Thank you so much for spending time with us. I really appreciate every second of you spend, the time you spend with us. So thank you. Thank you. Arigato, arigato.

• 1:29:27Lewis Howes?

  Thank you so much for listening. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and it inspired you on your journey towards greatness. Make sure to check out the show notes in the description for a full rundown of today's show with all the important links. And also make sure to share this with a friend and subscribe over on Apple Podcasts as well. I really love hearing feedback from you guys, so share a review over on Apple and let me know what part of this episode resonated with you the most. And if no one's told you lately, I want to remind you that you are loved, you are worthy, and you matter. And now it's time to go out there and do something great.