As Robert Kiyosaki discusses in the book “The Cashflow Quadrant” a table is divided into four areas. E and S quadrants are on the left side, and B and I quadrants on the right side. The diagram below better explains it. You can be in all quadrants, but most people are not. The goal is to progress through the arrows and become more on the right side of the table.

Cashflow Quadrants

E – Employee

Most individuals only live in this area. You work for a company and trade your time for money. If you want to earn more money, you must work more hours. Another option is work for another company that pays better. With this position in the quadrant there is no passive income. If you don’t work, you don’t make any money.

S – Self Employed

This is one step better than an employee, but in reality you still are trading time for money. You own your own business, but in reality the business owns you. The positive benefit you have more personal and financial freedom than an employee.

B – Business Owner

A business implies you have a system in place. You have others working for you as employees. You aren’t selling your time for money, but rather selling a product or service. In other words, you don’t have to be working for the business to generate income.

I – Investor

This is where you truly have passive income. Investments like stocks, bonds, and real estate generate an annual cashflow. These are the investments that will allow you to retire. It can also be things like trademarks, copyrights, and royalties. Things you build once and have a long (5-10 year+) timespan in payouts.