What exactly is it that separates the wealthy from the rest of us? This is an essential question that isn't asked nearly often enough. On first considering the question, you may be tempted to give answers such as, "Having wealthy parents" or "Winning the lottery" or even "Working at a cushy, high-paying job." Indeed, anyone in any of the aforementioned circumstances can count his or herself among the very lucky.

The truth is that not all of these lucky people can be truly considered to be rich. It is the belief of "Rich Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki that the true measure or wealth isn't really the amount of money you take in, but how much you manage to keep.

Kiyosaki's father, the titular "Poor Dad," was no bum; his work earned him more than enough to live on. The problem was, however, that none of his money was left at the end of each quarter

Fortunately for you, the circumstances of your life, such as the family into which you are born or the salary you receive at your job, are not what will determine whether or not you become rich. Being wealthy depends on internal factors, not external circumstances.

That's right, folks-- becoming rich has more to do with how you think than who you are and what you've got.

Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad" used a graph entitled the Cash Flow Quadrant to explain this principle, separating people into four groups. 'E's and 'S's, or employees and those who are self-employed, occupy one half of the graph. 'B's and 'I's, or businesspeople and investors were on the other. Robert Kiyosaki claimed that, in addition to representing the source of a person's cash flow, these categories served as a window into how different type of people think about money.

The quadrant into which an individual falls isn't determined simply by the luck of the draw; on the contrary, a person's perspective on money and the world, and their resultant decisions are the key.

According to Kiyosaki, the people who fit into these four categories are fundamentally different in their thoughts and emotions, and these essential differences drive individuals to behave differently towards their money.

What's more, Kiyosaki says, it is that emotional difference that determines to which quadrant a person is drawn. And, he says, you can always tell which quadrant a person is coming from simply by listening to what they say. If you hear a person talking primarily about their benefits and job security, then that person is coming from Kiyosaki's E or employee quadrant. He also goes on to say that it is perfectly all right to live your life in the E quadrant if security is indeed the most important thing to you. But, he adds, the E quadrant is the most difficult quadrant from which to become rich.

Though the revelation that wealth simply depends on your attitude and personality may initially seem rather intimidating, you should take it as encouragement. Even if you don't see yourself as a lucky person right now, rest assured that you can, if you have the drive, become wealthy.

Real estate is a great place to start for prospective investors; it's what made "Rich Dad" rich in the first place! In order to become a real estate investor and start building your fortune, all you have to do is make a decision to stop working for a paycheck, and put your paycheck to work for you.