A number missing in Earl Nightingale's statistics?

[Torsten]

A couple of years ago I purchased "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale and I have listened to it dozens of times ever since. I had never found anything peculiar with it, all the information on the CD made and still makes perfect sense to me. However, I once played the CD to a group of young Germans who were learning English and after few minutes into the recording the group asked a question that took my by surprise. It turned out that they found a missing number in the statistics that Earl Nightingale is using. I had never paid any attention to that particular number, I hadn't even noticed there was something missing but to that group the missing number was the most important piece of information they got from the recording. Here is the parapraph they so got so worked up about. (Please mind that they didn't see the text but just heard Earl Nightingale speak:

However, if you take 100 individuals who start even at the age of 25, do you have any idea what will happen to those men and women by the time they're 65? These 100 people believe they're going to be successful. They are eager toward life, there is a certain sparkle in their eye, an erectness to their carriage, and life seems like a pretty interesting adventure to them. But by the time they're 65, only one will be rich, 4 will be financially independent, 5 will still be working, and 54 will be broke -- depending on others for life's necessities.

Now, what number were those Germans referring to and how important do think is it?
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[Ralf]

Interesting, I thought he was talking about 65 people at first whereas he only mentioned the achievements of 64. But then again it should be 100 people...
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[Conchita]

That only 4 will be financially independent doesn't make much sense, does it? I think it should be 40. This way the numbers work out fine, too.

[NinaZara]

Maybe the rest just died.

The only thing that bothers me is that the statistic says only 1% percent will be rich, will I be that 1%? or will I be the 54%?or one of the assumed dead 36%?

The 4% finacially independent not bad either

Torsten, just tell.

[Torsten]

Hi Nina,

If you really want to know the answer to your question you should listen to Earl Nightingale's recording.
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[NinaZara]

Torsten,

I checked his biography and I think I know one answer to my questions. "We become what we think about". But I still have to listen to the recording if I want to know what happened to the rest.

Was that the one that bothered the Germans too? Oops, of course you can't answer this, you asked it first. I'll wait.

[NinaZara]

Torsten,

I just listened to the recording not so long ago. It didn't say anything about the remaining 36 people. But listening to the recording for the first time, the numbers didn't bother me either. They were just statistics.There were more important information other than those numbers.

I'm glad you I read your thread, I can't wait to tell tell my sisters about 'The Strangest Secret'.

Thanks, you rock!

Nina