02/01/2026
,CA
I have learned so much from Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, Prem Watsa, Francis Chou and may more. So grateful….
One other bit of information that speaks volumes about Warrren, he freely admits his mistakes. He owns the, doesn’t blame others. He is transparent about them. Indeed Berkshire Hathaway was a big mistake, a New England textile company (not many sheets and towels made it New England anymore) and he took it over as an emotional response to being misled by then then CEO.
Imagine everyday of work being reminded of your mistakes, he didn’t play victim and have a pity party, he used the experience to stay humble. Pridefulness is an adversary.
Even his giving is primarily in a Foundation tha does not bear his name. Wow.
Still learning.
Warren Buffett has given away over $60 billion to charity, making him one of the most generous people who has ever lived.
But what he teaches about success has nothing to do with money.
In 1998, Warren stood before a room full of MBA students at the University of Florida and asked them a question they would never forget.
"Imagine I gave you the right to buy 10% of one of your classmates' future earnings for the rest of their life," he said. "Who would you pick?"
The students expected him to tell them to choose the smartest person. The one with the highest grades. The one with the best connections.
Warren shook his head.
"You wouldn't pick the person with the highest IQ," he told them. "You'd pick the one who is generous, honest, and gives credit to others for their ideas. The one with leadership qualities. The one who makes you want to root for them."
Then he asked them to flip the question: "Who would you go short on?"
They wouldn't choose someone because they were slow or less talented. They'd choose the person who was egotistical, cut corners, or couldn't be trusted.
"Here's the beautiful part," Warren said. "All those qualities you admire? They're all learnable. And the ones you dislike? You can get rid of them. You already own 100% of yourself. So become the person you'd want to invest in."
Warren didn't just teach this lesson. He lived it.
While most investors raced to Wall Street, Warren stayed in Omaha, Nebraska. He wanted a quiet place where he could focus on what truly mattered.
He still lives in the same house he bought in 1958 for $31,500.
He drives a 2014 Cadillac that he purchased with hail damage because he saw no reason to pay full price for something that worked perfectly fine.
His daughter Susie once said, "He keeps cars until I tell him, 'This is getting embarrassing—time for a new car.'"
Warren once said, "It pays to hang around with people better than you, because you will float upward a little bit. And if you hang around with people who behave worse than you, pretty soon you'll start sliding down the pole."
At 95 years old, Warren has pledged to give away 99% of his fortune. Not because he wants recognition, but because he believes wealth should serve others, not sit in a vault.
His life proves something powerful:
Success isn't measured by what you accumulate.
It's measured by who you become and what you give back.
Surround yourself with good people. Stay humble. Keep learning.
And remember—you already own 100% of yourself.
Make that investment count.
