Each May, the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting is held at the Century Link Center in Downtown Omaha. This year, nearly 40,000 people descended on this charming Midwestern city to hear Warren Buffett speak. I was one of those people.
Publicly traded companies are required to hold an annual shareholders meeting. Most attract somewhere around 100 shareholders. So you might be wondering, why is this particular meeting so popular?
Simple. It’s an opportunity to listen to the most successful investor of all time answer questions (candidly) about investing, the state of the world and life. And LOTS of folks want to hear what Warren has to say. Check out the crowd above.
What impresses me most about Mr. Buffett is not how much money he’s made, but the way in which he has lived his life. He is 100% true to himself. And with all of that money and fame, he has remained grounded. This is NOT a typical billionaire’s home.
When it comes to generosity, the man breaks the mold. In 2006, Mr Buffett committed much of his wealth (we’re talking billions) to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Thought he ranks among the wealthiest people in the world, his friend Charlie Munger says that Buffett is also one of the happiest people he knows.
I’d like to share with you a few passages from Warren Buffett Speaks, written by Janet Lowe.
Believe in Yourself
“I keep an internal scoreboard. If I do something that others don’t like but I feel good about, I’m happy. If others praise something I’ve done, but I’m not satisfied, I feel unhappy.”
Work For the Fun of It
“When I go to my office every morning, I feel like I’m going to the Sistine Chapel to paint.”
“I feel like tap dancing all the time.”
Think For Yourself
“You have to think for yourself. It always amazes me how high-IQ people mindlessly imitate.”
Surround Yourself With Good People
“I don’t interact with people I don’t like or admire. That’s the key.”
Keep Life in Perspective
“Money, to some extent, sometimes let you be in more interesting environments. But it can’t change how many people love you or how healthy you are.”
We tend to look to self-help gurus for guidance and wisdom. Sometimes it’s nice to recognize someone in the “big bad” corporate world who is equally deserving of our admiration. To learn more about Warren Buffett, I highly recommend the following books:
Pilgrimage to Warren Buffett’s Omaha
Now about his diet. Oy vey! Mr. Buffett, if you’re reading this, give me a call. I’m taking new clients.