“If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster.”
Warren Buffett speaking to Georgia Tech students in 2003. He was asked what had been his greatest success and greatest failure.
I was amazed when I read this. It doesn’t really answer the question. It seems to take a step sideways. It seems to say, “I don’t care what you asked, this is what you need to know.”
I found it in, The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
So, let me get this straight. One of the most successful businessman of all time says … ‘it’s got nothing to do with the money?’ ‘If all you’re after is money, then you’ve missed the boat?’ ‘If you think money is going to bring you happiness, then you’re in for a rude awakening?’
The entire quote is on page 761. I scoured the page over and over looking for the part where he talks about money or material wealth and how it relates to success. It’s not there.
He does mention money; and he mentions the word “buy”; but they’re used to describe failure. Let me explain.
He says, “I know people who have a lot of money, and they get testimonial dinners and they get hospital wings named after them. But the truth is that nobody in the world loves them.”
He goes on to say, “It’s very irritating if you have a lot of money. You’d like to think you could write a check: I’ll buy a million dollars’ worth of love. But it doesn’t work that way. The more you give love away the more you get.”
I put the book down. I looked up. I thought to myself, “This doesn’t sound like the advice I would expect from one of the most successful businessman in the world.”
Then I asked, “I wonder what those Georgia Tech college students were thinking when he answered this way? They must have been shocked.”
I imagined myself, 19 years old again – just like those college students – and listening to this Warren Buffett response. I remember my thinking back then. Very disorganized. (I’m not sure if I’ve changed much!) I would have been looking for … THE MONEY. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
I probably would have discounted his answer saying something “wisdom-less” like, “He doesn’t want to tell us his secrets. He wants to keep all his wealth to himself.”
But, I’m not 19 anymore. 19 was a long time ago for me … over 30 years! (don’t tell anyone, ok?) And, guess what … I do believe him. I do believe his answer is “what I need to know.”
So, to Warren Buffett, I say, thanks for sharing your insights. Thanks for opening up and telling me what I need to hear. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY!
Thanks for telling me it is about relationships. Healthy, constructive, loving relationships.
It appears you have found the secret to true wealth. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.