Bill Gates, the world's richest man, met Warren Buffet for the
first time only five years ago. Bill Gates did not think he
had anything in common with Mr. Buffet. So he scheduled his
meeting for only a half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting
lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren
Buffet.
Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer
on his desk.
His advice to young people: Stay away from credit cards, invest
in yourself and remember: Money doesn't create man, but it is
man who created money. Live your life as simple as you are.
Don't do what others say. Just listen to them, but do what makes
you feel good. Don't go on brand names. Wear those things in
which you feel comfortable. Don't waste your money on unnecessary
things. Spend on those who really are in need. After all, it's
your life. Why give others the chance to rule your life?
As I consider Mr. Buffet's lifestyle and advice, I am most impressed
by his simplicity. No cell phone? No computer on his desk? One
letter a year to each of his CEOs? No fence around his house?
You mean all the gadgets, busyness, and complexity that we have
been taught are so crucial to success, may not be necessary?
How liberating!
Take a few moments now to consider if you could do your business
more simply. What about your work do you love to do? What do
you detest? What do you do because you think you must, or because
others have placed their values and expectations on you? What
would you be doing differently if you let yourself have more
ease, free time, creativity, and fun?
I know of a man who is the CEO of a large company. He was working
five very long days a week and the company was not growing.
He was also highly stressed. His personal coach suggested that
he take one day off a week and just nurture his spirit. The
CEO agreed and took one day weekly for recreation and relaxation.
Afterward, he reported that his time of refreshment created
space for him to think clearly and find more inner peace. As
a result, the other four days he worked became more enjoyable
and more productive than when he was working five stressed days.
Your strongest investment in success is inner peace.
We have more time- and labor-saving devices at our disposal
today than at any time in history. You can communicate with
anyone anywhere via email instantly at the press of one button;
shop on the Internet without ever having to leave your home;
get directions to your meeting via wireless GPS to your PDA;
download music, movies, and podcasts without having to go to
a theater or store; meet people, date, and have cyber-relationships
without having to get dressed and go out. The amount of time
we save is mind boggling. The question is: What do you do
with the time you have saved? The answer for most people
is: work more. So while amazing technology saves us time, if
you use your newfound free time to work, you are no closer to
happiness. Maybe even farther from it.
In light of the changes we have seen over the last half-century,
two noble quotes come to mind: Mahatma Gandhi noted, "There
must be more to life than increasing its speed." Abraham Lincoln
declared, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their
mind to be."
Warren Buffet is my new hero. Sometimes I wonder how I ever
survived without a cell phone or email. Sometimes I wonder how
we will all survive with it. I'm sure we will, but wouldn't
it be cool if we connected with ourselves and each other through
the original wireless? I think they call that God.
He
drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or
security people around him.
