Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, has a unique perspective on what it means to be successful. In a 2019 interview with Yahoo Finance, Buffett shared his belief that true success is not about wealth but about being loved by the people you care about. “If you get to be 65 years, or 70 years and later, and the people that you want to love you actually love you, you are a success,” Buffett said.
He noted that he has seen many wealthy people who are miserable despite their riches because “nobody loves them.”
Buffett, who is known for his modest lifestyle, often emphasizes that money does not buy happiness. He is currently sixth on the Forbes billionaires list with a net worth of $143.7 billion, but he has pledged to give away 99% of his wealth to philanthropy during his lifetime or upon his death. When asked for advice on achieving success, Buffett said the best investment one can make is in oneself.
He recommended improving communication skills, both oral and written, as a way to increase one’s value by at least 50%.
Measuring success through love
Buffett shared his own experience of taking a Dale Carnegie course to enhance these skills.
Another key piece of advice from Buffett is the importance of taking care of one’s mind and body. “You get exactly one mind and one body in this world. And you can’t start taking care of it when you’re 50,” he said.
Buffett also suggested surrounding oneself with people who are better than you. “You will go in the direction of the people you associate with, and you want to have the right heroes,” he said. He added that choosing a spouse is crucial, advising, “You’ll want to pick a spouse that’s a little better than you.”
These principles reflect Buffett’s belief that true success is not measured by wealth but by the love and respect one earns and by continuous self-improvement and wise associations.
