Warren Buffett, the brilliant billionaire investor renowned for his frugality and investment genius, has proven time and again that his wisdom extends far beyond the realm of finance. Recently, Buffett offered direct advice to introverts seeking to navigate the fast-paced and often extrovert-centric business landscape, shedding light on his own experiences and the strategies he employed to overcome obstacles.
During a lively Q&A session, Nancy Ancowitz, a New York University teacher working on a book to empower introverts, sought Buffett’s guidance on raising visibility in careers. With his signature wit and candor, Buffett shared his personal journey, recounting his initial fear of public speaking during his high school and college years.
Undeterred by his trepidation, Buffett took decisive action by enrolling in a Dale Carnegie course at Columbia University. He confessed to initially stopping payment on the course fee check — a testament to his own apprehension. Nevertheless, he ultimately mustered the courage to attend a similar course in Omaha, Nebraska, paying in cash this time.
Buffett stressed the immense importance of effective communication skills, both written and oral, a trait he considers undervalued and often overlooked. Despite the perceived simplicity of communication, he lamented that most graduate business schools fail to prioritize its instruction, leaving many students ill-prepared. As he addressed the introverted audience, Buffett emphasized the necessity of pushing oneself beyond comfort zones, advising them to tackle communication challenges head-on while they are young.
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In Buffett’s view, the ideal approach involves immersing oneself in a supportive community of people grappling with similar issues. Recalling the Dale Carnegie course, he humorously recounted the seemingly “silly” exercises participants engaged in, from standing on tables to shed inhibitions to pronouncing their own names before a group. By surrounding oneself with like-minded peers, the fear of judgment diminishes, fostering an environment conducive to growth.
Charlie Munger, Buffett’s long-time business partner, chimed in to express his admiration for educators like Ankowitz, who devote themselves to facilitating meaningful personal development. In response, Buffett playfully quipped, “I hope he’s not going to name names.”
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