Charlie Munger Shared Advice For The Young, But It Applies To All: 'If You've Got Anything You Really Want to Do, Don't Wait Until You're 93'

Charlie Munger lived nearly a century, experiencing both triumph and tragedy—from the loss of a child to building an empire alongside Warren Buffett. 

Before his passing in 2023 at 99, Munger left behind a wealth of wisdom, not just for investors but for anyone looking to make the most of life. Back in 2017, he addressed an audience of 40,000 at the Berkshire Hathaway BRK BRK.B)) annual shareholders meeting, sharing a piece of advice that transcends age:

"I've got some advice for the young: If you've got anything you really want to do, don't wait until you're 93."

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The audience laughed, but Munger wasn't joking. He had spent decades making decisions with long-term vision, and his words were a reminder that waiting too long to pursue meaningful goals is a mistake. His advice wasn't just for the 20-somethings in the crowd—it applied to anyone putting off their ambitions for "the right time" that may never come.

Munger's Dream? To Be 90 Again

During the meeting, an audience member asked Munger and Buffett about their dreams. Munger, ever the realist, responded with his signature dry humor:

"My dream? Well… sometimes when I am especially wishful, I think, ‘Oh, to be 90 again.'"

The room erupted in laughter, but Munger's point was clear—time moves fast, and if you don't act on what matters, you might find yourself looking back wishing you had.

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Buffett, 86 at the time, echoed the sentiment. He encouraged young people to focus on finding work that excites them:

"When you go out in the world, look for the job that you would take if you didn't need the money. Don't postpone that sort of thing."

He acknowledged that landing the perfect job right away isn't always realistic:

"You can't always find it the first time or the second time. But… you really want to think about what will make you feel good when you get older about your life."

Reverse Engineering Life

Buffett shared a philosophical take, referencing Søren Kierkegaard's idea that "life must be evaluated backwards but lived forwards." He credited Munger for having a strategy to avoid bad outcomes:

"Charlie says all he wants to know is where he'll die so he'll never go there."

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The discussion wasn't just about careers—it was about life's bigger picture. Munger and Buffett had seen success, but they had also seen enough to know that luck, setbacks, and failures are part of the deal. Buffett reminded the crowd:

"You need some luck in life, and you've got to accept some bad things that are going to happen along the way."

At the end of the discussion, Munger shared a story about a man so disliked that, at his funeral, the minister pleaded for someone to say something nice about him. After an awkward silence, one person finally stood up and said, "Well… his brother was worse."

The message? Live in a way that, when your time comes, people will have something good to say about you.

Munger's advice to not wait until 93 to chase your dreams is something that applies to everyone, whether they're just starting out or well into their careers. The best time to start is now.

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