What Bill Gates Learned By Serving Blizzards With Warren Buffett At Dairy Queen

During Berkshire Hathaway’s 2019 annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett took a break from their busy schedules and visited Dairy Queen for lunch. Buffett, a long-time customer and owner of Dairy Queen through Berkshire Hathaway’s acquisition in 1998, wanted to experience the restaurant’s operations firsthand.

One thing that caught Gates and Buffett's attention was how Dairy Queen serves its popular menu item the Blizzard. Each Blizzard is served upside down, showcasing its thickness and defying gravity. This practice reflects Dairy Queen’s unique philosophy of thinking differently and embracing an upside-down perspective.

During their visit, Gates and Buffett not only enjoyed their meal but also learned various aspects of the restaurant business. They operated the cash register, greeted customers and mastered the art of making Blizzards, ensuring each one was served with a smile and turned upside down.

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In a blog post, Gates highlighted the Blizzard’s appeal and the symbolic significance of serving it upside down. He quoted a Dairy Queen executive who explained that "thinking differently and celebrating an upside-down philosophy runs deep in the DQ system."

Gates also expressed his admiration for Buffett’s unconventional mindset. He emphasized Buffett’s habit of spending hours reading in his office and the patience he exhibits in waiting for desired results. Gates noted Buffett’s ability to think differently about everything and shared Buffett’s famous quote, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

During their Dairy Queen visit, Gates discovered another intriguing aspect of Buffett’s life — his unusual breakfast routine. Instead of ending the day with dessert, Buffett begins it with Oreos and ice cream — or sometimes McDonald's.

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Gates concluded by sharing his experience of training with Buffett at Dairy Queen. He playfully mentioned that he might have picked up the Blizzard-making skills faster than Buffett but left it to the viewers to judge by watching the accompanying video.

In a lighthearted tone, Gates speculated that now that Buffett has mastered the art of making Blizzards, they might become a regular part of his breakfast menu, with a cautionary note to be careful when turning them upside down.

Buffett understands the value of investing in things he loves, such as Dairy Queen, as well as areas like health insurance. While he has gained recognition for his investments in the health insurance sector, his approach is anything but conventional.

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