There is no question that Warren Buffett is one of the rare business legends who can gift us with wisdom and truth whenever we need it the most. Buffett once presented at the University of Georgia, where students inquired about how he defines success. His answer will shock you!
You Only Get What You Give
According to Buffett, when you’re life is nearing its end, the only way to measure your success is with the number of people you want to love you really do love you. You read that statement right. The self-made billionaire just said that being loved—not being wealthy or accomplished—is the ultimate measurement of a successful life.
As Buffett further explained, the thing with love is it isn’t for sale,” Buffett. The only way to get love is to embody love. It can be quite annoying if you’ve got lots of money because you might think you could buy love that’s worth a million dollars. But that’s not how it works. The more love you give away, the more you get in return.
So how do we heed Buffett’s principle of success in ways where we can genuinely leave a legacy of our own? The path of spreading love is a brave and gallant one, but here are some ways on how you can do it:
Equation Of Love
Be altruistic
Love is a reciprocal law. Choosing to love somebody unconditionally by supporting and believing in them will make love come back full-force with reverence, admiration, faith, and loyalty.
Be empathic
Empathy is a common trait in folks who are likable—or, as Buffett calls it, “lovable.” Genuine empathy transpires when you can walk in someone else’s steps and see from their point of view.
Make work a fun and enjoyable experience
Enjoying work can be equated with enjoying life. Buffett loves every day of his life. He tap-dances from time to time and only works with people he likes. He loves running Berkshire and counts himself lucky to be where he is.
Pursue your passion
If you aspire to land your dream career, there’s no other way but to pursue your passion. As humans, to be able to do what we love can be a significant part of experiencing real happiness in our lives. If you’re not sure what you’re passionate about, it’s never too late to figure it out.
Learning About The Platinum Rule
We all know the Golden Rule of treating others the way we want to be treated. But the Platinum Rule is on another level, stating that we should treat others in ways that they want to be treated.
With the Platinum Rule, we’re given the assurance that we are respecting their needs and not just projecting our own set of values and inclinations. It doesn’t indicate that we should disregard the Golden Rule entirely. However, we should understand its constraints given that each person and every circumstance is different.