Warren Buffett: “Really Successful People Say No To Almost Everything” (2024)

When Bill Gates first met Warren Buffett, their host, Gates’ mother, asked everyone around the table to share the single most important factor to their success. Gates and Buffett both gave the same one-word answer: “Focus.”

Warren Buffett: “Really Successful People Say No To Almost Everything” (3)

Author’s Note: This article was written over 60 hours with love and care using the blockbuster mental model. If you like my writing style, and you want to create high-quality viral content using the blockbuster approach, you’ll love my Blockbuster Blueprint newsletter, which delivers three in-depth articles every week.

When I tell people that Warren Buffett follows the 5-Hour Rule and spends 80% of his time reading and thinking, they have an immediate and predictable reaction: “Well, he can do that because he’s Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world. I could never do that.”

While this response may help people feel better about themselves, it certainly won’t make them smarter.

Because the reality is: Buffett has spent most of his time reading and thinking since he was in grade school. Having more money or managing a large company doesn’t magically give you free time.

Having free time is never the default. People don’t just fall into huge blocks of free time unless they retire. Rather, free time is the result of strategy. It’s the result of looking at time differently.

Curious about Buffett’s unique strategies, I’ve read several books about him, read most of his annual letters to stockholders, and watched nearly all of his interviews.

And make no mistake about it… behind Buffett’s jovial demeanor is the most stone-cold, ruthless prioritizer (in a good way) in the world.

Below are the top six strategies Warren Buffett has used throughout his career in order to have lots of reading and thinking time. I invite you to copy them so you can have more time to do what’s most important to you everyday.

As you read these strategies, be aware that these aren’t just random strategies that are thrown together like the typical listicle…

Warren Buffett: “Really Successful People Say No To Almost Everything” (2024)

FAQs

When most successful people say no to almost everything? ›

That's why this Buffett quote remains a powerful life lesson. The mega-mogul said: "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything."

What is Warren Buffett's most famous quote? ›

Price is what you pay, value is what you get.” This famous Buffett quote strikes at the heart of the “value investor” approach and reveals the secret of how Buffett made his fortune. After Buffett was rejected by Harvard, he enrolled in an undergraduate degree at Columbia Business School.

Did Warren Buffett say money is not everything? ›

"Money is not everything. Make sure you earn a lot before speaking such nonsense."

What is the Buffett's two-list rule? ›

Buffett presented a three-step exercise to help streamline his focus. The first step was to write down his top 25 career goals. In the second step, Buffett told Flint to identify his top five goals from the list. In the final step, Flint had two lists: the top five goals (List A) and the remaining 20 (List B).

Are silent people more successful? ›

Oftentimes, yes. The reason is simple: quiet people tend to be smarter than talkative people because they tend to be introverts, and therefore have a higher baseline of arousal.

Can successful people be unhappy? ›

Many successful professionals struggle to enjoy their accomplishments. For example, one study found that 72% of successful entrepreneurs suffer from depression or other mental health concerns. And CEOs may be depressed at more than double the rate of the public at large.

What is the Warren Buffett rule? ›

The Buffett Rule is the basic principle that no household making over $1 million annually should pay a smaller share of their income in taxes than middle-class families pay. Warren Buffett has famously stated that he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary, but as this report documents this situation is not uncommon.

Can I ask Warren Buffett for money? ›

Warren Buffett typically does not give money to individuals, although he frequently donates to charities. However, he has in the past forwarded individual requests for money to his sister, Ms. Doris Buffett, who operates an organization called the Sunshine Lady Foundation.

Why does Buffett hold cash? ›

Despite having a mountain of cash at his disposal, Warren Buffett is unlikely to deploy the majority of it any time soon. In part, that's because, as an insurance company, Berkshire will always need a cash reserve in the event of catastrophic losses.

What is Warren Buffett 70 30 rule? ›

A 70/30 portfolio is an investment portfolio where 70% of investment capital is allocated to stocks and 30% to fixed-income securities, primarily bonds.

What is the rule number 1 buffet? ›

Warren Buffett once said, “The first rule of an investment is don't lose [money]. And the second rule of an investment is don't forget the first rule. And that's all the rules there are.”

What is the 5 25 rule Warren Buffett? ›

Buffett's 5/25 rule is not only a great strategy for investing but also a useful tool for maximizing productivity. The rule is simple: identify the 25 most important things on your to-do list, prioritize them, and then focus on the top five items while ignoring the rest.

What is Warren Buffett's weakness? ›

His biggest weakness is the disadvantages of his strength. He is pretty strict and he doesn't really listen. His opinion are often right, but some don't end up right. When he goes down a track that doesn't make sense, he does not pay attention to anything, which is a weakness for a big business leader like him.

How to get rich according to Warren Buffet? ›

At its core, Warren Buffett's investing strategy is not all that complicated:
  1. Buy businesses, not stocks. ...
  2. Look for companies with competitive advantages that can be maintained, or economic moats. ...
  3. Focus on long-term intrinsic value, not short-term earnings. ...
  4. Demand a margin of safety. ...
  5. Be patient.
Mar 7, 2024

What is Warren Buffett's advice? ›

His penchant for long-term investments is reflected in another of his aphorisms: “You should invest in a business that even a fool can run, because someday a fool will.” He doesn't believe in businesses that rely for their success on every employee being excellent.

How do you tell whether a person is successful or not? ›

7 Signs Someone Will Be Successful
  1. They find their own inspiration. They don't need pep-talks to perform or a motivational speech to deliver. ...
  2. Their character is sound. ...
  3. They're consistent behind closed doors. ...
  4. They don't need following up. ...
  5. How they talk about others. ...
  6. They take ownership. ...
  7. They spread good vibes.
Aug 3, 2020

What does a successful person not do? ›

Successful people learn from a failure or loss and don't let it happen again. They won't try to get different results from the same actions. Live for glory days. They don't dwell on things that happened long ago and far away.

Who said success is most often achieved by those who don t know what failure is inevitable? ›

Coco Chanel Quotes

Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable.

Why do people not like when others succeed? ›

One of the most common reasons why people may not like others to have success is due to feelings of envy and jealousy. Seeing someone else succeed may trigger a sense of inadequacy or dissatisfaction with one's own life, which can result in negative feelings towards the successful person.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 6401

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.