Entering the workplace, the first question on many people’s minds is often: how high is the salary? However, renowned investor Warren Buffett’s answer is quite different. He advises that when starting out in the workforce, one should not excessively focus on the starting salary. More importantly, it is crucial to carefully choose who to work with, as the people around you can subtly influence your habits and thinking.
Apart from selecting the right work environment, Buffett also emphasizes the importance of saying “no”. He believes that success is not just about how much you do, but also about knowing which things to refuse, allowing you to allocate your limited time and energy to what truly matters.
Buffett, who has led Berkshire Hathaway for 60 years, has always been willing to share his life wisdom and often talks about his passion for work and the pleasure of working with like-minded partners.
At last year’s shareholders’ meeting, Buffett shared his workplace experiences with young people who were just starting out in their careers. He advised shareholders present that they should not overly fixate on starting salaries and should be very careful in choosing who to work for, as you will gradually adopt the habits of those around you. He also cautioned, “There are some jobs you should not accept.”
Buffett believes that the ideal job is one where income is not a consideration, and you are still willing to invest yourself in it. He encourages young people to seek a profession that is meaningful to them and worth long-term commitment.
“What I find interesting is that in the investment industry, many people choose to leave after making a fortune. The real pursuit should be a job that you would continue to do even if money were not an issue,” he once said. “Never give up on finding a job that you truly love.”
For those just entering the workforce, the temptation of a generous salary may be hard to resist. However, considering long-term career development, colleagues and supervisors may play more crucial roles.
“Choosing who to associate with is paramount,” Buffett encourages young people to actively seek out individuals they admire and respect, strive to work with these people, build friendships, and be in the company of outstanding individuals in the long term. This will lead to subtle influences from them and a greater chance of growing in the desired direction.
Drawing from his own experience, Buffett recalls his youth spent learning about business management and exploring commercial operations, during which he encountered many mentors willing to impart wisdom and experience. He deeply understands the importance of working with smart and interesting people.
“I’ve had 5 bosses in my life, I admired every one of them, and they were all interesting. However, in the end, I still feel that rather than working for others, I prefer to strive for myself,” Buffett remarked. “If you find a group of people you enjoy working with, that’s a place worth joining.”
One of the keys to Buffett’s success is knowing how to prioritize tasks and efficiently use time. To fully maximize the value of time, one must learn to say “no” to those people and opportunities that do not directly contribute to personal growth or career development.
“The difference between successful people and truly successful people is that truly successful individuals almost always say ‘no’ to everything,” he said.
Buffett believes that learning to say “no” has allowed him to avoid many tasks typically handled by CEOs but unnecessary, such as communicating with analysts, giving media interviews, attending industry events, and internal meetings. This enables him to concentrate his time and energy on what truly matters and can bring about the greatest results.
“You must master your time, and to do so, you must learn to say ‘no’. You cannot let others dictate your life for you,” Buffett concluded.
This article references reports from CNBC and the financial website GOBankingRates.