Warren Buffett’s 23 Golden Rules to Life and Investing

This post was originally shared in my DT Email Newsletter here.

I quit the rat race in 2018. Deep down, I knew I wanted to create a life by my own design, not by “default”. 

Back then, I was uncomfortable with the rigid structure and politics of banking. 

What’s more, going through the many restructurings of bankrupt companies that clients had lost so much money on. That left me wondering: What’s the point? I was burnt out. 

The thing is, I loved financial markets, yet I knew I couldn’t survive the corporate world. My face would look crumpled. 

My back and shoulders tensed. One early morning, as I stepped out of the pantry with my water bottle, my colleague said to me: 

“Willie, why does your face look so ‘fierce’?”

I decided I didn’t want to get beholden to this endless cycle. 

After I left my corporate job, I re-read Warren Buffett’s work all over again – his letters, his autobiography, books and articles about him. What struck me was more than just his investing brilliance. He is intentional about life. 

Instead of planting himself on Wall Street, just like any other fund manager, Warren Buffett carved his own path. He launched his own hedge fund – Buffett Partnership – shut it down when Mr. Market went ballistic. 

Then eventually building Berkshire Hathaway. From day one, he decided he would create a life on his own terms. That idea stayed with me.

Over the years, I’ve learnt a great deal about business and investing from Buffett. But more importantly, I’ve also learnt a lot about life (after all, my journey is still a work in progress). 

And that made me a much better investor.

This morning, I would like to share 23 golden rules Warren Buffett has taught me. Some are about investing. Many are about life.