Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has built more than just financial wealth throughout his career. His philosophy extends far beyond stock picking and the power of compounding investment gains, offering profound insights into personal development and character building.
While millions study his investment strategies, fewer recognize that his most extraordinary wisdom lies in understanding human nature and self-improvement. The principles that made him one of the world’s most successful investors also serve as a blueprint for becoming the best version of yourself.
The following ten signs, drawn from his authentic quotes and documented philosophy, reveal whether you’re truly developing into someone of exceptional character and capability.
1. You Invest in Yourself Daily
“The most important investment you can make is in yourself.” – Warren Buffett.
Daily self-investment forms the cornerstone of personal development. Buffett famously advocates reading extensively, suggesting that knowledge builds like compound interest over time. This principle extends to reading books to develop new skills, expand your expertise, and challenge your assumptions.
The habit of continuous learning creates exponential growth in your capabilities and understanding. When prioritizing personal development over immediate pleasures, you follow Buffett’s fundamental principle. This investment in yourself pays dividends throughout your life, opening doors and creating opportunities that would otherwise remain closed.
2. You Choose Your Associates Wisely
“It’s better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours, and you’ll drift in that direction.” – Warren Buffett.
The company you keep profoundly shapes your character and trajectory. Buffett’s partnership with Charlie Munger exemplifies this principle, as their relationship elevated both individuals to heights neither might have reached alone. Surrounding yourself with people of high character, intelligence, and integrity naturally pulls you toward better behavior and higher standards.
This doesn’t mean abandoning friends who struggle, but instead being intentional about seeking mentors and friends who inspire growth. When you actively choose relationships that challenge you to improve, you demonstrate the wisdom that has guided Buffett’s most important decisions.
3. You Make Time for Deep Thinking
“I insist on a lot of time being spent, almost every day, to just sit and think. That is very uncommon in American business. I read and think.” – Warren Buffett.
In our culture of constant activity and immediate responses, deep thinking has become rare. Buffett’s success stems partly from his commitment to contemplation and reflection. This means creating space for uninterrupted thought, analyzing decisions from multiple angles, and considering long-term consequences.
Deep thinking allows you to process information thoroughly, develop original insights, and avoid the impulsive decisions that often lead to regret. When you prioritize reflection over reaction, you create the mental discipline separating exceptional individuals from the crowd.
4. You Guard Your Reputation Carefully
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett.
Reputation represents the cumulative impact of your choices and actions over time. Buffett understands that integrity isn’t just about major decisions but consistency in small, daily choices. This principle becomes even more critical in our digital age, where mistakes can be amplified and preserved indefinitely.
Considering the long-term consequences of your actions rather than seeking immediate gratification, you demonstrate the wisdom that has preserved Buffett’s sterling reputation for decades. This careful guardianship of your character creates trust and opens doors that can’t be forced open through talent alone.
5. You Define Success on Your Own Terms
“Success is really doing what you love and doing it well.” – Warren Buffett.
True success comes from internal satisfaction rather than external validation. Buffett chose investing because he genuinely loved the work, not just the financial rewards. This principle requires the courage to resist societal expectations and follow your authentic interests and values.
When you align your career and life choices with your genuine passions, work becomes fulfilling rather than tolerable. This internal definition of success creates resilience against external pressures and criticism, allowing you to pursue meaningful goals regardless of others’ opinions.
6. You Take Care of Your Mind and Body
“You only get one mind and one body. And it’s got to last a lifetime… It’s what you do right now, today, that determines how your mind and body will operate ten, twenty, and thirty years from now.” – Warren Buffett.
Physical and mental health provide the foundation for all other achievements. Buffett’s analogy about caring for your body like a precious car emphasizes the irreplaceable nature of your health. This principle extends beyond basic maintenance, including stress management, mental stimulation, and emotional well-being.
When you treat your health as your most valuable asset, you invest in your capacity to enjoy and contribute to life for decades. Your daily choices about nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mental care compound over time, just like financial investments.
7. You Break Bad Habits Early
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” – Warren Buffett.
Habits begin as almost imperceptible patterns but grow stronger with repetition until they become extremely difficult to change. Buffett’s wisdom highlights the importance of addressing destructive patterns while they’re still manageable.
This requires honest self-assessment and the willingness to acknowledge behaviors that don’t serve your long-term interests. When you actively identify and eliminate bad habits before they become entrenched, you demonstrate the self-awareness and discipline that characterize exceptional individuals. Small changes in daily habits can create dramatic improvements in your life trajectory.
8. You Control Your Emotions
“If you cannot control your emotions, you cannot control your money.” – Warren Buffett.
Emotional control forms the foundation of sound decision-making in all areas of life. Buffett’s legendary patience and discipline in investing demonstrate how emotional mastery leads to superior outcomes. This principle extends beyond financial decisions to relationships, career choices, and personal development.
When you learn to respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively, you gain the power to shape your circumstances rather than being shaped by them. Emotional intelligence allows you to navigate challenges clearly and make decisions based on logic and long-term thinking rather than temporary feelings.
9. You Focus on What You Can Control
“I just look in the mirror every morning, and the mirror always agrees with me. And I go out and do what I believe I should be doing. And I’m not influenced by what other people think.” – Warren Buffett.
The distinction between internal and external validation determines your freedom and effectiveness. Buffett’s “inner scorecard” philosophy emphasizes focusing on factors within your control rather than worrying about external opinions or circumstances.
This principle liberates you from the exhausting pursuit of others’ approval and allows you to direct your energy toward meaningful goals. When you develop the confidence to trust your judgment and values, you gain the independence necessary for authentic success and fulfillment.
10. You Prioritize Long-Term Thinking
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett.
Long-term thinking requires the wisdom to delay immediate gratification for future benefits. Buffett’s tree metaphor illustrates how today’s actions create tomorrow’s opportunities and comforts. This principle applies to education, relationships, health, and personal development.
When you make decisions based on their long-term consequences rather than immediate rewards, you’re investing in a future that others won’t have the patience to create. This perspective transforms difficult choices into investments in your future self, making temporary sacrifices meaningful and purposeful.
Conclusion
Warren Buffett’s final wisdom ties these principles together: “If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster.” True success encompasses character, relationships, and positive impact, not just financial achievement.
These ten signs work together to create a life of meaning and fulfillment. When you invest in yourself daily, choose good associates, think deeply, guard your reputation, define success personally, maintain your health, break bad habits, control emotions, focus on controllable factors, and think long-term, you’re building something far more valuable than wealth. You’re becoming the person others want to be around and learn from, creating a legacy far beyond any bank account.