By: Kelly Malambri/Columnist
If you were to think the children of the man who ranks third on Forbes World’s Billionaires list are spoiled by privilege, you would be totally wrong.
Peter Buffett, son of legendary investor and multibillionaire Warren Buffett, proves that “Life is What You Make It,” not what your parents, or anyone else, make for you. In his book, Buffett inspires, and the message is sure to speak to any student or working professional.
Although he was about 50 years old when the book was published in 2010, Buffett writes in a young, non-condescending voice. In fact, when he mentioned his age in the last few pages of the book, I was truly surprised. His way of giving advice resonated deeply with me as a reader because I did not feel like he was a rich, older man trying to tell a young student how to live their life. And that is just his point —no one can tell you how to live your life.
Buffett goes on to discuss the troublesome and challenging act of discovering what one’s true vocation is. He raises the question, through specific example, of which is better: to choose a life path because of money, or to choose a path in life because we love it.
The advice Buffett gives in relation to this question was extremely inspiring to me because, as a senior, I am still in the dark about where my degree will take me. I can only imagine I am not the only one who wonders, like Buffett, “…How much sense does it make to barrel through life full speed ahead before we’re even quite sure where we really want to go?”
Once you have found this vocation, Buffett stresses the importance of putting your greatest effort into all that you do. He notes that anything less than your best work will go on to serve as a “personal embarrassment.”
Being a writer, whose work is constantly judged, this sound advice inspired me, as I assume it will to many, who, like me, constantly feel that their busy lives take away from the effort they should be putting into those things that they love.
Buffett rightly points out that, that which we love should be our lives, and we should not put that aside for anything or anyone.
Proving that his book is not just for young students, Buffett also touches on parenting advice. He writes that if a parent is able to, they should “give a child enough to do anything but not enough to do nothing.” Buffett describes the way in which his family did not just allow him to coast through life, but pushed him to make one of his own, and suggests that we live our lives and raise our children in the same manner.
While noting that money is a necessity, and that not everyone gets a “level playing field” and time to slow down to find what they truly want in terms of reaching their goals, Buffett states: “We don’t get to choose where we start in life; we do get to choose the kind of people we become.”
His message throughout the book is to do what you have to do to find a way to combine what you love with something the world is willing to pay for, and you will be on the right track to making a fulfilling life for yourself.
He also notes that this fulfilled life cannot come without giving back to the community, and suggests that we all contribute to the global community in whatever we can, as he and his father have so generously done through programs like NoVo and large contributions to various programs around the world.
As Buffett gives his advice, his time and his money to better the global community, he suggests we all do the same, in whatever way we can.
His book, “Life is What You Make It,” is the perfect read for any student looking for a major or trying to find a job after graduation, as well as any professional already working in a chosen field looking for an inspiring, fresh take on life in a bleak economy.
Cover to Cover is a bi-weekly book review column. Look for it every other Monday this fall.
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