I know we’re only 5 days into 2011, but this just might end up being my favorite quote of the year.
In a video interview posted on The Motley Fool, Warren Buffett talked about how he goes about finding and buying great companies run by great CEOs:
“I look into their eyes and try to figure out whether they love the money, or if they love the business…if they don’t love the business, I can’t put that [money] into it.
“[Then] my job is to make sure that I don’t do anything that kills that love of the business.”
When I hear that, of course, it brings me right back to the “L” in LEAP: cultivate Love.
When I first started using that language years ago, I felt that I had to make a really strong case and present nearly-irrefutable evidence that “love” is the right word and describes the right experience for business leaders. I had to convince people that cultivating love is just damn good business, after all. (Apparently–and no surprise–Mr Buffett never would have needed convincing in the first place).
But nowadays, I’ve noticed that I get very little resistance to the idea. Now I feel like I’m reminding more than convincing. Maybe that’s not as exciting a challenge, but I’ll take it any day. That’s progress.
It goes without saying that there’s much more to business than the L word. But as Buffett goes on to say in the interview, if the CEO loves money more than the company he or she runs, business becomes all about the exit strategy, not the building of something lasting and significant.
I’ve posed this question to tens of thousands of people over the last decade, and I offer it to you as well:
Why do you love your business, and how do you show it?
Answer it well and prove it through the way you work, and maybe one day Warren Buffett and his team will be looking into your eyes.
We love business by bringing in creativity into it, by bringing design in it and adding things that make it even more lovable 🙂
We love business by bringing in creativity into it, by bringing design in it and adding things that make it even more lovable 🙂
Just discovered you via Chris Brogan and am thrilled. LOVE Warren Buffet’s philosophy – he is one of my heroes. THANK you for brightening my day with this post.
Welcome, Amy. Brogan’s a good man! Enjoy the site–I’d love to hear what you have to say in response.
Just discovered you via Chris Brogan and am thrilled. LOVE Warren Buffet’s philosophy – he is one of my heroes. THANK you for brightening my day with this post.
Welcome, Amy. Brogan’s a good man! Enjoy the site–I’d love to hear what you have to say in response.
Steve, my business is the speaking industry ( meetings, conventions, etc) and I love it more and more each day. Mostly because of the people. People at meetings are often their to learn and have fun and are in an overall pretty good mood. It’s an energy of excitement.The best part is when people tell me stories of their life. Most people are genuine, hard working and just trying to make things work.
zi sldo lobr ytsrl
Steve, my business is the speaking industry ( meetings, conventions, etc) and I love it more and more each day. Mostly because of the people. People at meetings are often their to learn and have fun and are in an overall pretty good mood. It’s an energy of excitement.The best part is when people tell me stories of their life. Most people are genuine, hard working and just trying to make things work.
zi sldo lobr ytsrl
Smart investors like Warren Buffett or Marty Whitman love it when their stocks are suddenly selling at bargain-basement prices. For them, these companies …
Smart investors like Warren Buffett or Marty Whitman love it when their stocks are suddenly selling at bargain-basement prices. For them, these companies …
Steve. I wish more executives could stop and remember why they love what they do, which would remind them why they love their business. Thanks for sharing Buffett’s comments. When he speaks, people listen. PS: Love your blog.
Steve. I wish more executives could stop and remember why they love what they do, which would remind them why they love their business. Thanks for sharing Buffett’s comments. When he speaks, people listen. PS: Love your blog.