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What if success wasn’t about money at all? Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors of all time, is often asked about wealth, investing, and business. But when someone asked him how he defines success personally, his answer wasn’t about money, power, or status. Instead, he spoke about something deeper—happiness and fulfillment.
"I can certainly define happiness because that's what I am. I mean, I get to do what I like to do every single day of the year. I get to do it with people I like."
Buffett’s response cuts through the noise. Success, in his eyes, isn’t about hitting a financial target or gaining external validation. It’s about waking up every day excited to do what you love. Let’s break down his wisdom and see how it applies to life and business.
Success Is About Happiness, Not Just Wealth
We often associate success with massive wealth, corporate titles, and material possessions. But Buffett, who has a net worth in the hundreds of billions, doesn’t measure success in dollars.
His view aligns with what many successful people have realized: Money is a tool, not the destination.
Take Steve Jobs, for example. He was a billionaire and an icon, but he once famously said:
"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful—that’s what matters to me."
Jobs was obsessed with creating revolutionary products, not just making money. He found fulfillment in his work, and that’s what made him truly successful. Buffett echoes this idea—success is about enjoying the process, not just reaching a goal.
Loving Your Work: The Key to Long-Term Success
Buffett emphasizes working for an organization and with people you admire. Why? Because your work environment shapes your happiness and, ultimately, your success.
"I do advise you when you go out to work, go to work for an organization that you admire, people you admire, because it'll turn you on. And you ought to be happy where you are working."
Consider Jeff Bezos before he founded Amazon. He had a high-paying Wall Street job but realized he wasn’t excited about it. His passion was in the internet’s potential, so he left everything behind to start Amazon in a garage. Had he stayed in finance for the paycheck, he wouldn’t have revolutionized e-commerce.
The takeaway? If you’re spending years in a job you dislike just to reach a future goal, you’re sacrificing present happiness. As Buffett puts it, that’s like “saving up sex for your old age.” Instead, seek work that excites you today, not just in some distant future.
Stumbling Into What You’re Best At
Buffett acknowledges that he was fortunate to find what he loves early on. But he doesn’t believe everyone needs to have a perfect plan from the start.
"I kind of stumbled into the thing that I do best. And it's worked out well."
This should be a relief to those who feel pressured to figure everything out right away. Many successful people, including Buffett, didn’t have a clear roadmap when they started. Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook as a side project. Oprah Winfrey originally wanted to be a news anchor but discovered her true calling in talk shows.
What matters is experimenting, learning, and adjusting. You might not know today what your perfect job or business is, but if you keep trying things, you’ll eventually land on something that clicks. The key is to stay curious and open to new possibilities.
Comparing Yourself to Others is a Waste of Time
Buffett also highlights that different people are wired differently. Just because someone excels in one field doesn’t mean you need to follow their path.
"If I had to do what Bill [Gates] does, I mean, it lasts about 10 minutes. That's true of a lot of things."
It’s easy to compare yourself to others and feel inadequate. Maybe your friend is excelling in tech while you’re struggling in a creative field. Maybe someone you know started a business and you feel stuck in a job. But Buffett’s point is clear—everyone has different strengths. Your job isn’t to copy someone else’s success but to find what works for you.
Elon Musk is a great example. He wasn’t trying to be the next Jeff Bezos or Warren Buffett. He focused on what excited him—space exploration, electric cars, and AI. That passion led him to create SpaceX, Tesla, and OpenAI.
The lesson? Play to your strengths and follow what genuinely excites you. That’s where real success lies.
Conclusion: Redefining Success for Yourself
Buffett’s take on success is simple yet profound:
Success isn’t about money; it’s about happiness.
Loving your work leads to long-term fulfillment.
You don’t need to have it all figured out—just keep exploring.
Stop comparing yourself to others; focus on what suits you best.
So ask yourself: Are you doing something you love? Are you working with people you admire? If not, maybe it’s time to make a change.
Success isn’t a finish line—it’s the ability to enjoy the journey. And as Buffett’s life shows, when you love what you do, everything else tends to fall into place.
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Source: Buffett & Gates on Success