If you could own 10% of anyone you know for life.

Today I'm going to write on something that has helped me tremendously over the last year.  I can't take credit for it, as I first heard the idea while listening to a talk that Warren Buffett gave to a leading university.  Although because I don't remember it word for word, I have modified it to my own liking, and I hope you like it too.


Mr Buffett asked the class, to ask themselves if you could own 10 percent of anyone of your classmates who would it be?  I'm asking you this, if you could own 10 percent of anyone you know, who would you pick and why? Now your probably going to pick someone who's got it all, good looks, good health, good fortune, and good family.  Now that you have a person in mind, you have probably picked them not because you like them the most out of anyone in your life but you may like their traits.  Things about them that stand out.  If you were to write down on a piece of paper all of those good traits, what are those traits that this person possesses?  Do they get up earlier? Study or work harder? Have a outgoing personality that can get along with just about anyone?  What is it about that person that you would want to own?


Now flip it.  Opposite question.  If you could get rid of, or dispose of 10 percent of any person you know what would that 10 percent be and why?  Now this may be someone who is a little low on the intelligence scale, or someone who has an addiction problem.  Someone who doesn't care about their personal hygiene.  Write down all of those traits that you dislike about that person and why.  If you do this exercise it brings to light the pros and cons of human personality reality.  Try it out.


At the end of the day, you don't need to own 10 percent of anyone else.  You own 100% of yourself.  All the qualities that you wrote down about the person you would like to own are learned qualities.  No one is born with all of those qualities you desire.  They are conditioned and raised to have these traits or qualities.  You learned to walk, to talk, and live interdependent amongst society.  You learned to read, as you are reading this blog post.  To listen and to love.  The list goes on and on.  If you learned all of these things, you can learn and re-wire yourself to have the same qualities of the person you would potentially want to own 10 percent of.  You can learn yourself to be that person, or better.  Inversely, you can change any qualities or stop any habits of yourself that you don't like.  Through consistent and persistent discipline you can dispose of the negatives that are slowing you down.  


If you were to write down 4 habits a year, that you dislike. EG. Eating out, binge drinking, watching to much TV, over spending.  Then consciously substituted them for 4 habits which would improve your life, EG. Healthy eating, exercise, reading, and volunteering what do you think your life would look like in 10 years.  4 habits a year, for 10 years.  You would have disposed of 40 habits which drag you down, and picked up 40 habits that improve and move your life forward in a positive direction.  A world of a difference.  You can either live with the pain of disciple and reap the rewards, or you can live with the pain of regret and face the consequences.  Now many people ask me the question WHY?, and my simple response is, and I'm asking you this now, WHY NOT?


Until next time, have a great life! Unless you choose otherwise.


If you have any questions or comments about my writing please contact me.


Oh by the way, if you, a friend or a family member is thinking about buying or selling real estate, give me a call and I will be more then happy to help!