Lessons That Outlive a Lifetime — What Buffett Taught Us at the 2025 AGM

The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting is always more than an investor update—it’s a masterclass in clarity, temperament, and long-term thinking. This year’s reflections are especially relevant, not just for capital allocators, but for anyone building a meaningful career or business.

Below are 10 enduring lessons from Omaha, thoughtfully adapted to the current context:

1. Flip more pages At 90, Buffett uncovered value others missed—not through algorithms, but by going deep into the basics. In a world where we skim headlines and Instagram captions, his approach reminds us: deep thinking still beats fast scrolling. Curiosity compounds—when you actually sit with it.

2. Cash is not laziness—it’s readiness.
   In investing, being fully deployed at all times isn’t a strategy — it’s pressure. Great opportunities are rare. Like Kohli’s cover drive, they must be timed, not forced.

3. Patience + decisive action = edge.
   Buffett waits for the right pitch—and swings hard when it comes. Much like a well-set batter waiting for the loose delivery—when the opportunity comes, you don’t overthink. You strike.

4. Choose your boss, not your CTC.
   A marginally higher salary fades fast. But the right mentor can shape your thinking for life. Choose the Narayana Murthy, not just the number on offer.

5. Don’t optimize for year-end bonuses.
   Berkshire doesn’t make decisions to dress up annual numbers. Sustainable success demands longer horizons—whether in portfolios or careers.

6. Surround yourself with people who raise your standards.
   If every conversation is about crypto tips and startup valuations without substance, perhaps it’s time to upgrade the room. Your circle is your culture.

7. Do work you admire.
   Buffett’s routine includes McDonald’s and Coca-Cola—not for status, but because he enjoys it. Joy in your work drives endurance, not headlines.

8. Volatility ≠ risk. Berkshire’s stock has fallen 50% three times—without any change in fundamentals. If your portfolio’s red gives you anxiety, revisit your philosophy, not just your positions.

9. Setbacks are part of compounding.
   Generational Indian businesses don’t rise in straight lines—there are pauses, pivots, and resets. But over decades, the compounding is unmistakable.

10. Stewardship > smartness.
    “We’ll never do something stupid with your money,” Buffett said. It’s a reminder that trust is built not on brilliance, but on discipline and responsibility.

Buffett’s wisdom isn’t just for markets—it’s for life. In India’s era of ambition, these principles can anchor us, guide us, and most importantly, grow with us.