Beyond Lessons on Programming, Lessons On Success
I’m very involved with education and mentorship initiatives for younger students. Recently, I have been teaching courses at Stanford Splash on programming and entrepreneurship. In the past, I’ve been a resident advisor for college dormitories and camps. Being in these positions, I am often asked about success and happiness in life. Warren Buffett’s perspective really resonated with me, so I wanted to share it.
What I’ve been telling my students
It’s very personal and there isn’t one correct answer, but there is an answer that is good for you. To discover it, I advise them to explore and understand their values, beliefs, morals, and aspirations to build a framework. Then use the framework to figure it out.
What Buffett says
Understand yourself. Know what you want and figure out a way to get it.
IQ doesn’t determine your success.
Behave rationally, stick to the facts, and don’t let your emotions get in the way.
Figure out the habits and behavior you admire in others and put it in practice, so it starts become a habit of your own. Do the opposite for people you don’t admire.
See the video of his talk here.
Awesome quotes
“Success is getting what you want and happiness is wanting what you get”
“What got us here is pretty simple in my case and it’s not IQ and I’m sure y’all be would be glad to hear that”
“Behaving in a rational manner and not getting in your own way. Everybody here has the ability to do what I do and much beyond. Some of you will and some of you won’t. The one’s that won’t it’s going to be because you get in your own way. It won’t be because the world doesn’t allow you to do it. It’s because you won’t allow yourself”
