that's what you call a super cbi !

2008- Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders meeting at Omaha

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From: Smitha K Pillai
Date: Fri, Nov 7, 2008 at 4:06 PM

Recd from a friend.  I found it as one of the best reading. I am 100% sure you will learn a lot by reading it, even for those who may not be investors.
 

I had the good fortune to attend the 2008- Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders meeting at Omaha, Nebraska a few weeks back. It was a wonderful experience listening to and learning from the Master Investor- Warren Buffett himself and all I can say is that he stands alone as the reigning deity of financial world's Mt Olympus! The degree of humility and composure he exhibited, although he is the richest and most well respected human is stunning! I tried to take some notes and would like to share with you some of the best questions and answers which came across during the conversation between we mortals and God. Having read about him, observed him and worshipped him for a few years now, I think it is reasonable to believe that this guy is exactly what he seems: a plain-speaking, tee totaling man of uncrackable integrity who works really, really hard and sticks to his investing and management principles through boom and bust which makes him a freak of nature since he is above normal human tendencies. He is like a comet streaking through the heavens every 75 years or so. The questions the shareholders threw at him for 7 continuous hours ranged from finances, life, religion, career, politics, sports and several other streams. And he answered everything with a Zen like calm and confidence. Even if you are least bothered about investments and finances, I insist, Pl read on. ================ What does it take to become a successful investor? Brilliance or Smartness? Neither, Success in investing doesn't correlate with I.Q. Once you have ordinary intelligence, what you need is the temperament to control the urges that gets other people into trouble in investing. When do you deicide to invest in a firm? The best thing that happens to us is when a great company gets into temporary trouble. We want to buy them when they're on the operating table. (Mr. Buffett bought Coke when it had its biggest fiasco after launching New Coke; he bought American Express when it went through a loss making phase in the early 60's) What do you look for in people when they come to sell their firms to you? I don't look for the usual credentials such as an MBA, a pedigree (Harvard, Wharton), or cash reserves or market cap of their firm. What I look for is just a passion in their eyes; I think that's the key. A person who is hungry will always do well. I prefer it when people even after selling stay on and work for the firm; they are people who can't wait to get off their bed to get to work. Passion is everything; there is no replacement for innate interest. Mr. Buffett, you told us that Berkshire Hathaway has $ 45 Billion in cash. Why aren't you investing? Up until a few years back I had more ideas than money. Now I have more money than ideas. When do you plan to retire? I love my job; I love it so much that I tap dance to work. Mrs. B, the founder of Nebraska Furniture Mark worked until she was 104, she died within 6 months of her retirement, that's a lesson to all my managers, don't retire! I personally am going to work 6-7 years after I die, probably that's what they mean when they say- "Thinking out of the Box"!! Why do stock market crashes happen? Because of human nature for greed and insecurity. The 1970s were unbelievable. The world wasn't going to end, but businesses were being given away. Human nature has not changed. People will always behave in a manic-depressive way over time. They will offer great values to you." What are the things that are taught wrong in Business school and the corporate world? I like such open ended questions, I think Business schools should refrain from teaching their wards about profit making and profit making alone, it gives a sense of 1 dimensional outlook to the young students that loss is a curse. In reality, in the corporate world, failure and loss making are inevitable. The capital market without loss is like Christianity without hell. I think they should teach the student on how to buy a business, how to value a business? Not just on how to determine the price of a business. Because price is what you pay, value is what you get. Do you still hate Technology stocks? With Coke I can come up with a very rational figure for the cash it will generate in the future. But with the top 10 Internet companies, how much cash will they produce over the next 25 years? If you say you don't know, then you don't know what it is worth and you are speculating, not investing. All I know is that I don't know, and if I don't know, I don't invest." How to think about Investing? The first investment primer was written by Aesop in 600 B.C. He said, 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' Aesop forgot to say when you get the two in the bush and what interest rates are; investing is simply figuring out your cash outlay (the bird in the hand) and comparing it to how many birds are in the bush and when you get them." How do you feel after donating $ 40 Billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation? You are a hero to us! I feel nothing. I haven't sacrificed anything in life. I have had a good life. I donated after I turned 75. I think I admire those people who sacrifice their time, share their food and home, as the people to be emulated not me. Besides, what is money before a man's life? What do you think are the pitfalls in donation? I have never donated a dime to churches or other such organizations; I need to believe in something before I end up doing that. I have been observing the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation for years now and I am confident they will do a fantastic job of making use of the money. I am a big believer in Outsourcing, others believed in me as an Investor and gave their hard earned money to invest. I believe in Bill Gates, he is a better donor than me. Why do you work from Omaha and not Wall Street, New York? Wall Street is the only place where people alight from Rolls Royce to get advised by people who use the Public transportation system. You seem to be so well read, tell us how it all started. My father was a stock broker, so we had all these financial books in our library. He introduced me to those classics and I got into them. I am lucky that my father was not a fan of Playboy! Reading is the best habit you can get. Well, you can learn from teachers too, and have mentors but there are so many constraints attached- they will talk fast, talk slow, they might talk like a pro or they might be terrible communicators. Books are a different animal altogether, I love reading! The beauty about reading and learning is that the more you learn the more you want to learn. People who join Berkshire Hathaway seldom leave. How do you get along well with all your executives? I try to get quality people. I always say - Hire someone in your organization who is better than you are. If you do that, you build a company of giants. If you get people worse than yourself, you build a company of dwarfs. And do not try to do everything yourself. Delegate the jobs and look out of the window. The results will come. That's how you build institutions. It happens only when you empower others, believe in others. Iam an investor, Iam very secured at that, I have no clue how to make Coca-Cola or how to dole out credit cards (Mr. Buffett owns 8% of Coca-Cola and 13 % of American Express). I understand the wisdom of the aphorism that you cannot please all the people all the time. Of Course, you will always find qualities that you don't like in people around you, but if you observe carefully the love of the work unites you both. There is no point in being obsessive about a bad quality in a person, whom you otherwise respect. I am a small time businessman from Dallas, Texas, what do I need to do to hit big time? Be patient, Achieving your financial goals and dreams will not happen overnight. As much as we would all really love to accomplish our goals in a few years, this is an ongoing process. Defining your financial goals is not a one-time task; you need to keep adding new plans at different stages in your life. We all admire the skills of Olympic ice skaters, pro golfers, and concert pianists. But do we remember that they didn't acquire their skills overnight? They had to practice hours on end for years to achieve their dreams. The key to success is to continue learning throughout your life with a voracious appetite. I think it is marvelous that you have had a golden run with investing, how did you do that? My rule is to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. Besides, I call investing the greatest job in the world because you never have to swing. You stand at the plate; the pitcher throws you General Motors at 47! U.S. Steel at 39! And nobody calls a strike on you. There's no penalty except opportunity lost. All day you wait for the pitch you like; then when the fielders are asleep, you step up and hit it. Stay dispassionate and be patient. You're dealing with a lot of silly people in the marketplace; it's like a great big casino and everyone else is boozing. If you can stick with drinking Coke, you should be OK. First the crowd is boozy on optimism and buying every new issue in sight. The next moment it is boozy on pessimism, buying gold bars and predicting another Great Depression, most people get interested in stocks when everyone else is. The time to get interested is when no one else is. You can't buy what is popular and do well. Mr. Buffett you have seen so many crashes and recessions, your take on facing recessions and stock market crashes? If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians. Every scenario is different. But always remember, Tough times do not last. Tough people do. What is the 1 biggest advice you would impart to a young investor like me? Think for a moment that you are given a car and told this is the only car you would get for the rest of your life. Then you would make sure that you car is taken care of well, it is oiled and detailed every now and then. You would make sure that it never gets rusted, and you would garage it. Think of yourself as that car. You just get 1 body, 1 mind and 1 soul. Take care of it well. Invest in yourself that would be my advice. You personally know many of the Financial executives who are engineers of the current turmoil in the financial world, surprisingly even after record losses, those executives receive astronomical salaries and bonuses and arrogantly declare that they deserve it, why dint you advice them from making such decisions and what's your view on their justification for their pay? I like sharing my ideas but don't like imposing my ideas on anybody. It doesn't make sense and is a waste of time. If somebody has decided that they know everything that is there to know, nobody can help them. The best way to learn and succeed is to know that we know nothing. There is an entire universe out there and still some of us think we can know everything. In the world of investing a few people after making some money tend to imagine they are invincible and great. This is the worst thing that could happen to any investor, because it surely means that the investor will end up taking unnecessary risks and end up losing everything – arrogance, ego and overconfidence are very lethal. Personally I don't feel too comfortable with too much extravagance, because I always think like an investor. My thought process doesn't see a lot of value in a fancy car or a designer suit. Thinking like an investor always is very important to bring in a sense of discipline and focus. Before reading balance sheets and investing you need to make sure your outlook and mindset is that of an investor. Never let ego, arrogance and over-confidence control you - not just as an investor but also as a human being. You will never have internal peace if you are unable to look at everybody around you with love, compassion and understanding. Irrespective of who the person is, he or she can teach you something you don't know. I have learnt so much from people all around me and I wouldn't have been able to learn all these wonderful things if I had not spoken to them with a smile. To quote Sir Isaac Newton- If I have seen farther than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants. It was a 7 hour conversation and I could just capture some of the best questions and answers. As 37,000+ dazed, amazed and grateful shareholders trooped out of the stadium after the meeting, I found myself recalling one of my favorite quotes- "A man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the wills of others, but that he can mold and master his own will: and things serve him who serves truth; people seek guidance of him who is master of himself".

 

try this out

www.evernote.com

Y VOTE 4 OBAMA & BIDEN 4 PRESIDENT!!!!

Y VOTE 4 OBAMA & BIDEN 4 PRESIDENT!!!!

* Senator BARACK OBAMA & BIDEN WANT TO BRING BACK OUR NATION, U.S.A. FROM ECONOMIC COLLAPSE HAPPENED UNDER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, GEORGE BUSH & MAKE AGAIN THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLD, REGAINING OUR LOST TRUST AMONG THE WORLD NATIONS -- SO VOTE FOR ***OBAMA & BIDEN*** TICKET FOR PRESIDENT  --  AVOID ANOTHER ECONOMIC DISASTER & MISUSE OF THE AMERICAN FAMILIES' PRECIOUS TAX DOLLARS which is to be used for their critical needs & retirements.

        * During the first Obama & McCain debate, Sen. Obama told he will never increase even one Dollar tax for those who make $250,000.00 or less annually.  That category is about 95% of the Americans. But the McCain polical advertisement says a lie that Obama will increase taxes of even those who make $42,000.00 - This is a bigggggggg lie.

        * Watch the debate -- on the contrary,  During the first Obama & McCain debate, Sen. Obama told he will never increase even one Dollar tax for those who make $250,000.00 or less annually.

        * Let President Obama make our country the strongest and most respectful again in the World &  bring our nation to economic surplus from huge deficits made by Republican president George Bush.  Let Obama repeat the history of President Clinton who made our nation, U.S.A. surplus from huge deficits made by Senor President Bush.

        * SO VOTE FOR ***OBAMA & BIDEN*** TICKET FOR PRESIDENT  WHO WANT TO BRING BACK OUR NATION, U.S.A. FROM ECONOMIC COLLAPSE HAPPENED UNDER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, GEORGE BUSH & TO MAKE AGAIN THE STRONGEST IN THE WORLD, REGAINING OUR LOST TRUST AMONG THE WORLD NATIONS.


    ===============================

        * We, the American people don't want John McCain & Sarah Palin make a "3rd term failed & disastrous Bush Government"!

    ABOUT MS. SARAH PALIN, (the Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate)

        * WE, AMERICAN PEOPLE WONDER HOW CAN A PERSON WHO CAN NOT LEAD OWN CHILD IN RIGHTEOUS & MORAL WAYS CAN LEAD OUR COUNTRY AND US, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT WAYS.  THE REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE, MS. SARAH PALIN'S 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT WITHOUT GETTING MARRIED.  MS. SARAH PALIN FAILED HER MORAL AND PARENTAL  RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS HER DAUGHTER AND GOD AND MANY OTHERS.  IN THE BIBLE, 1 THIMOTHY 3:5 SAYS: "IF A PERSON DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO RULE OWN HOUSE, HOW CAN THAT PERSON TAKE CARE OF OTHERS"

        * Ms. Sarah Palin should teach her daughter that Fornication and/or Adultery is a sin.  Doing sex under age 18 is a crime under United States Law before becoming the Vice President of our great, gracious, religious, Christian nation i.e. United States of America .

        * How can anyone who failed the above serious responsibility, can be responsible & qualified to be a Vice President.  When President Clinton had an improper relationship, the REPUBLICANS made him undergo wasting  toooooooooooo much American people's tax money and time.....I hope we all remember that.  He was tried to be impeached just for improper relationship - not for fornication or adultery.

        * Hey America wake up and get real.


    About Mr. John McCain (the Republican Presidential Candidate)

        * John McCain is a great war hero of unnecessary & failed Vietnam War.  So he deserve a monument in Washington as a war hero, but he can not make himself a good president with wisdom & proper judgments.  Because he has no qualifications to become the American president.  He will draw our country to unnecessary war/wars with other country/countries as President, Bush did.  See what happened in the case of Iraq war.  Mr. McCain voted for the Iraq war, when Obama (the Democratic Presidential Candidate) voted against the Iraq war.

        * Now almost numerous Millions (1,000,000s) of the American people think that Iraq war was a big mistake. 

        * There was no weapons of mass distruction as President, Bush claimed.

        * Saddam Hussein, the Iraq president was hanged to death for killing 65 Iraqi people.

        * As a result of this unnecessary IRAQ war:

        * (1)  To conduct this war, Our President Bush had to sacrifice more than 4000 American sons & daughters and/or husbands & wives and/or fathers & mothers and/or brothers & sisters.who were in our most beloved troops.
        * (2)  To conduct this war, numerous 100,000s of Americans & Iraqis got injured and/lost their beloved lives.
        * (3)  Numerous 100,000s of Iraqi people became injured, homeless and refugees in other countries as they became homeless, without clothes & food.
        * (4)  Numerous Billions (numerous thousands of Millions) of American Tax money was wasted for the above Iraq war leaving numerous old American people leaving hungry & without enough to live on.
        * (5)  There was not at all or very small number of Al Quida in Iraq before the war.  Now Iraq became the training grounds for Al Quida.

        * At the Republican convention, Mr. Juliani, former New York Mayor told Mr. OBAMA to ask advice from Mr. McCain about foreign policy.  Our President, Bush asked the advice to MR. McCAIN about Iraq war.  Mr. McCain authorized President Bush to go forward with Iraq war, causing the above sad results.  At the same time Mr. Obama advised President Bush not to go for the Iraq war.

        * PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL USE WISDOM & RIGHT DECISIONS ALWAYS, WHEN OUR COUNTRY & WE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED THEM.

        * So we will & must vote for Mr. OBAMA & BIDEN AS PRESIDENT & V. P.

========================= 
STOP THE REPUBLICAN ***LIBERAL DEREGULATORS***AND SAVE OUR ECONOMY,  BANKS,  WALL STREET, AMERICAN PEOPLE'S (OUR) PRECIOUS TAX DOLLARS,   AMERICAN SONS & DAUGHTER FROM UNNECESSARY WARS

* PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL USE WISDOM & RIGHT DECISIONS ALWAYS, WHEN OUR COUNTRY & WE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED THEM.

        * SO WE WILL & MUST VOTE FOR MR. OBAMA & BIDEN AS PRESIDENT & V. P.