Warren Buffett's Advice For Introverts

Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger speaking at the 2008 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting.

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[vcab]

Introverts can be very confident before an audience. To some it comes natural. Introverts just do not desire to do more than a couple of hours a day of human interaction.

[Nonduality]

As others have commented, being an introvert doesn't mean failure as a public speaker. Nor does being an extrovert guarantee success as a public speaker.

[JaceTan-]

Introverts might not be outspoken all the time, but what the lack on that, they replace with listening and strategic conversation 😊

[larryo]

I took a Dale Carnegie course around 1985 and found it very useful. Every class had everyone give a five minute talk. The instructor never criticized anyone but gave compliments although the people taking the class could be more critical but generally people gave helpful advice.

[lsgsh]

There’s a lot of confusion between being shy/unconfident and introverted. They are not the same.

[jatinrai]

Loved the way Charlie summarised everything

[spoddie]

He's confusing shyness/social anxiety with introversion. I over came shyness, but I'm still introverted. I can turn it on, for an hour or so, to speak or teach, but then I'm exhausted.

[danielmantell]

For me, I worked at a local Carnival one summer doing a Balloon Pop game. I had to yell to stupid stuff to strangers all day, which I was absolutely terrible at initially. After having the guy that ran the game get on my case about it over the next few days I eventually just started doing it. Essentially it's just acting, you become the character you are trying to portray and don't get so embarrassed because it's essentially the character that people are judging. It still sucks and you feel like an idiot, but you just have to accept looking like an idiot.
After a lot more pretending over the course of many years, it ended up just becoming part of who I am. Now I get in trouble for being too loud and boisterous, which is hilarious to me because when I was young I was so shy would literally cry if I had to talk to strangers. I'm still super introverted and get stressed about public speaking, but when I start doing it I'm generally fine. You just need to not take it too seriously. Decide what you want to say and just do your best.
I definitely agree public speaking is one of the most important skills. I've gotten many jobs because I'm good at speaking with people. It's also really useful in most work, as effectively communicating gets things done faster with less mistakes.
I do wish there was less stigma for introverts though. The problem is extroverts have the loudest mouths so they keep espousing their ideas about what is correct as gospel, while the introverts keep silent. A lot of commonly held ideas about social norms are just wrong, but the people they effect negatively aren't able to fight back and think they are abnormal. I've wasted a lot of my life trying to conform to others ideas of happiness, only to be become far less happy as a result. Be effective but aside from that just be comfortable.

[Bluemgwes]

The woman who asked the question did so in a very satisfying manner. Very well articulated.

[apollontheintp]

Introversion is not being shy or scared of public speaking.

[KeithFlint]

Everyone says I'm an introvert. It's not that I'm avoiding people or so. I've just figured out, that very often it makes no sense to interact with anybody. Why would I do that? I don't join complaints about wars, shortage of whatever, viruses etc. If there's a group that deliberately focuses on what's positive around us, I'm happy to join. In the meantime, I'll keep interacting just with myself and wait for others to join me 😄

[Gudrun_micheal]

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[cervelo]

Listening to Warren and Charlie - it is pleasurable and you learn a great deal.

[Greg_Chase]

I used the same technique to get over fear of public speaking. I signed up to teach a course after college. I brought the wife with me the first day for support.

On the first day we were walking from the car after parking in the school parking lot. I stopped walking. I felt the need to turn around, go back to the car and get clear of that scene.

I forced myself to keep walking.

I think the problem is this, and I discovered it after forcing myself to keep walking and not turn around to get back in the car.

"What is going to happen when I'm up there, talking?"

And here's the realization that got me through it: "Nothing physical will happen, that's for sure - I won't be at any physical risk. And *_I KNOW MORE THAN THE STUDENTS ABOUT THE SUBJECT_* or they would not have paid $350 each to attend the course (60 students).

So the fact that I could field any question that might come up in class because I knew my subject got me over the anxiety.

And I have to say, I also had to force myself, several years earlier as a teenager, to get up on stage as the guitarist in various rock bands. It was easier then because (1) I didn't have to talk, (2) the other bandmates, my friends, were right next to me, (3) I did not sing, I only played guitar, which I knew how to do quite well. When I was 8 years old, I performed piano recitals in front of large groups (100+ people). The first time I did it, after playing about 1/4 of the piece, I took my eyes off the sheet music and looked at the audience. And froze.
I forced myself and started over and played it through.

So this weird "over thinking" about the number of people who might be scrutinizing me sort of recurred more than once.

But once I began teaching, I was able to speak in public ANYWHERE. The novelty of not knowing "what will happen when I'm up there" WAS GONE. I taught for 5 years, 5 nights a week after work in the UC system in California.

You know what happens when you're in front of an audience? NOTHING. It's freaking wild to me, now, that I had that anxiety.
So if you want to acclimate yourself to speaking, (1) pick a subject you know well enough to talk about (2) teach a course or join Toastmasters
.

[amrmoneer]

Buffet was so open and vulnerable answeing this. Actually i became a fan.

[nocreativityforthename]

He literally said - just do it - what a legend

[HLB]

People equate introverts with being shy or socially anxious and it’s not the same thing.

[apple]

the thinkg holding me back in life most is being introverted. I have no problem with talking to large crowds, and amd actually very charismatic. the problem is i hate doing it regularly and ut massively depletes my personal ego stores upon doing such and i need to be alone to recharge. I used to be bad at it, then i got good at it, and now i avoid it because even if im good at it, because its so unpleasant.

[alicebenard]

I began my investment journey at the age of 38, primarily through hard work and dedication. Now at the age of 42, I am thrilled to share that my passive income exceeded $100k in a single month for the first time. This success reinforces the importance of the advice mentioned earlier. It is not about achieving quick wealth, but rather ensuring long-term financial prosperity.

[JohnMarascia]

These two guys are starting to look like the muppet characters. lol Great men.