Interesting aspects of Warren Buffett

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffett, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!

2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world’s largest private jet company.

6. His company, Bershire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEOs only two rules. Rule number 1: Do not lose any of your shareholder’s money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch television.

8. Bill Gates, the world’s richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffett. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

(Hard to believe eh? I have heard this before and I happen to see this in one of the western food menu. So I thought I can reproduce it here. Perhaps reading about Warren Buffett on the internet will provide more insight!)

PS: Upon reading some of the links, I came across this article which seemed to suggest one of the points above 'not very true' leh. Know which one?)

30 Dec 2007 (10.05pm)

End of year mood

This is usually the period of the year where one would feel really joyous and most relaxed. And this was usually the case for me. But this year, I felt somewhat different. On one hand, I am happy because of the holidays we get to enjoy. This is definitely a good break from work! But really, there is no feeling of any joyful festive mood as I used to have. Is it age or is it the reality of living has finally set in? There is also a fear of this period passing and the arrival of a whole new cycle again.

No matter what, the holidays are real and I keep reminding myself to treasure every moment and enjoy! It only comes once a year. No point worrying and wasting this precious moment!

So....YIPPIE!!!

30 Dec 2007 (10.25am)

Christmas Cakes

This fruitcake was actually a Christmas gift. First time celebrated Christmas with a fruitcake.







How does this logcake look? It tasted really yummy. It's actually a soft chocolate cake. From my usual bakery, Pine Gardens.








30 Dec 2007 (10.20am)

Prawning

Found a new place for prawning at Sin Ming Road (I think that should be the street name), opposite the Salvation Army at Bishan. We tried prawning at this new place today for the first time. Costs $15 per hour. It's opened 24 hours. Mmm...definitely will go back there again. But alas, today's achievement is miserable. Only one prawn in one hour! :)




Here it is. Was still jumping in the carrier when we took it home. Lying motionless on our washing basin. Kind of felt sorry for the prawnie. I am hopeless.








Moments later, landed on our bowl of noodle. Kind of sad. I've got a feeling of contradiction. Though I have enjoyed the prawning process but the same process has caused me some 'sympathy' for the catch. On our way back, I kept wondering how the prawnie was :( Finally, I dared not eat it! Heehee..... I felt so silly but couldn't help it! Sigh....





29 Dec 2007 (8.25pm)

Is it a blessing to be 'blessed'?

For one thing I am unhappy about, I have to be thankful to a dozen things I am 'blessed' with.

But, doesn't always sound logical leh. Does it?

25 Dec 2007 (6.50am)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

May I wish all my friends a very Merry Christmas!

24 Dec 2007 (12.50pm)

This is what I need

23 Dec 2007 (9.33am)

Light Moment

Sandra called Jason on his phone on a Sunday evening and asked, "Jason, I need a favour. I need to scan an article for my project but I do not have a scanner at home. Can you help?

Jason: Sure. I can do it from my scanner at home. But how do you want to pass that article to me?

Sandra: Oh, that's a problem. I need a article on Wednesday but I won't be meeting you till next week. Tell you what, I will try to have it scanned and email it to you. Sounds good?

Jason: ???????

23 Dec 2007 (9.30am)

What are the sums?

What does anger and guilt add up to?
Torment

What does obliging and tolerance add up to?
Torn

What does unhappy and anger add up to?
Unreasonable

What does unhappy and truthful add up to?
Unfeeling

What does 1+1 add up to?
1.7 + disincentive

What do you and I add up to?
Uncertain

21 Dec 2007 (8.20am)

My Butt-dies at work

Ok, ok, my spelling is bad. These beautiful ladies are my BUDDIES at my workplace. Another beauty is missing. The missing one is now a newborn, I mean, new mummy who is now enjoying the fruit of her LABOUR at home. We would probably be able to update the photo in about 2 months.

Our Butt...Buddy Committee holds almost daily meetings. The agenda is what time for lunch, where to lunch, what to eat, etc. These meetings can sometimes cause some hair-pulling incidences. Thank goodness, we always leave safely for lunch in one piece.

Now the introduction, from left:

1. Sugar Cane – Sweet and tall, hahaha. Really fun to be with, no doubt. Love to hear about the stories she tells, with animation. And because of her funny nature, she is always subject to ‘brutal’ teasing. I don’t think we feel apologetic about it cos we have ‘counselled’ her that we do that because we LOVE her. She, er....UNDERSTANDS. Look, we even 'sacrifice' ourselves to remove our glasses to complement her when we took this photo. Wonder why she wants to remove her specs whenever she takes photo leh. Aiyah, we should have placed our four pairs of specs together for a separate shots. Buddy masters, buddy specs. Her other buddies include the two 'living' creatures on our hands, one more is held in captivity somewhere else.

2. Eiffel Tower - Another tall one! No wonder my neck's been aching lately. A latest member to the group. Another funny gal. Now off to enjoy herself on another island. Both she and the sugar cane can keep us entertained. hahaha. By the way, she is my first Singaporean friend who does not understand Hokkien?? So funny!!! But I bo pian li leh, she really buay hiao tia and gong Hokkien!! Gi Guai hor?? Anyway, WHERE IS THE GROUP PHOTO WE TOOK AT THE HOG'S SOMETHING CAFE??

3. Forest Guuum - Cool and steady. I wish I have half of that trait. Dogs and cats lovers. One who love cats more than dogs, but actually has two dogs at home. *scratch head* A sleepyhead, just like me. hee, no wonder we click. Other than dogs and cats, our closest topic is sleep!

4. Maomie lah - Another sleepyhead. Glad to have this folks on board and to associate with. Otherwise, life can get a bit dull and intolerable. Hey, don't be mistaken. I don't have a pointed left ear hor. I was just standing in front of a hanging cushion decor!

Just wanna say, including the missing mummy, 'thank you gals for your friendship'. I hope we can upgrade this friendship to blossom even outside the workplace. Can we?

Have a MERRRRRRRY CHRISTMAS!

20 Dec 2007 (8.00am)

Who has been reading my blog?

I have started this blog for four months now.

It would be wonderful to know who has been reading my blog over the past months. If you are one of them, would you drop me a message? If you are too shy, you may also send me an email to: valtantan@hotmail.com.

Please oblige my curiosity, will you? Pleeeeeease.....

Heh heh heh...

19 Dec 2007 (9.50pm)

Housekeeping of my accounts

It’s end of year and I am trying to tidy up some account matters. Here are my compilations:

Bank Account
An account where $$ goes in and out; forever hoping and wishing (and sometimes madly praying) that the contents grow as quickly as weed grow in a field, and blooms like sakura in winter Japan. J Hard work and good sense of $$ management may help in growing this account a little bit. A little depends on luck.

Time Account
An account with an unknown value. Each person has a different value to start off. This account does not grow. You can’t make any deposit. It moves with a reduction mode. Nothing can make its value increase and nothing can be carried forward. Anything not utilized is being wasted. The interesting thing is that no one knows the value beforehand till it reaches the zero value.

Love Account
An account which gets credited or debited depending on the efforts you make and the amount of love you give to the people around you. Of course, the efforts may not grow in direct proportion to the value in this account. Sometimes may cause disappointment when the investment does not reap any growth. However, when an investment is well taken care of and not taken for granted, rest assure the value will continue to blossom.

Luck Account
An account that is circumstantial. From my knowledge, it can’t be chalked up. It may even be negative (a term often known as ‘suay’). No one knows when it will be credited or debited or by how much or by what means.

Personal Account
An account which stores personal information, depending on how much you deposit. I have this account long long time ago, but didn’t really check the balance. It has probably grown. It may come in different mode. Mine comes in a form of a fellow homosapien where I deposit occasionally with information which I cannot deposit elsewhere. It includes sensitive complains, grumbles, grouses, etc, etc, etc. Perhaps this personal account would be revealed when the time account reaches 0.

There could be more accounts which I have not accounted for! So I will continue to look out for them. I should be a very ‘rich’ lady, don’t you agree?

19 Dec 2007 (9.30pm)

So can I ask for anything at all?

I can’t ask for more because I have more than the average;
I can’t ask for less because that’s not what the normal people has;
I can’t ask for the normal because my circumstances are unusual.

19 Dec 2007 (8.15pm)

Don't start abusing the concept of 'Worklife Balance'

Why must every good intention be misused?

Have you ever come across employees being forced to take or clear leave for a specified period, and the 'good reason' is that it is an opportunity for employees to have worklife balance and spend time with their family?

If the real intention is for the staff to spend quality time with their family, isn't it supposed to be up to the staff which days or period they would like to spend, instead of forcing them to take leave, say 1 to 10 December?? It needs to be planned for! And what if staff has already made plans for 11 to 20 Dec, for example?

So please stop using such 'noble reasons'. It really irks me!

16 Dec 2007 (8.10pm)

Taxi fares going up again!

Ouch!

I thought we just had a hike not too long ago? Or have I lost track of time? In the past, I used to disregard such news. But nowadays, I get very 'pissed off'. Perhaps age plays a big part. :)

When you get older and have been hearing such things so very often, it's no wonder. Isn't it? Every now and then, you hear this price going up, that price going up, etc , etc. Why are we so efficient whenever price hikes are concerned? They make some people happy and a lot more unhappy.

I am put off by the reality of the business concepts where people seem to define profit and loss in a way lay people really cannot understand.

Organisations want to earn money and it is natural that they want their earnings and profits to rise and rise and rise (just like parents want their kids to score higher and higher each time). It seems most are not willing to accept a lower profit, and I mean lower profit, not a loss (I know, I am crazy for even commenting about this). Yes, yes, they are responsible for shareholders, stakeholders, etc, etc, etc, otherwise the investment will flop......

I am not referring to cases where organisations make a loss which cannot cover their costs. That's what I call a LOSS! But for some, even a lower profit seems to be a loss for them. Is that a real loss? So when organisations see a lower profit, red lights flashed! Then what? Cost reduction or price increase.

So when time gets tough, the consumers get the punch! At a time when prices of all sorts (including petrol) rises, the only solution is to increase price.

But I wonder, in the case of taxis, do the cab drivers ever get their rental reduced in good times? I really don't know. But one cabby shared with me, that when they requested their organisation to reduce their rentals, the answer they got was that if the rental was cut by $1 per cabby, it would reduce their earnings by 'dunno how many of thousands'. How disappointing, the answer.

Sigh, so much for sharing woes.

I am going to be 'pissed off' whatever the reasons are given for the taxi hike. I hope I can refrain from taking taxis unnecessary because it is really sickening just by thinking about it! The meter is going to tick faster! Even taking the cab now is like playing stocks and consulting a lawyer combined! The similarity is that every minute counts! The difference of course is....the rate lah!

Having commented on the above, I am sure there are organisations that are more 'humane'. And I really hope such 'humane' organisations continue to survive well and be well publicised to prove that doing businesses don't mean just take, take and take everytime!

For those that only think about the 'BIG PICTURE' of their balance sheet, please also try to reflect that survival of the fittest doesn't only mean you win in terms of the tangibles things you have achieved and the most intelligent reasons or excuses you give. Sometimes winning the debate doesn't put you on top, it makes you more sickening.

The true winners win the tangibles and the goodwill that comes along with the moral values (or whatever good you do).

Haha, no wonder I am not in the business world, otherwise I would be a laughing stock for being so naive! Well, I am just a citizen.

16 Dec 2007 (3.10pm)

Worries, worries everywhere

I worry about a lot of things under the sun.

At work, I worry about things I have no answer to and do not know which ‘wise man’ to approach. To add on to the frustrations, questions get piled up much much quicker than answers get uncovered. Where are all the ‘wise men’ when I need them to be around. Questions drop from the sky, answers get locked up in safe!

I worry about things not being completed on time. I worry about delaying people. I worry about the equally important and urgent things that fall on my lap. I feel like a debtor getting numerous reminders from my banker to repay my debt or face bankruptcy! If everything is urgent, then it may be better off for me to kill myself and be incarnated as a ‘thousand hands’ creature.

I worry about not catching bosses on time or catching them at the wrong time! This potentially affects my other worries above.

What I wonder about is this – the few companies that I have worked for are not new organizations. They are established organizations. But why is it that things are still not in place? What happened to the past 10 years, 20 years, 50 years, 100 years? Do the same problems surface over and over again? If so, why?

What is the concept of work? Did or does god meant work to be this way? No one knows. What I do know is that this has to do with the composition of human characteristics and personalities at work! Workplace is probably a good place to study the ‘outcome’ of different personalities put together. It’s a web, it’s a cycle, it’s very complicated.

I once met a boss to consult him on some matters and shared with him my worries. He said: “Why worry about Step 6 and 7 when we are at Step 1 and 2?” Ok, point taken. Second time, about another matter, he commented: “We worry about this and worry about that, but the problem is still here. So, how do we resolve this?” Ok, another point taken.

Outside work, I worry about the health of my loved ones, I worry that I do not have enough time for myself. I worry about being tired all the time (actually more frustrating than worry). I worry about not having enough time for socializing. I worry about losing all my friends. I worry about being insensitive to others’ feelings. I worry about being viewed as not a good individual. I worry about expressing my true feelings for fear of consequences I do not want to face or need not face, otherwise. I worry about the suppression which will make me a potential cancer, cardio and/or mental patient!

How will I ever get rid of worrying unnecessarily?

I want to be a ‘warrior’, not ‘worrier’!

11 Dec 2007 (8.45pm)

Quote of the Day

I thought this is a nice quotation:

"I suppose I have a really loose interpretation of 'work', because I think that just being alive is so much work at something you don't always want to do."
Andy Warhol Quotes - American Artists

8 Dec 2007 (11.10am)

2nd Wedding Anniversary

Come 10 Dec (1012), I will be celebrating my second wedding anniversary (customary). How time passes us by. It seems just like a recent event.

We have our ups and downs in the two years, we are still trying to adjust to our different lifestyles (even till now), we argue, we joke, we have fun....That's our marriage. We are still talking about how unbelievable both of us found each other, our circumstances seem....just unbelievable. That's fate, I think.

Wish me and hubby many more good years to come by….:)

PS: Had wanted to add a pic, but as usual, it takes donkey hours! Sigh, another time, perhaps.

8 Dec 2007 (9.50am)