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Rich's Blog: Redeeming Hope
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31 billion reminders
I don’t know Warren Buffett, but his words
and actions this week are worth remembering,
and not merely because of his $31 billion gift
to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
It’s true that $31 billion is a lot of
money, no matter how you cut it. And what’s
more Buffett didn’t give the money to a
foundation that bares his name (he did make
much smaller gifts to various family
foundations). His sheer generosity is
breathtaking.
But I am also struck by Buffett’s comments
in news accounts. Here are just some of his
quotes from a Washington
Post story on Tuesday:
- On a sense of
obligation: “We (those who have made money)
really owe it to society to give back.”
- On turning to someone else to manage his
funds: “If you’re accumulating wealth,
it’s very natural to go to someone you know
can handle it better than you can.”
- On other wealthy people following in his
footsteps: “I would hope they act now” and
that they “might pick up on this
model.”
For me, Buffett is doing the
exact opposite of what has become the
prevailing norm in society. We’ve become
accustomed to people stepping up to the podium,
making loud pronouncements and promises, and
beating their breasts publicly. Ultimately, and
unfortunately, their actions fall significantly
short of their rhetoric.
But Buffett has seemingly stepped forward with
a clear and unmistakable action; even more, his
tone reflects a deep respect for his endeavor
and his words connote a sense of humility and
obligation.
I’ve been writing a lot recently about
leaders – or, better put, about all kinds of
individuals who are demonstrating leadership.
My own sense is that there is a promising, if
nascent, trend in society of more and more
individuals who are exhibiting a different kind
of leadership in public life and politics. They
are tired of the finger pointing and needless
acrimony and people’s exaggerated sense of
self-worth.
For instance, I remember writing awhile ago
about Ms. Trina, who showed a brave and humble
kind of leadership in her own Atlanta
neighborhood, which had fallen on hard times. I
also remember that I met her at the local
Salvation Army campus, where the motto, “Do
the Most Good” could be seen displayed on
walls.
For most of us, doing the most good will never
entail giving large gifts of money. But for
each of us, our words and actions can be rooted
in sensibilities that reflect both a greater
sense of authenticity in what we say and do and
a higher degree of accountability in how we go
about our business.
This will require a toughness and clear sense
of purpose; there’s no easy path. Moreover,
it will require clarity about our own
self-worth. In Buffett’s case, it was not
merely his $31 billion (thought that’s a lot
of money!) but why and how he acted which must
be remembered.
Warren Buffett is today’s example; tomorrow
someone else will step forward.
