TJ Gong

Walking With Him Until I Am Not

Doing What You Feel Good

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for. Perfection is God’s business. (Warren Buffet)

Warren Buffet, who is among the richest persons (Mukesh Ambani, Calos Slim Helu, and Bill Gates) and has donated $31 billion to charity, shared some interesting aspects of his life and advice for young people during an interview on CNBC:

He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.
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.
He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world’s largest private jet company.
His company, Berkshire 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 CEO’s only two rules. Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder’s money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.
Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

His advice to young people:

Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself.
Money doesn’t create man; it is the man who created money.
Live your life as simple as you are.
Don’t do what others say, just listen to them, but do what you feel good.
Don’t go for brand name; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.
Don’t waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on those who really are in need.
After all it’s your life so why give chance to others to rule your life.

In Warren’s one of the suggestions to young generations, “…but do what you feel good,” they are advised to follow their own instincts or perhaps listen to their inner voice. Do you think this is good advice? Why or why not? Express your own point of view by giving reasons and or/examples from your own experiences, observations or reading.

10 responses to “Doing What You Feel Good”

yuki otani

May 19, 2008 at 9:35 pm

I think Warren is the real wealthy person. I am surprised and impressed with his extraordinary idea and lifestyle as a one of the world richest people. Though he spends life as if he was an ordinary man, his consept of property is extraordinary in general. Because it is quite hard to believe there is still such a genelous rich man. Although he is a little bit different to the so-called the wealthy, I entirely agree with his suggestions to young people. First of all, I love his amiable character; the contents from the above short interview reveals it clearly. In the second place, I do not have any irritation feeling when I read his advices. In addition, I think these suggestions are all reasonable. Even if I were as rich as he is today I would have no confidence to behave as he does. Certainly it is not easy. Therefore I think he is a suitable person to be called a wealthy man in both finance and morals.

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Jessica

May 20, 2008 at 7:51 am

Doing what you feel good is a good advice for me. Each advice does not fit to myself, and everyone who said it’s good for me is not really good. I have my own opinion to decide what is important and what is unnecessary in everything. For example, I can choose that I don’t want to do hardworking in this class if this course is not essential for me in future or is not my interst. And I can save these time to do some things meaningful for me. Besides, I consider that those who do what they feel good have strong mind and often succeed in the end. Many celebrities did not follow the normal way to do step by step though they could have a lot diificult accomplishing their dream. Of course, doing what you feel good does not cause others confusion or make trouble for others. Many people do what they feel good; however, they cause a lot persecution to other people. It is very unmoral! Consequently, doing what you feel good is a good advice as long as not making troubles for others.

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Eric

May 21, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Doing what I feel good is really awesome! There would be so many people who will ask you to do something. I think what they say could be advice but not what I have to do. Happiness is doing what I feel good. The right decisions are doing things which make you really feel good. For example, to share my seat on the bus or to help old people, etc. Those things can’t let me earn money, but doing something good will make me feel good. The life is my own not others, so doing what I feel good can let me have a real life. After that, I can live happily forever and ever!

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Maggie

May 21, 2008 at 10:16 pm

Of course! I agree for the suggestion “doing what you feel good.” In my opinion, my life decision is on myself not on anyone. So I should follow my inner voice and do things I feel good. For example, I can choose whether I can keep classes or not. Or wasting my money on the thing I think is right. Second, other’s advices may not suit for me. For instance, during my high school’s life, my friend tells me that midnight is the best time to study. However it is not fit for me, because of my study time is in morning, not in midnight. Third, I believe that my life is live for myself not for anyone. For this reason, I ought to do what I feel good. Because I have the decision to my life.

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Hannah

May 22, 2008 at 12:49 am

I often do what I feel good. In fact, I don’t like to ask others what I can do because I think the advices to me are almost useless. I consider that I know what I want very much, not others. For instance, if I heve a problem I can’ t solve, I still finish it by myself. I will use my way to do my best. For another example, If I have confusion about emotion, I have never ask anyone because I think their advices are subjective. They can’t help me about something. I still know what good for me. I always consider that I know exactly than any others, though friends may can give suggestions, I just can do what I feel good by my own ways.

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Eileen

May 26, 2008 at 9:01 pm

I agree to do what we feel good and listen to our inner voice. First of all, they are our lives so we have to make a decision by ourselves and take responsibility. Next, we will not regret what we do even though there are some mistakes. Then, it is also a training for us to grow up and judge things without others’ advices even if maybe there are some difficulties in the processes. Finally, others’ advices do not fit us well. For example, before a math exam , some people have to work hard to do the exercises and they can have chances to do a good job; however, even though some people who are good at that do not study hard, they still can get good grades. Therefore, I always feel everyone has different situations and conditions so we should not think everything as the same. Just do what we feel good like Warren said.

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Joy (A9627098)

May 27, 2008 at 4:31 pm

Warren seems is a talent person. He says that do what you feel good, it really a good idea to me. When I was going to graduate from high school, I expect that I could do everything I want. Although because of reasons including economy and my age is not legal age that why I can’t do everything I want, but if I have ability to live by myself, I must do what Warren said. Do what I feel good.

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Peggie

June 18, 2008 at 7:19 pm

I agree with Warren Buffet’s advice to young people. Especially, don’t do what other’s say, just listen to them, but do what you feel good. After all it’s your life so why give chance to other’s to rule your life. Actually, I was a me-too person before, because I was always care about what I am doing right or wrong. So, I often listen to people’s advice no matter what I feel good or not. Sometimes, I was angry of myself and I couldn’t stand up with my personality. So, I decided to change myself and be a strong-minded person, because this is my life, nobody can control me. I just need to know right from wrong. By doing so, I will feel happy and free forever and without regret. In the end, after reading this great person Warren Buffet’s advice, I strongly agree with him.

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Mark

June 19, 2008 at 10:14 am

Doing what you feel good is a good advice for me.I think sometime I will think a lot someone may say this is care but I think this is not care to me it’s hesitate.Sometimes I will hate this several time because of this I have late for many thing for instance school, every time when I am ready to go out but I will think what to take what to wear atc. so I think someday I can change this and remember just do it.

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Bonnie

June 19, 2008 at 10:27 am

In my point of view “…do what you feel good” is a really good idea to most of people. Only follow your instincts that you would know what you really want. For a instance, there are so many psychometries that base on this order as long as tester follow their instincts the result will be more accurate. Another reason is that people can focus on the thing they love much more and much longer. It helps people more persistent on it. If you persist in your efforts, you’ll succeed in the end. Just like our father Sun Yat-sen who succeed in the end as long as he persists in his efforts on the revolutions. More important, doing what you feel good often gives you more courage to overcome any difficulties. For example, a kid can play a video game over and over till he finally pass the level no matter how many times he fail. You can tell how much more it affect our attitude to deal with frustrations. In conclusion, to do what you fell good, so, then you will love what you do. It is really a good advice to everyone.

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