We all want to be rich, but what does that really mean? Is it just about money, or is “rich” a proxy for something deeper? Success, fulfillment, and living a life that truly matters?
I recently heard a story that perfectly illustrates what it takes to be rich—not just financially, but in every area of life. And whether or not the story is completely true doesn’t matter because the lesson it teaches will guide your path forward.
The Warren Buffett Success Formula
The story goes that Warren Buffett once had a conversation with his pilot. His pilot asked him, “Warren, will you teach me how to be rich? Will you teach me how to be successful like you?”
Buffett agreed and gave him a simple exercise:
- Write down the 50 things you want to accomplish in life.
- Narrow that list down to the 25 most important things.
- Cut it again—only 10 can stay.
- And finally, narrow it down to just five.
At this point, the pilot hesitated. “Wait… we started with 50, and now I can only focus on five?” Buffett’s response? If you’re chasing more than five things at once, you’re chasing too many.
This is the secret. Not just to wealth, but to success in anything. Diluted focus gets diluted results.
The Power of Focus in Business and Life
At Brand Builders Group, we talk about this all the time: Your success is determined by where you invest your time. If your attention is spread thin across 50 different priorities, you’ll never truly master any of them.
Where do you have the most expertise? The best relationships? The biggest impact? It’s always in the areas where you spend the most time.
If you want to be rich (rich in money, rich in relationships, rich in fulfillment) then you have to decide: What are the few things that deserve your absolute best?
The Cost of Trying to Do It All
I see this in my own life all the time. Some days, I find myself juggling 10, 12, even 15 different tasks. And how do those days end? With me exhausted, overwhelmed, and running on fumes.
By the time I get home, I have nothing left to give my family. My husband and kids deserve my best, but when I spread myself too thin, they get the leftovers. And it’s not because I don’t love them, it’s because I didn’t prioritize.
I’m constantly reminding myself: More doesn’t mean better. Doing everything doesn’t mean success.
Choose Your Top Priorities—And Stick to Them
So here’s the challenge: What are your top five priorities?
Or better yet, what are your top three?
If you can define those clearly and dedicate your time, energy, and passion to them, everything will change. You’ll go deeper instead of wider. You’ll build true expertise. You’ll have stronger relationships. You’ll actually enjoy what you’re doing instead of feeling like you’re barely keeping up.
That’s how you become successful. That’s how you become rich.
If you’re ready to get clear on your priorities and build a brand that aligns with your goals, let’s talk. Schedule a Free Brand Call with Brand Builders Group and we can help you figure out what your top five should be. The sooner you focus, the sooner you’ll win.
