The Most Valuable Certificate in Warren Buffett's Office

The most valuable certificate in Warren Buffett's office isn't about investing, finance, or business.

It's a Public Speaking Certificate.

Did You Know?

The certificate proudly displayed in Warren Buffett's office is NOT:

• An investment seminar that taught him investing.
• A business course that expanded his business knowledge.
• A financial management course that taught him how to manage billions.

Warren Buffett calls it "the most valuable certificate I have."

For a man worth more than $87 billion, that's an extraordinary statement.

According to Buffett, public speaking gave him something much more valuable than financial knowledge. It taught him the art of Persuasion.

Persuasion is the Ultimate Life Skill

My dear friends, Make Persuasion your most valuable professional skill. In today's world, ideas are everywhere. Execution creates results. But persuasion makes execution happen.

Behavior can be forced. But minds can only be changed through persuasion.

Persuasion Exists Everywhere

• A manager persuades people to take action.
• A leader persuades people to pursue bold dreams.
• A parent persuades children to balance studies, family, friendship and fun.
• A teacher persuades students to believe in themselves.

The Difference Between Good and Great

Imagine two software developers.

• One has excellent coding skills.
• The other has coding skills plus the ability to communicate confidently with clients and persuade them to trust the organization with larger projects.

Technical expertise creates opportunities. Communication and persuasion often help professionals grow into larger roles and responsibilities.

Look Around You...

• People who get promoted faster.
• Entrepreneurs who raise investments.
• Business leaders who close major deals.
• Sales professionals who consistently exceed targets.
• Professionals whose careers continue to grow.

One quality is often common among them:

May this skill become your greatest competitive advantage.