Imagine you had $1,000 to invest in someone's future potential. But there's a catch—it has to be someone you know personally, someone you trust, someone you believe in, someone you would rely on. How would you make that decision?
Conor Neill issued this provocative challenge to a TED audience. It's a question that forces you to define what makes someone a wise "investment." What specific criteria would you use to choose the person most worthy of your investment? The usual criteria like skills, qualifications, and past achievements only skim the surface.
When legendary investor Warren Buffett evaluated people, he went deeper - prioritizing Integrity, energy, and intelligence above all else.
Take a moment to clearly define your own criteria. What core values, habits, skills, knowledge, and deep motivations would you prioritize? Who in your life would be worthy of that investment?
More importantly, would you bet on yourself?
These are not easy questions to answer. But if you apply Buffett's three-filter test rigorously to your own life, how do you measure up? Are you truly nurturing personal integrity through your actions and choices? Do you bring infectious energy and vitality to pursuing your goals and dreams? Are you continuously stretching your intellectual limits and hunger for learning?
Our life journey is shaped by a series of choices and actions, some easier than others. But these choices compound over time and ultimately define our future potential. We often underestimate what we can achieve in a year, but overestimate what we can achieve in a single day.
In the story of your life, the most important book is the one you write.
The path to becoming exceptional begins when you take full responsibility for your actions, no matter the situation or circumstances.