華倫．巴菲特
當代最有影響力的英雄人物
"時代"(Time)雜誌2007年5月14日版報導了當代最具有影響力的100人，其中共分領導、英雄、政治家、藝術家、建功者等五類。
華倫．巴菲特（Warren Buffet）即名列19位"英雄"人物之一。
很多人都知道巴菲特是投資專家，眼光精準、長遠，他的價值觀更令人津津樂道。但蓋茲夫人撰寫的這篇介紹文卻讓我們了解到華倫．巴菲特熱衷學習的一面。
去年華倫．巴菲特令人震驚的將310億美元捐給了比爾與梅琳達基金會。他的慷慨不僅會影響到世界各地的人，他的範例也將成為大家多年談論的話題。
但是我所認識的巴菲特卻不只是一位了不起的慈善家或企業家而已。他還是一位驚人的教師。多年來巴菲特曾向數以千計的大學生演講 --- 通常都是非正式的場合，讓他的幽默感與高道德觀得以充分發揮。華倫．巴菲特熱愛這種形式的溝通。我想他與學生交換想法時，遠比他與華爾街經理人會談的時候更有樂趣。
自1991年我與華倫．巴菲特見面後，他就一直是我的良師。我們都是華盛頓郵報（Washington Post）的董事，每次開會的時候，他的那種分析問題，並且立即找到解決辦法的能力常令我五體投地。與他在一起一天，比在商學院上一學期的課還要有用。
卓越的教師通常也是卓越的學習者。華倫．巴菲特也不例外。例如，雖然他是一位有名的演講家，但也不是一蹴而躋。華倫有一次跟我說他以前非常恐懼在大家面前說話。他的[卡內基訓練]的畢業證書迄今還掛在他於奧瑪哈．內布達斯加的辦公室牆上。
這就是真實的華倫．巴菲特。他從來不怕承認自己不會的事情，而且他熱愛學習。華倫現今已76歲了。他為這一代的學生樹立了榜樣。這些學生從內布拉斯加的企業領導人到西雅圖的幾位慈善家都有。我們以他為榮。
Warren Buffett.
A plainspoken business wizard makes philanthropic history
BY MELINDA GATES
Last year Warren Buffett stunned us all with his incredible gift of $31 billion to the Bill & Melinda Foundation.
His generosity will make a huge difference in the lives of people around the world, and his example will be talked about for decades.
But the Warren I know is not just a great philanthropist or businessman. He's also a fantastic teacher. Over the years, Warren has talked to thousandsof college students----usually in informal sessions in which his sense of humor and high ethical standards shine through. Warren loves those chats. I think he has more fun swapping ideas with students than he does meeting Wall Street managers.
Warren has also been a great mentor to me ever since we met back in 1991. We're both on the board of the Washington Post Co., and in our meetings I've been amazed by the way he can take a problem apart, analyze it and make the solution immediately obvious. One day spent in Warren's company is worth a semester of business school.
Great teachers are also great learners, and Warren is no exception. For instance, although he's famous for being a natural public speaker, it didn't come easily to him. In fact, Warren once told me he used to be terrified of public appearances. So, years ago, he took a class in public speaking. The certificate from [Dale Carnegie Training] is still hanging on the wall of his office in Omaha, Nebraska.
That's Warren. He's never afraid to admit what he doesn't know, and he loves to learn. Warren, now 76, has set an example for a whole generation of students, from budding business leaders in Nebraska to a couple of philanthropists in Seattle. We're all lucky to have him.
Gates is co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which supports work in more than 100 countries.
以上文章摘錄自"TIME"雜誌 MAY.14.2007 P.46
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