Warren Buffett may be best known for shaping Berkshire Hathaway into a $1 trillion giant, but his greatest lessons extend far beyond investing. Earlier this month, the 95-year-old signalled his retirement and wrote his final shareholder letter, marking the end of six decades of steady, disciplined growth. Writing for ET Wealth, Devashish Chakravarty described Buffett’s real strength, saying that it does not lie only in picking stocks but in managing risk, using time wisely, controlling emotions and sharpening judgment. These ideas offer a practical roadmap for anyone looking to build a career that compounds over a lifetime.
Think of yourself as ‘Me Ltd.’
Buffett always viewed himself as a capital allocator, not just a stock picker. Apply the same idea by treating your career like a small company where your time, energy and attention are limited resources. Each day, ask yourself whether a task, meeting or role is worth investing in. When you think like an owner, you choose work that builds long-term value rather than chasing quick wins.
Know your circle of competence
Buffett’s advice, quoted by ET, is simple: “The size of your circle of competence is not very important; knowing its boundaries is vital.” Understand the skills you’re good at, the problems you can solve and the industries where you add value. Staying within this circle leads to better decisions and fewer missteps. Over time, expand it slowly with new skills or domains through mentors and courses.
Plan in decades, not appraisals
Buffett’s superpower is compounding. Applied to work, this means focusing on long-term growth instead of annual increments or flashy designations. Build a reputation for reliability and strong relationships. While others jump jobs every year, your decisions should revolve around where a role will take you in five or ten years.
Create a margin of safety
In investing, this buffer protects you when things go wrong. In your career, it takes the form of emergency savings, manageable expenses, and a strong skill base that keeps you ahead of your role. Build relationships across companies so you have options when you need them. A wide safety margin allows you to take smart risks without fear of collapsing.
Ignore your own ‘Mr Market’
Buffett compares the stock market to a moody character called Mr Market. Your career has similar noise — gossip, social media successes, layoff rumours. Reacting emotionally can lead to poor decisions like quitting in frustration or chasing titles. Instead, judge situations by whether they matter to your long-term plan.
Build a personal moat
Buffett favours businesses with strong moats. For individuals, a moat could be deep expertise, trusted relationships or a unique blend of skills. People can also be moats — a great boss, mentor or team.Ask yourself whether your absence would leave a noticeable gap. If not, it may be time to strengthen your moat.
Keep learning, always
Buffett’s lifelong habit of reading is one practice you can copy immediately. Spend half an hour daily learning through books, research papers and courses. Review what you’ve learnt each month. With skills changing quickly, continuous learning is one of the strongest compounding tools.
A Buffett-style checklist for job offers
Chakravarty lays out a practical checklist inspired by Buffett’s investing rules.First, understand the job clearly — if you cannot explain the work or how performance is measured, treat it as a warning sign.Second, study the managers just as Buffett studies company leadership. Speak to former employees before committing.Third, check whether the company has a real moat, whether through reputation, technology or regulation.Fourth, consider how the role will compound your skills, network and future opportunities, even if the salary isn’t the highest.Finally, assess your downside. Look at possible risks — from toxic culture to strategy shifts — and ensure you have savings and a backup plan. View every job not just as income but as an investment in your future.This approach shows how Buffett’s philosophy can help you build a career that grows steadily, sensibly and strongly over time.