Charlie Munger - All I want to know is where i’m going to die so I never go there - 7 important points for your career
1. Avoid Stupidity More Than You Chase Brilliance
Most careers don’t fail because people weren’t smart enough—they fail because people couldn’t stop themselves from doing stupid things.
Over-promising and under-delivering
Lying or exaggerating numbers
Burning bridges
Getting lazy with the basics
Abandoning integrity when under pressure
The key to long-term success isn’t outsmarting the world. It’s not self-sabotaging. Build your reputation by avoiding the obvious landmines.
2. Play Long-Term Games With Long-Term People
Buffett and Munger chose their business partners like they chose their friends: carefully, intentionally, and with the future in mind.
Surround yourself with high-integrity people
Pick teammates who think in decades, not weekends
Build trust with every action
Don’t chase short-term wins if they burn long-term relationships
This industry will reward those who build teams, not just wins. Loyalty, trust, and alignment compound.
3. Stay In Your Circle of Competence (Then Expand It Slowly)
Buffett calls this the key to avoiding big mistakes. Know what you're good at. Know what you don't understand. Don't bluff your way into trouble.
Don’t fake knowledge—seek it
Stay humble enough to admit what you don’t know
Master your current role before demanding the next
Slowly expand your skills with intention
Promotions go to the person who masters the current level, not the one who rushes to the next.
4. Read. Think. Reflect. Repeat.
Munger and Buffett both spend 5+ hours a day reading and thinking. Why? Because the best decisions require clarity, not speed.
Daily reflection: What did I learn today? What would I change?
Read across disciplines (sales, psychology, investing, negotiation, history)
Avoid the “always-on” trap—schedule space to think
Ask: “What did I miss?” instead of “What did I get right?”
Top performers don’t just do more—they think better. Depth beats hustle when paired with consistency.
5. Delay Gratification. Play the Long Game.
Buffett made 99% of his wealth after age 50. Why? Because compounding takes time—but works best when you don’t interrupt it.
Focus on habits, not hacks
Reinforce your team's belief in long-term growth, not short-term dopamine
Save more than you spend (with time, energy, and money)
Accept the “boring” grind that most avoid—because it pays big later
Discipline > motivation. The winners are just those who didn’t stop.
6. Invert: Learn From Failure First
Munger is famous for saying, “Invert, always invert.” Start by asking: How could this go wrong? Then work backward to avoid it.
Use this in:
Goal setting: What’s most likely to derail our target?
Hiring: What red flags are easy to overlook?
Leadership: What’s the fastest way to lose trust?
Sales: What do top reps not do?
The fastest way to progress is to remove the friction points that repeatedly cause losses.
7. Build a Reputation You Don’t Have to Explain
Buffett says, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”
Deliver early
Speak honestly
Admit when you’re wrong
Be dependable—especially when no one is watching
Your personal brand is more important than your title. Let your name become synonymous with excellence.
Wrap-up: The Compound Effect of Great Thinking
Reminders:
Everyone wants fast success. But lasting success is built through boring, unsexy discipline.
Munger and Buffett didn’t chase virality—they chased clarity.
Their advice isn’t just about investing—it’s about how to live, lead, and grow without burning yourself out or blowing yourself up.