Best advice I've ever heard

Investment tycoon Warren Buffet is the world's second-richest person, behind only Bill Gates. In an interview, his grand-daughter said she never relied on her family's fortune and had been financially independent as an artist since college. Rather than wealth, she inherited from her grandmother, Susan Buffet, the following 5 principles of life:

1. Show up
2. Tell the truth
3. Pay attention
4. Do your best
5. Don't get attached to the outcome

I have never seen more simple, succinct and universal advice on life. And I can think of few situations in life in which these principles do not apply. The principles help a person form a powerful – and very American – attitude. This attitude promotes proaction, reduces obstacles and increases competitiveness of any effort, regardless of the outcome. Before wisdom so simple and true, my elaboration seems wordy and inarticulate.

Among the other principles, "Tell the truth" almost belongs to its own category. The other principles can be seen as best practices of how one should act in situations, while "tell the truth" is more of a moral preference. Why is telling the truth so important? When we take away the principle about truth, do the principles still stand?




I don't no.1 enough and often screw up because I don't no.3. No.5 is what I am learning and appreciating at the moment.