What Separates Successful People from Everyone Else?
Warren Buffett doesn’t believe that success comes from where you studied or what degree you have. He believes in continuous learning.
His famous rule?
The more you learn, the more you earn.
Buffett sees knowledge as an investment—one that compounds over time. He spends hours every day reading, learning, and reflecting because he knows that staying ahead in business means staying informed.
But there’s another key factor in success: communication.
No matter how much knowledge you have, if you can’t express your ideas clearly, your career will hit a limit. This is why I feel that learning and improving your English communication skills at the same time as expanding your knowledge is one of the smartest career investments you can make!
Why Lifelong Learning Matters for Business Success
I am a huge believer in lifelong learning – whether it is from in-person courses, online educational content or reading. In fact, I typically read 2-3 books at any one time: usually one that is specific to what I do (professional development), one for personal development, and one for pure pleasure.
But I am not alone in my, well, obsession for continuous development.
The most successful business leaders never stop learning.
- Bill Gates takes a “Think Week” every year—an entire week dedicated to reading and deep thinking;
- Top CEOs read multiple books a month—on business, leadership, psychology, and history; and
- Buffett himself reads for hours every day—he believes that learning new ideas gives him a competitive advantage.
For business professionals for whom English is not their first language, this lesson is even more important.
Every book you read, every podcast you listen to, and every expert you learn from in English helps you grow professionally while improving your communication skills.
It’s about killing two birds with one stone—building business knowledge AND English fluency at the same time.
But, I would argue, there’s a right way—and a wrong way—to do this.
How to Learn Like Warren Buffett—And Improve Your English at the Same Time
If you want to develop your business knowledge AND English skills together, follow Buffett’s principles of smart learning:
1. Read Beyond Your Industry (in English!)
Buffett believes in cross-disciplinary knowledge—he doesn’t just study finance. He reads about history, psychology, leadership, and decision-making.
Your Strategy:
- Read English materials related to your industry (business reports, case studies).
- Read beyond your industry (history, psychology, leadership books).
- This builds better business thinking and a broader vocabulary.
Example: If you work in marketing, read about consumer psychology in English. If you’re in finance, read about decision-making in high-pressure situations.
2. Listen to Business & Leadership Content in English
Buffett surrounds himself with knowledge from different sources—not just books, but newspapers, reports, and interviews.
Your Strategy:
- Follow TED Talks on business & leadership.
- Listen to BBC Business Daily, Harvard Business Review, or Bloomberg.
- Watch professional development YouTube channels.
Tip: Turn passive listening into active learning—pause, repeat key phrases, and summarize in your own words.
3. Read & Listen at the Right Level—Just Beyond Your Comfort Zone
Here’s a mistake many learners make: choosing materials that are either too easy or too difficult.
- Too easy → You don’t improve because you already understand everything.
- Too difficult → You get frustrated, and your brain shuts down.
Your Strategy:
- Choose books, articles, and videos slightly above your level—so you learn new words and phrases, but still understand the main ideas.
- Use transcripts or subtitles when listening to English to help with comprehension.
This is where expert guidance makes a difference.
A coach can:
- Recommend the right learning materials for your level.
- Teach you how to use what you read and listen to in real business conversations.
- Help you develop strategies to grow your vocabulary and communication skills faster.
A Final Thought: Are You Treating English as an Investment?
Buffett, Gates, and top leaders invest in learning every day.
Here are three questions for you to think about:
- Are you learning actively—or just passively consuming content?Warren Buffett once said:
- Are you doing the same?
- Are you choosing the right business and leadership materials in English?
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Want to transform your English Journey?
To put together a daily consistent routine for English learning pick up the FREE LEARN Blueprint – Your Guide to Mastering English.