AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
The Importance of Persistence
I was thinking about you many years ago, I think, had said to me that your father talked to you about how the greatest ability is dependability. Can you talk about this very central idea of just showing up of persistence? Because it seems actually so essential to your success. It's kind of a central lesson of your career and your approach to life. And really, one of the ways you could frame that or think about it is, for me, it is a force multiplier.
In this episode, William Green chats with Tom Gayner, one of the great long-term investors of our time. Tom is the CEO of the Markel Corporation, a global financial holding company, where he oversees about 20,000 employees. Here, he shares his time-tested advice on how to achieve enduring success in business & investing while also building a happy & fulfilling personal life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
00:00 - Intro
03:38 - How Tom Gayner made a fortune by setting up a retirement account at age 14.
10:59 - What he learned from his grandmother about the glory of long-term compounding.
16:29 - How to succeed through steady, persistent progress over long periods of time.
30:00 - Why humor, fun, & joyfulness are central aspects of Tom’s approach to work.
35:15 - Why it’s so helpful to set down your thoughts, principles, & values in writing.
38:33 - Why we should bet on companies that do things “for” their customers, not “to” them.
41:17 - What Charlie Munger teaches about the secret of success.
47:52 - How to flourish in business & life by compounding relationships built on trust & love.
1:00:46 - How Berkshire Hathaway embodies everything Tom looks for in a business.
1:09:08 - What we can learn about investing from the comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
1:12:17 - How Tom approaches the challenge of appraising a person’s talent & integrity.
1:13:23 - Why he prefers to aim for satisfaction, not optimization.
1:26:39 - Why you should never check your luggage when you travel.
Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.
BOOKS AND RESOURCES
SPONSORS
Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors:
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode