Before Warren became "Warren"

As I mentioned in an earlier post, earlier this week I had gone to a book launch event for Peter Buffett's new book "Life is What You Make It." I'm really enjoying the book and its folksy wisdom even though post event, I didn't know what it would be about -- the majority of the questions weren't about the book, but about life with Peter's very famous father!

One of the most interesting things I learned that evening was that Warren Buffett was initially very shy and socially awkward, and terrified of public speaking. His wife Susie had recognized his lack of confidence as a barrier and had encouraged him to take Dale Carnegie classes. That, plus teaching, helped draw Warren Buffett out. What a remarkable story!

Tom Brokaw had noted his observation of Warren Buffett's role as trusted and highly influential and persuasive business leader through the years, and the many quotes and homespun homilies he was known for-- his personal favorite being "You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out."

As someone who appreciates how words are strung together, I've enjoyed reading some of his annual letters to shareholders - not for the investment background (I skip over the charts with numbers!) - but for the thought behind them.

An expert from his 2003 letter "...True independence - meaning the willingness to challenge a forceful CEO when something is wrong or foolish - is an enormously valuable trait in a director. It is also rare. The place to look for it is among high-grade people whose interests are in line with those of rank-and-file shareholders -- and are in line in a very big way." As George Orwell writes in his essay Politics and the English Language -- good writing is directly linked to good, clear thinking.

So Warren Buffett may still have been the most successful investor ever, but without pushing through his fears of public speaking, would he have been the "Oracle of Omaha"? Would his philosophy and ethics and observations on business and life have influenced countless others far outside of the investment world if his communication skills and confidence held him back?

Would he have been "Warren Buffett"?