Book Reflection: Buffettology by Mary Buffett and David Clark

Back in 2020, I read Buffettology by Mary Buffett and David Clark—a book that opened my eyes to the deeper logic behind Warren Buffett’s legendary investment strategy. Rather than write a traditional review, I decided to collect and share the standout quotes that personally impacted me. These insights, drawn straight from the book, capture the principles and mindset that have shaped Buffett’s success—and have since shaped my own thinking as an investor and entrepreneur. I hope this curated list encourages you to reflect, revisit, and apply these timeless truths.

- the very wealthy are different from you and me...the oddest being the code of silence that they demand of family and friends page 15

- like any sophisticated collector, was very careful about the price he was willing to pay for one of those trophy businesses.  In fact, the price for the business absolutely determined whether he would buy it. page 18

- In the process I will become, like Warren, an intelligent investor.  page 19 

- Folly and discipline are the key elements of Warren Buffett's philosophy of investing - other people's follies and Warren's discipline.  pge 21

- Warren is the only billionaire who made it to the Forbes list of four hundred richest Americans solely by investing in the stock market. pg 21

- Determining a business's intrinsic value is a key to deciphering Warren's investment philosophy.  To Warren the intrinsic value of an investment is the projected annual compounding rate of return the investment will produce.  page 22

- It is this projected annual compounding rate of return that Warren uses to determine if the investment makes business sense.  What Warren is doing is projecting a future value for the business, say, ten years out; then he compares the price he going to pay for the business against the business's future, projected value, and the length of time required for the business's future, projected value, and the length of time required for the business reach that projected value.  pg 23

- Warren focuses on the predictability of future earnings; and he believes that without some predictability of future earnings, any calculations of a future value is mere speculation, and speculation in an invitation to folly.  page 23

- Warren's great secretes for successful investing from a business perspective are
1) predictable earnings
2) favorable economies
3) consistent factors
4) purchase price
5) price patience
6) expect 15%+ annual pounding ROI
7) OPM - others people's money   

https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/calculator/compound-interest-calculator

- investment is most intelligent when it is most businesslike page 27

- He will discus the details of his philosophy only with members of his family and inner circle.  To the rest of the world he feeds tidbits, and then only enough to pique interest.  page 29

- Warren is also willing to hold a stock forever as long as the economies of the business remain at least the same as when he bought it.  This ensures that he will benefit from the compounding effect of the retained earnings.   It ensures also that he will avoid the profit-eroding taxes that would be imposed if he sold his investment. page 30

- a business perspective on investing is more about discipline than philosophy, and once the concept is understood, it demands absolute devotion... It is a discipline that tends to tell the investor as much if not more what not to buy as to what to buy.  page 31

- a business venture that you anticipate will in five to ten years produce for you an annual compounding rate of return of 15% or better page 32

- You will learn that diversification is something people do to protect themselves from their own stupidity, not because of investment savy page 32

- You will learn that a $1,500 per share stock may be cheap and a $2 stock may be grossly expensive page 32

- It means that one stops thinking of the stock market as as end unto itself and begins thinking about the economies of ownership of those businesses that the common stock represent page 33

- But common stocks are in fact tangible representations of the equity owner's interest in a particular business page 33

- Warren's chief idea is to buy excellent businesses at a price that makes business sense...making business sense means that the venture invested in will offer you, the investor, the highest predictable annual compounding rate of return possible with the least amount risk.   page 33

- So if a company earns $5 a share and Warren owns one hundred share of the company, he is of the opinion that he just earned $500 ($5 x 100 = $500)...he also believes that the company has the choice of either paying that $500 out to him via a dividend or retaining those earnings and reinvesting them for him, thus increasing the underlying value of the company.  page 35

- In the early eighties the stock of Warren's holding company, Berkshire Hathway, traded at $500 a share.  Today it trades at around $45,000 a share, and it still has never paid a dividend. page 35

- Warren believes also that since dividends are taxed as personal income, there is a tax incentive to letting the corporation retain all its earnings page 36

- Warren places a great amount of weight on the quality of a company's management when he makes his investment decisions.  page 37

- A $10 per share asking price for the company's stock against annual net per share earnings of $2 a share equates to a rate of return of 20%.  Understand, though, that the integrity of the calculation is wholly dependent upon the predictability of the company's earnings. 

- In real life, if you were to buy a local business you would want to know how much it earned each year and how much it was selling for.  With those two numbers you could calculate the annual rate of return on your prospective investment by simply dividing the business's yearly earnings by its asking price page 38

- The price you pay determines your rate of return page...the higher the price, the lower the rate of return.  The lower the price, the higher the rate of return.  Pay more, get less.  Pay less, get more page 40

- We can even figure out the annual compounding rate of return on an investment if we know (1) the present value, (2) the future value, and (3) the holding period of the investment.

- Three variables when using Warren's system
1) the yearly per share earnings figure
2) its predictability
3) the market price of the security page 42 

My Character Development During Quarantine

From February 14th through May 15th, 2020 by the power of the Holy Spirit, I was homebound and quarantined due to suffering a high ankle sprain that included a tibia fracture.  During that same time period the entire world was quarantine due to COVID-19.  In those three months of isolation, I was able to face spiritual baggage I was carrying and make adjustments in my character and habits that otherwise would not have been so readily addressed. 

I am thankful that I was able to identify areas of darkness that lurked in my soul that has been removed and replaced with a greater Spirit of worship.  Kayla and I had lengthy discussions regarding my working so many hours as I was commonly working until 7PM each night.  Also, my cell phone was constantly with me and I checked in with it almost every 10 minutes during just about every waking hour.  These challenges were destroying the quality of time I was spending with my wife.  We have addressed all those concerns and I truly feel that we are so much healthier because of the quarantine.   

My pastor Chris Hodges spoke a message entitled Building Healthy Emotions that really helped me to clearly see the path I needed to take to escape the challenges I was facing and the spiritual direction the Lord wanted time to travel.  

Pastor Chris list three pillars to obtain optimal success and fulfillment.  He likens these principals as stages of building a strong house: 

1. The foundation of relationships and connectedness.

2. The structure of purpose and routines

3. The beautifying of trust and self-control.

I will forever be grateful for these principals as I have rearranged the pattern of my life to optimize the quality of my relationships, the fruitfulness of my productivity, and honestly the quality and longevity of my health in general.  

Notable changes I have made include: 

- valuing relationships in general and having a greater sense of presence for everyone especially my beloved wife Kayla  

- waking up at 5AM on weekdays and spending the first hour of the day with the Lord our God Jesus the Holy Spirit whom I love the most     

- cutting off all work by 6PM Monday - Friday
- dedicating Monday's exclusively to marketing and sales 

- keeping my cell phone at a docking station when I am not working 

- to increase my presence I removed important obligations and relationships that were spreading me too thin    

Thank you so much dear Lord I am forever thankful for you and am so grateful for my relationship with you.

Sincerely,

Martin 

COVID-19 Day of the Rock Mountain

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches  

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 
- Revelation 3:10

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" 
- Peter 3:8

Heavens Hour of Trial is at Hand

The earth and this world is breaking and making room for an advanced level of the church.  The world system and governments have been shattered by an updated version of the church which will be revealed in glory in approximately September 2021. A heavenly hour is approximately equal to a little less than 1 year and 9 months of earth time. See post Time from God's Perspective for mathematical reasoning.

A new version of the church is at hand.  It is the rock that will take on a new name called kingdom.  This church kingdom extending worldwide will grow from being a rock to a mountain and fill the entire earth.  The church and bride of Christ will not be known just for ministry but moreover, it's power and authority as a sovereign government extending from the Kingdom of Heaven.

Rock, Rib, Pillar, or Cornerstone 

as this church kingdom is called is at Hand

To the church of Philidephia as it is written in Revelation 3, the rock is referred to as a pillar cut from the body of the Kingdom of Heaven and thrown down to earth.  Peter refers to this pillar as a cornerstone.  In the book of Daniel, it is written as a rock that was carved out of a mountain in heaven and thrown down to the earth as an everlasting kingdom that would shatter all other kingdoms.  This rock is a kingdom reflecting the glory and structure of the mountain of which it was cut from which is the Kingdom of Heaven.  This pillar is likened to the rib taken from Adam to create Eve.  So is this rock that was broken from the body of Jesus Christ the New Jerusalem and has become his bride on earth.  This small rib will grow and expand to be the bride of King Jesus all over the world and will rule for all eternity.

See the following scriptures references. 

The power, authority, and unity of the world governments will continue to get weaker while the power of God's church kingdom will become 'huge' and 'fill' the entire world like a mountain.

So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
- Genesis 2: 20-22

34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
- Daniel 2: 34 - 35

44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
- Daniel 2: 44 - 45

And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
- 1 Matthew 16:18

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
- 1 Peter 2: 4-8

Now to you who believe those that endure will receive the victory

They shall receive:
- key of David
- an open door that no one can shut
- a pillar in the temple of my God
- Never again will they leave it.
- King Jesus will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and he will also write on them his new name.


You can be handed God's kingdom church by way of his grace by keeping these commandments:

These requests of the Lord are acceptable to meet the required offering of vulnerability to receive Passover from the trial.  Offerings of vulnerability yield trust in God to protect sensitive areas of believers that have been exposed due to their faith in the word of Jesus

- keep and joyfully live your life by the word of God
- openly worship and confess your devotion to the name of King Jesus 
- endure patiently
- hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown (all the good that God has given you including your good nature, charm, your gratitude, your good disposition, sound material and financial life).  Do not squander the good things the Lord has given you spiritually and materially to those that are coming to take it.  Cars your bank account, do not be fooled to give what you should not give.  Let your no's far outweigh your yeses. 
- Like the Israelites with Passover blood of a lamb over their doors.  Be still and let the grace of God flow from within you leading you to untold levels of freedom.

But to those who do not believe, 

it is a stone that causes people to stumble 

and a rock that makes them fall

Those that resist vulnerability will turn to greed in an attempt to shield themselves from what causes them to worry and fear. 

The fearful, greedy, nonbelievers those that oppose the aforementioned will experience the trial that is meant to test those that subscribe to the opposite mindset.  Those that enter the test:
- resist the word of God and do not obey his word
- deny the word of God and refuse to lift his name with the words of their mouth
- exhibit little patience and live a life in haste
- will give into wicked skims, falsehoods, and trickery that cause them to diminish both spiritual, mentally, and materially

These individuals face the butt end of the outcome of the test 

This COVID-19 spiritual interpretation is derived from Daniel 2; Matthew 16:13-20; Revelation 3:7-13; 1 Peter 2: 4-8; 2 Peter 3:8

Thank you, Dr. Martin Williams, for your literature on your documentation of the true identity of the Church and for being a herald of the church update kingdom currently in progress. 


enclosure  

Martin A. Briggs
KM Briggs


Other thought to consider

1918 Spanish Flu vs. COVID-19 

Spanish Flu had 500 million cases and 17 - 100 million deaths, with a 3.4% - 20% range of probable death or 11.7% at middle  

17 million COVID-19 cases and 670K deaths, with a 4% possibility of death. 

At this point, that means Spanish Flu had 30X more cases, 25 - 150x more deaths 

Which means the 1918 Spanish Flu had at least 100x more case worldwide and 5,000x to 30,000x more deaths than COVID-19.

Meaning we can confirm COVID-19 is a trial of a test for mankind versus Spanish Flu which was an entirely different type of trial altogether.  As massive of an impact, Spanish Flu had it the overall well being of mortality it has very little impact on government budgets or the economy in general.  Churches, schools, and theaters closing were the common listings in newspapers regarding any impact on the economy.  See Economic Effects of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic Implications for a Modern-day Pandemic  

Updated as of July 30, 2020 

US population is 328 million meaning with 4.5 million confirmed cases meaning 1.37% got case 153k died.  So odds of death by COVID-19, in general, is .046% and odds to die by the other 10 top leading causes of death are .857%.  Meaning you are 18x more likely to die by 10 other methods.   Odds of death go up to 3.4% if you get it.  1.67% of the 10th most likely death is suicide.  If COVID-19 was in there then we would be 

COVID vs. Flu - flu hit 102 years ago in 1918 (great depression was 11 years later 1929 no impact) it was much worse of an initial impact and has remained to stay.  There is no cure for the flu only treatments to help the body heal itself.  

The cure for all top 10 is to focus on self care!  

Two Blessings for Each Trouble

The great thing about getting older is that you get the opportunity to witness the promises of God become fulfilled in your life.  When I was in my twenties I had hopes and dreams that the Lord would bless the financial decisions Kayla and I were making.  I started to realize that God would not only return the investment or expenses we placed in our reasoning but would send back what we placed with what I refer to as 'money on top of money'.

I felt this prayer message from Pastor Chris captured the essence of that blessing when he spoke about two blessings for our troubles mentioned in Zechariah 9:12.  Start the recording at 11:45 to get straight to what I am referencing here.

https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/01-07-20

enclosure    

Martin A. Briggs 

Business Advice for Novice Entrepreneurs - Birmingham

Given my purpose as an equipper to business leaders in Birmingham, AL it is only natural that novice entrepreneurs would come to me with questions and requests for developing their thoughts on establishing a new business.  Young (not necessarily in age but in experience) entrepreneurs come to me regularly in need of direction, resources, and investment. 

Please accept this message as my most sincere answer to that need.

The single greatest advice I can give a novice entrepreneur is to gain a firm orientation to the general practice of operating and marketing a successful business.  Gaining practical knowledge in building a healthy business for that matter is the starting point for me to help seekers with financial assistance or investment of my time and resources toward start-up executives.

Business success starts with the essential competency in compliance, accounting, brand management, marketing, salesmanship, and emotional quotient (EQ) to include recruitment and management of relationships. 

With that being said my core function is to equip business leaders with synergistic value-added relationships and facilitate investment that brings a return to the organization I represent being the ULECx Market.  Speaking of synergistic relationships the aforementioned resource recommendations I believe are terrific starting points toward developing a successful business enterprise.  These are individuals and organizations that have the capacity and track record of working directly with seedling business leaders.  These individuals either have answers to questions or are a step toward finding the answers.  In any case, I believe they are friendly landing points to uncover the strategic knowledge missing from novice business leaders.  

Dream Development (faith-based) 

Every business starts as a dream that needs to be emersed through a thought process.  The individuals listed here have been gifted with the purpose of helping to establish a dream with clarity 

Ricco McAdory, ULECx, IN, FB 

Davidic Covenant Speaks, LLC

Birmingham, AL 

riccomcadory@gmail.com  

http://www.yourgodgivenid.net/

Jeana Smith, FB, IN

DreamLife 

Omaha, NE 

contact@dreamlife.global

Andrew Brown Brown, FB, IN

Blaine Lindsey, Email

Dream Life small group 

Birmingham, AL

Business Development 

The probability of long-term business success is grounded in a sound understanding of compliance, accounting, brand management, salesmanship, and marketing.  These individuals have the gift of equipping business leaders with tangible business acumen.   

Damian J. Carson, IN

Regional Vice President

Operation HOPE, Inc.

(205) 516-0912 | Cell

Damian.Carson@operationhope.org

www.operationhope.org

Patrick J. Murphy, IN

Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Collat School of Business

Tamika M. Hinton, ULECx, IN

Birmingham Business Resource Center 

Birmingham, AL 

https://mybbrc.biz/

Small Business Administration 

Alabama District Office 

https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/al/birmingham

Leadership & EQ Resouces 

The following are people or recourses that I believe are not only helpful for developing a young business but also have the call for it as well

Barrett Merrill, ULECx, IN

Kuwa Consulting

Birmingham, AL 

https://www.kuwaconsulting.com/

Why - helps with building leadership awareness and ultimately building strong teams    

Russell Haden, ULECx, IN

C12 Group 

Birmingham, AL 

https://www.c12group.com/

Why - great entry-level peer advisory group to establish accountability in both business and spiritual development

Briana Dudley, ULECx, IN

Corsini Consulting Group, LLC

Birmingham, AL 

https://www.corsini.com/

Why - industrial behavioral psychology expert.  I recommend every leader receive an assessment from Briana to better understand what I call your D.O.P drivers, orientation, and personality

Brand Management 

Here are two individuals that are awesome at helping to build a strong brand identity 

Lee Bradberry

Owner 

Spratlin Design Company 

lee@spratlindesign.com

Why - expert designer of making ideas and brands attractive 

Gilberto Herrera, IN

Owner/Coach 

support@gilbertoherrera.com

Why - amazing knowledge about building a successful brand and can coach on design  

enclosure 

Embrace Betrayal as a Friend

According to my understanding of the following scriptures, Judas was one of two betrayal relationships Yeshua carried while he ministered in person on Earth.

The other betrayer was never mentioned by name but only referenced as "the disciple whom Yeshua loved"

The underlining principle of embracing betrayal as a natural aspect of leading a healthy organization is covertly evident in these passages.  John 21:18-19; John 13:14-30; Matthew 27:1-11; John 21:15-25; Psalm 41:9

I define betrayal as a good idea or person that knowingly or unknowingly exposes an organization, a group, and/or a person to danger.  Fear of embracing betrayal limits the power and influence the Holy Spirit has on an organization.

It is important to note that not all danger leads to harm.  Those that walk in the Spirit understand "...that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose  - Romans 8:28



To him who has an ear let him hear:

18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

 - John 21:18-19 New International Version (NIV)





enclosure
Martin A. Briggs

My Physical Appearance and why God loves me Just the Way I Am

When I initially saw this image I was immediately disappointed by my 'aging' appearance.  Then the Lord spoke to me and remind me of how much he loves me just the way I am.

 I find it interesting that of all the miracles Jesus performed he never addressed cosmetic concerns. I believe God granted Jesus unlimited power to perform any miracle he wanted.  Yet during Christ's three-year ministry did he ever address physical appearance?  For example, Jesus never made someone taller, younger, thinner, or any other variable that we would consider making us physically attractive.

The Lord only healed enough to restore a person to normal function.  I do not recall any biblical testimonies that after a person was healed that their physical appearance was enhanced.  No one ever claimed someone looked younger or better after Jesus healed them.

In conclusion, I realized this morning these two facts.  First that God loves the way I look just as I am.  Last that God loves my appearance all the same throughout my entire lifespan.

Our Father God created us to with timestamps of when to be born, how long we are to live, to die, and ultimately enter the afterlife.

As we move through those phases our appearance changes.  What was once new becomes old.  What is old will die, and what dies gives birth to new life.  Jesus only sees beauty in our appearance as we progress through all five stages.

I choose to embrace my body as it advances through the aging process.  I love my appearance as it is and as it shifts through time.  Thank you, Jesus my love for accepting my body, my face, my entire appearance as I am as I age and as I walk closer to your eternal glory.

enclosure 
Martin A. Briggs