As many of you know, my wife is Sara Blakely, the inventor of Spanx. I could list a bunch of other accolades, but all you really need to know is that she’s had a remarkable career, she’s the most generous person I know, she’s an amazing mother, a kick-ass wife, and I learn from her every day.
Let’s just say — I hit the wife lottery!
So, here's the story. One day Sara needed some guidance and reached out to none other than the legendary Warren Buffett. She explained to him that she needed help working out an idea, and Warren offered advice.
“Sara,” he said. “Sometimes it’s good to just talk stuff out to somebody. You just talk, talk, talk. And even if they don’t respond, sometimes you can guide yourself to the answer. Even if it’s an orangutan, it’s good to hear yourself talk out loud.”
So, the next day, Sara sent Warren a box of bananas with a note saying: Will you be my "orangutan"? He said yes, and before she knew it, she was on a plane to meet with him to talk business!
Just the act of speaking your thoughts aloud can help clarify your ideas and lead you to the solution. I’m serious, if you’ve got a problem you’re working on, don’t send a text or email; try the phone. Talk it out. Also, I'm pretty sure Buffett has never received a package quite like that before; well played, Sara, well played.
