Bill Gates created software that runs in most computers on the planet, and then became a billionaire philanthropist , giving away more than $28 billion and working to eradicate polio. Bill Gates first met his mentor at a dinner organized by his mother. He thought he would have nothing in common with Warren, because Warren was just “this guy who picks stocks.” It turned out that they had more in common than he realized, and over the years Bill had come to view Warren as a key mentor and advisor. To the surprise of both men, they hit it off. Gates recalls being impressed by the questions Buffett asked him, like, "If you were building IBM from scratch, how would it look different?" And Gates told Buffett to buy stock in Intel and Microsoft. It was the beginning of a deep friendship and a mutual mentorship. Shortly after that first meeting, Gates asked Buffett for his favorite business book recommendation. Buffett lent Gates his copy of "Business Adventures" by John Brooks. Today, it's Gates' favorite business book, too — and he still has Buffett's copy . Gates wrote a piece about his mentor on LinkedIn, detailing what he’d learned from him. A big part of it was about learning to think in different ways. Buffett doesn’t just pick stocks, for example; he analyzes companies, and tries to define what their “competitive moat” is – the thing that gives them an advantage over competitors. Gates used that insight and others in thinking about Microsoft, and realized that Buffett “thought about business in a much more profound way than I’d given him credit for.” They've often joined forces for political and philanthropic causes. In 2010, Gates and Buffett, along with Gates' wife, Melinda, started The Giving Pledge. Billionaires who sign up commit to giving away more than half their wealth. In fact, in 2014, Buffett donated more than $2.1 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates has said Buffett’s number is one of the just two he has on speed dial at the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. The friendship has made a big impact on both men. Gates wrote that “Warren has helped us [Bill & Melinda] do two things that are impossible to overdo in one lifetime: Learn more & Laugh more..!” “We talked a lot about the idea that philanthropy could be just as impactful in its own way as software had been,” Gates wrote. “It turns out that Warren’s brilliant way of looking at the world is just as useful in attacking poverty and disease as it is in building a business. He’s one of a kind.” Do you have a mentor as well? Find one at Ace Mentor Club..! Image Source : Google Content Source : Gates Notes, Geteverwise.com