Investors refer to Warren Buffett as the “Oracle of Omaha” for a reason. Like the oracles of Ancient Greece, he shares wisdom that can be as eyebrow-raising as it is informative. In one example, dating back to Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK.B) 1979 shareholder letter, he compared building trust with shareholders to a restaurant setting its menu.
“A restaurant could seek a given clientele – patrons of fast foods, elegant dining… – and eventually obtain an appropriate group of devotees. If the job were expertly done, that clientele, pleased with the service, menu, and price level offered, would return consistently. But the restaurant could not change its character constantly and end up with a happy and stable clientele. If the business vacillated between French cuisine and take-out chicken, the result would be a revolving door of confused and dissatisfied customers.”
