Before I tell you about this week’s bonus episode, a quick annoncement. This episode will air on Wednesday, May 1, a day before my arrival in Omaha for Buffett’s Berkshire Meeting. If you are in Omaha and see me, please say hello; I’d love to meet you and hear more about you. Even if you aren’t coming to Omaha but feel inspired to share something with me, head to my website, bogumilbaranowski.com, and send me a message.
This is the second Fireside Chat, during which my guest host asks me questions, and you, my audience, get to know me, your host, better.
Matthew Stafford is a good friend and a former Talking Billions guest; I highly recommend his episode. He is the co-author of Find Your 9others: The Questions to Ask Yourself as You Start up and Scale Up, which was co-authored by Katie Lewis**. 9others has been a huge success and hosted over 5,000 entrepreneurs at 500 events in 45 countries.**
Matthew Stafford works with startups, venture capital, and angel investors, governments, NGOs, and large corporations to create and capture value.
He is a fellow VALUEx’er, a brilliant mind, and a thoughtful person, and I had to say yes when the idea for this fireside chat came up.
We touch on so many topics, from my journey from Cold War Poland to getting educated around Europe and being professionally shaped by New York. I explain the kind of investing I practice and the type of clients I work with. We discuss the deeper, more nuanced philosophy behind what I do. Stay tuned until the end, when I share my experience of recently launching my new investment firm, Blue Infinitas Capital.
We had a fun hour together; I trust you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
Summary
Bogumil Baranowski reflects on his childhood in Poland during the last decade of communism, where there were shortages of certain products and limited freedoms. Despite the challenging context, he had a happy childhood filled with walks in the woods, exploring the town with his grandpa, and hearing stories from his family members who had a calling in their professions. This upbringing instilled in him a desire to serve others and find meaning in his work.
He emphasizes the importance of finding individuals who do the right thing even when no one is watching and how financial incentives alone cannot replace passion and purpose. Bogumil Baranowski shares his journey from growing up in Poland to becoming an investment advisor in New York.
He emphasizes the importance of patience and long-term thinking in investing and highlights the value of asking the right questions. Bogumil also discusses the significance of understanding the people behind the investments and the role of wealth management in their lives. He reflects on his experiences in the investment industry and the lessons he has learned along the way. Bogumil recently launched his own investment firm, Blue Infinitas Capital, with a focus on serving clients with an infinite investment horizon.
Takeaways
Despite the challenging context of growing up in Poland during the last decade of communism, Bogumil Baranowski had a happy childhood filled with walks in the woods and exploring the town with his grandpa.
His family members, who had callings in their professions, instilled in him a desire to serve others and find meaning in his work.
Bogumil's earliest happy memory was helping his dad decorate their new home, which gave him a sense of participation and fulfillment.
He emphasizes the importance of finding individuals who do the right thing even when no one is watching and how financial incentives alone cannot replace passion and purpose. Patience and long-term thinking are crucial in investing.
Asking the right questions is essential in the investment industry.
Understanding the people behind the investments adds value to wealth management.
Launching a business allows for the creation of a personalized and meaningful approach.
The future self and the infinite investment horizon provide perspective and motivation.
Chapters
05:00 Introduction and Value X Conference
13:09 Life During the Last Decade of Communism
18:07 Discovering a Changing World
30:00 The Importance of Purpose and Passion
33:37 The Power of Patience and Long-Term Thinking
42:21 The Value of Owning Businesses Over the Long Term
53:45 The Game of Investing: Competing Against Yourself
01:01:02 Blue Infinitas Capital: Embracing the Open-Ended Opportunity
Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement
Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.
Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.
Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.
