In tribute to one of my longtime heroes, Warren Buffett – a simple guy who has done a lot of good – I’m keeping this year’s holiday gift guide relatively modest. Just a few items that I think can have big impact, all connected to the Oracle of Omaha himself.
The Snow Globe
Go with me on this one. You may know that Warren Buffett is often called “The Snowball” because his wealth accumulation perfectly illustrates the snowball effect—how compounding makes small, consistent investments grow exponentially over time. Just like a snowball rolling downhill, his investments started small but gathered more and more snow (well, money) over the decades, a strategy he began early in life by reinvesting his earnings.
But there’s another reason I’m recommending a snow globe this year. My longtime friend Anita Newton recently wrote a beautiful piece about receiving one as a gift, and her reflection on what she calls “The Snow Globe Effect” has stayed with me:
When life, work, or emotions become stirred up, clarity disappears—like a snow globe that’s been shaken. Nothing settles until we pause long enough to let the snow fall and the scene come back into focus.
Anita’s insight resonates: when we’re overloaded, our instinct is to move faster. More meetings. More
plans. More action. But real progress often comes from pausing. As she put it, “Clarity doesn’t always come from action. It can come from stillness.”
So, whether you’re gifting a nod to Buffett’s compounding philosophy or a gentle reminder to let things settle, the humble snow globe delivers on both fronts.
Going down the snow globe route? Check out the West Elm Decorator Snow Globe and a variety of choices at CoolSnowGlobes.
See’s Candies
Berkshire Hathaway acquired See’s Candies in 1972, and Buffett has called it a “dream business.” This holiday season, consider their Victoria Toffee (an irresistible Mary See original complete with a mini hammer included in the tin, perfect for breaking this treat into bite-sized pieces), the Holiday Joy Box, or the Dreidel Box for a charming selection of Kosher chocolates.
Poor Charlie’s Almanack
No Berkshire-themed gift guide would be complete without a nod to Charlie Munger, Buffett’s late partner and legendary vice-chairman. Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger compiles eleven talks delivered between 1986 and 2007, drawing on Munger’s encyclopedic knowledge of business, finance, history, philosophy, and ethics. It’s a touchstone for anyone seeking to, as Munger would say, “go to bed a little wiser than when they woke up.”
Dairy Queen Gift Card
Berkshire has owned Dairy Queen since 1998, and a gift card for Blizzards or holiday treats is accessible, fun, and sure to bring a smile. Call it a sweet return on a small investment.
Duracell Batteries
This might sound unglamorous, but stay with me. Berkshire acquired Duracell in 2016, and there’s something charmingly Buffett-like about giving a gift that’s reliable, essential, and practical. Frame it as “the gift that keeps giving”—because it literally does.
A Gift to Charity in Their Name
Finally, in the spirit of Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge – the commitment he co-founded with Bill and Melinda Gates in 2010, encouraging billionaires to give away the majority of their wealth to philanthropy—consider making a donation to a meaningful charity in your recipient’s name.
Buffett has long said that his children will inherit “enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.” His approach to wealth has always emphasized stewardship over accumulation. A charitable gift honors that philosophy while supporting causes that matter to the people in your life.
Whether it’s a local nonprofit, a cause close to your recipient’s heart, or an organization aligned with your company’s values, this gift costs nothing in shipping and delivers something money can’t buy: the knowledge that generosity compounds too.
Here’s to simple gifts, compounding generosity, and the reminder that the best investments we make are often in each other. Don’t forget to let the snow settle this holiday season.
Happy Holidays! Happy Networking!
Note: I do NOT make a commission or receive any benefits from the vendors I recommended above… they are genuinely my personal picks for this holiday season. Enjoy!