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June 15, 2006
Today's news
Bill Gates' Swan Song
Posted by Mike Hofman at 4:51 PM
Bill Gates announced this afternoon that he intends to relinquish day-to-day responsibilities at Microsoft starting in 2008. (Here is the link to an Associated Press story and to Microsoft's official statement.)
Gates says that the plan to retire in order to spend more time on his foundation was "a hard decision" but, he added, "I firmly believe the road ahead for Microsoft is as bright as ever."
The news raises three immediate and obvious questions:
1. How will Microsoft fare without Gates' active participation?
2. What will Gates' lasting business legacy be? That he made computing easy? That his lethal competitive instincts prevented more technological innovation? That he inspired other companies to create wealth through stock options in the same way that he minted thousands of Microsoft millionaires twenty years ago? That he set a new, sky-high bar in terms of wealth and impact that entrepreneurs worldwide will chase for years to come? Or something else?
3. Finally, the wildcard question: will Gates ever get the itch to start another company? If so, what might it be?
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As much as I am not exactly a big fan of Gates, I find it weird to read this piece of news. What is Microsoft without Gates?
Bill Gates is a Titan of the first order. He epitomises the phrase primus inter pares. Amongst Titans who will be inscribed indelibly in the history of the Internet era- Larry Elison, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Scott McNealy- Bill Gates towers a head and shoulders higher.
It is inevitable that a man of such significance will inspire resentment, animosity and even hate. To win so splendidly is to invite envy from those who must lose and those whose inadequacies are in stark contrast.
But not even the most inveterate detractor can deny the astonishing business acumen it required to found a company in a garage and lead it into the rarified space of corporate elites, fending off strategic threats for 30 years. It is impossible to ignore how Miscrosoft has changed the way we live, work and play.
And lastly, while we strive to understand how such a harmless-looking avuncular nerd could be such a ruthless and unforgiving competitor, we cannot deny the innate goodness of a man who at the relatively young age of 50, has decided to devote the balance of his life and fortune to philanthropy and service to mankind.
They just do not come much greater than Bill Gates.
More thoughts on Bill Gates at www.amusis.com
I think there is nothing more pleasant than be away from business and get money from it.
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