Bill Gates Research Paper
Profile of Bill Gates
Profiles of Global Leaders
July 14, 2010
Abstract This paper will outline a profile of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. I will provide background information about his upbringing, his early exposure to computers, and his founding of Microsoft. I will then detail his unique leadership skills which have allowed him to take his company from a small upstart to a global icon.
Childhood
William (Bill) Henry Gates III was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington to a middle class family. His father was a lawyer and his mother served on the board of directors for a bank and the United Way. Bill Gates has one older and one younger sister. His parents had originally hoped that he would become a lawyer.[1] At age 13 …show more content…
he enrolled in an exclusive school called Lakeside where he was exposed to an ASR-33 teletype terminal. The school had also acquired a block of time on a General Electric (GE) computer for the students. Gates had a fascination with the programming of the GE system and quickly learned BASIC. He was also able to get himself excused from his math class to follow his computer interest. He wrote his first program on this computer which allowed people to play tic-tac-toe against a computer. Gates was impressed by the computer and how it would always execute software code perfectly. After the school’s computer time was used up at GE, Gates received exposure to other computer systems including DEC[2] PDP[3] minicomputers.[4] One of these systems was a PDP-10[5] belonging to Computer Center Corporation (CCC), which banned four Lakeside students (Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Ric Weiland, and Kent Evans) for the summer after the kids were caught taking advantage of kinks in the operating system to get free computer time.[6] At the end of the ban, the four students offered to find bugs in CCC's software in exchange for computer time. Rather than use the system via teletype, Gates went to CCC's offices and studied source code for various programs that ran on the system, including programs in FORTRAN, LISP, and machine language.[7] This arrangement with CCC continued until 1970, when the company went out of business. The following year, Information Sciences, Inc. hired the four Lakeside students to write a payroll program in COBOL, providing them computer time and royalties.[8] Once school administrators became aware of his knack for programming, Gates was asked to write the school's computer program to schedule students in classes. He modified the code so that he was placed in classes with mostly female students. He later stated that "it was hard to tear myself away from a machine at which I could so unambiguously demonstrate success."[9] At age 17, Bill Gates formed a venture with Paul Allen, called Traf-O-Data[10], to make traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor.[11] Gates graduated from Lakeside School in 1973.
He served as a congressional page in the U.S. House of Representatives after high school. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT[12] and enrolled at Harvard College in the fall of 1973. While at Harvard, he met Steve Ballmer, who later succeeded Gates as CEO of Microsoft, and computer scientist Christos Papadimitriou, with whom he wrote a paper about pancake sorting[13]. Bill Gates never pursued a specific course of study while a student at Harvard but he did spend a significant amount of time using the school's computers. He remained in contact with Paul Allen and joined him at Honeywell during the summer of 1974. Later that year, the MITS Altair 8800,[14] based on the Intel 8080 CPU[15], was released and Gates and Allen saw this as the opportunity to start their own computer software …show more content…
company.
Creating the Microsoft Empire In 1975 Bill Gates and Paul Allen contracted with the developers of the Altair 8800 to write the first computer language (Basic Interpreters)[16] for MITS’s small computer which resulted in them relocating to Arizona and setting up a small office in a run down motel. They called their company Microsoft. A defining moment for Microsoft came in 1980 when an agreement was signed to provide the operating system that became known as MS-DOS, for IBM's new personal computer. In a contractual masterstroke, Microsoft was allowed to license the operating system to other manufacturers, spawning an industry of "IBM-compatible" personal computers which depended on Microsoft's operating system.[17] The real genius of Bill Gates’ move here was that Microsoft didn’t have an operating system to sell to IBM. Bill Gates just knew that IBM needed one and set up the meeting and sold them something he didn’t have while retaining the rights to it. He banked on the fact that Paul Allen had an acquaintance that had been working on an operating system. Once they struck their deal with IBM Paul Allen purchased the operating system from his acquaintance for $50,000. Microsoft tweaked this operating system and made millions of dollars off of it. The “Windows” era that most of us are familiar with today began in 1985. This new software enabled users to run applications and included the use of a mouse for the first time. Rapid growth triggered Microsoft to go public in 1986, raising $61 million. Paul Allen had already reduced his role in the company but Bill Gates continued to lead the company's growth, with his vision for networked computers proving crucial to Microsoft's continued success.[18] Bill Gates used a simple philosophy to take Microsoft to the top of the software market; ‘offer people and business a product that they want and need’. Bill Gates put an emphasis on recruiting and retaining some of the brightest staff in the software industry. He believed that the recruitment of talented software engineers was one of the most critical elements in the software industry.[19] In addition to software experience, Bill Gates looked for several other characteristics which included, the capacity to grasp new knowledge quickly, the ability to ask probing questions, and deep familiarity with programming structures.[20] Bill Gates significantly, and positively, impacted Microsoft through his use of original and aggressive marketing strategies. Gates was a marketing whiz because of his persistence in being in direct contact with customers and the market. Bill Gates spent a considerable amount of his time meeting large numbers of customers which assisted him in leading Microsoft in the direction that the industry was heading; often times Gates and Microsoft greatly influenced that direction and the industry as a whole.[21] A perceptive judge of the potential of software products, Gates successfully predicted future trends and positioned Microsoft's products in such a way that they soon became best selling products.[22] Gates led Microsoft from a $1 million company in 1978 to a market leader in the software industry with revenues of $62.48 billion in 2010.[23]
Primary Leadership Qualities This case discusses in detail the visionary leadership of Bill Gates and his contribution to the Information Technology industry. Gates played an important role in product development activities at Microsoft. Much of his development efforts were directed towards product simplification. Gates believed that user-friendly computers and easily accessible software could attract many new customers.[24] In leading Microsoft Bill Gates centered on three primary areas; 1) Focus on Product Development, 2) Hire the best talent, 3) Aggressively Market the Products. He was successful in these areas because of leadership skills such as a willingness to take risks, taking initiative, and being a visionary. Gates played an important role in product development activities at Microsoft. Much of the development efforts were directed towards product simplification. Gates believed that user-friendly computers and easily accessible software could attract many new customers. He tried to view the entire product portfolio of Microsoft in the light of future prospects and likely competitor moves. Accordingly, he made strategic decisions regarding product development and lead the company to the leading role in software applications. Gates paid special attention to recruit and retain the best talent in the software industry. He believed that the recruitment of talented software engineers was one of the most critical elements in the software industry. Though a great number of potential recruits applied for jobs at Microsoft, Gates assumed that the best talent would never apply directly. Consequently, Microsoft's HR managers had to hunt for the best talent and offer them a job.[25] His leadership in the area of attracting and retaining highly qualified candidates proved to be invaluable to his company. Bill Gates’ marketing style was analytical and persuasive. Very early on Gates had a vision to have a personal computer in every home, not just for financial gain, but because he envisioned the potential of future computer applications and how they would help educate, entertain and enrich people's lives. His strategy began with his own passion for technology and fueled the growth and direction of Microsoft. Bill Gates took significant risks to get where he is today and he did so even at a young age. First and foremost he dropped out of college to pursue his passion and make his mark in the technology field; and not just any college, but Harvard. The timing of this move was key because personal computers were on the horizon and the need for computer languages and software were just becoming evident. In his own words, “I worried that they would realize I was just a student in a dorm and hang up on me. Instead they said: "We're not quite ready, come see us in a month," which was a good thing, because we hadn't written the software yet. From that moment, I worked day and night on this little extra credit project that marked the end of my college education and the beginning of a remarkable journey with Microsoft”.[26] Secondly, his risk taking is evident in the way he approached IBM with a language for their PC before he even had the language. Contracting with IBM proved to be a very significant move for Gates and Microsoft. A third example can be seen in that Bill Gates was building a software company before most people actually knew what software was. His vision in this area is what set him apart from other industry pioneers who seemed to focus on building computers rather than writing languages and code. A final example can be seen with Window’s and a quote from Bill Gates himself “Usually, it's because you take a big risk, you bet on something early, like Windows in our case. Everybody else doesn't believe in it, they don't invest, and we have this incredible success because we were right."[27] Bill Gates’ perception on risk taking is that of “if you decline to take risks early you’ll decline in the market later. Furthermore, if you bet big, only a few out of these risks have to succeed to provide for your future”. Gates cautions that people and companies should be prepared to experiment with new processes and technology solutions.[28] Gates continues to apply his risk taking behavior even today. Along with his wife Melinda, he was quoted as saying that their foundation (The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) will "take a long-term view and take large risks on new approaches". The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation focus on education, food, and health programs in developing countries.[29] Bill Gates took initiative! During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s he not only took an interest in computers he showed initiative by learning everything he could about them including learning and writing such computer languages as BASIC, COBAL, and FORTRA. Furthermore, he showed initiative in the way he found computers to use and practice on. First, at the Lakeside School and General Electric, and then with Computer Center Corporation, and finally with Information Services Inc. Next, Bill Gates showed initiative by forming a company with Paul Allen, called Traf-O-Data[30], in which they made traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor.[31] All of this was accomplished while still in high school. However, perhaps one of the most significant example of Bill Gates’ initiative is evident in Gates contracting with the developers of the Altair 8800 to write the first computer language (Basic Interpreters)[32] for MITS’s small computer which resulted in the relocation to Arizona and the formation of Microsoft. A final instance, and arguably an equally significant one, is when Microsoft contracted to provide the operating system that became known as MS-DOS, for IBM's new personal computer. The initiative displayed by Bill Gates to approach IBM and sell them an operating system that Microsoft didn’t even have yet shows not only great risk but excellent initiative to further his company. Bill Gates was a true visionary during the boom of computer age in the 1970, 1980’s, and 1990’s. When asked about his success Bill gates replied “there were a lot of people at the same place I was. One difference was I had vision, I saw the potential that was there … The big difference was I took massive action and immediate action.”[33] Another quote explains why Bill Gates focused on software rather than hardware, “…but we talked about a day when computers would be personal, and that the software part was something we thought we could do better than anybody else… we saw that software was sort of an unlimited thing that we kind of understood. Most of the people in the computer industry thought about the hardware piece. But we had latched on to software...”[34] Bill Gates’ vision for the industry and for Microsoft helped shape the direction of his company as well as contributing to the direction of the entire computer software industry.
Additional Leadership Qualities Several concepts of emerging and effective global leadership trends were discussed during our course. Some of these trends included thinking globally, developing technological savvy, creating shared vision, empowering people, achieving personal mastery, leading change, anticipating opportunities, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining a competitive advantage.[35] Each of these areas are directly applicable to the successful leadership characteristics exhibited by Bill Gates. • Thinking Globally: Bill Gates had a global mindset early on and this evident in a quote from him. Bill Gates said, “Well, we weren't that well-known publicly until sometime in the 1980s, and one of my favorite articles was where they wrote that there were four software companies, and none of them was that much different than the others. But we knew at that time that the other three just weren't long term, hiring the right people, thinking globally.”[36] • Developing Technological Savvy: Bill Gates has definitely developed technological savvy throughout his career. In fact he can be considered one of the pioneers of the software industry. • Creating Shared Vision: A shared vision is commitment from all members of an organization towards objectives and the way to accomplish those objectives. A very early vision of Bill Gates was a computer on every desk and in every home. This may have seemed very farfetched to people 30 years ago but in 2010 it is almost a reality, at least for America.[37] Developing and sharing this vision with Microsoft employees has played a tremendous role in the success of the company. • Empowering people: “The most important part of my work as chairman is recognizing and articulating the opportunities they present to each person in the company. We then empower employees with as much information and as many productivity tools as possible, so they can achieve results within the framework of that vision.”[38] • Achieving Personal Mastery: Personal mastery is developing one’s self to achieve personal goals as well as objectives of the company one works for. • Leading Change: Change is a basic function of today’s information technology companies and Bill Gates summed it up well when he said, “I work in the software industry, where change is the norm. A popular software title…gets upgraded every year or two with major new features and continuous refinements. We listen to customer feedback and study new technology opportunities to determine the improvements to make.” Microsoft’s failure to get in early during the Internet revolution is a lesson that has not been forgotten. Today, Gates prepares for “inflection points” by ensuring that technological developments are monitored and that Microsoft hires employees with the skills to apply these advances to commercial ends.[39] • Anticipating Opportunities: Bill Gates successfully envisioned the direction and future of the software market took advantage of those opportunities by embracing software development rather than trying to build computers. • Ensuring Customer Satisfaction: Bill Gates customer satisfaction theories are reflected in a three-pronged approach; he suggests:[40] o Focus on the most unhappy customers o Use technology to get information on their unhappy experiences and what they expect from you o Use technology to drive the news to the right people, in a hurry • Maintaining a Competitive Advantage: Bill Gates believed that for Microsoft to be successful and remain competitive he needed to provide unique products which would become the staple of the operating systems for most of the personal computers sold virtually anywhere. He said, “My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things. From a very young age I thought software was magical; I thought if I just really focused on that and hired great people that we could change the world through the tool that software has now become. And so you know, I picked just a very few things. I think that's the only way I can make a difference.”[41] o The Six-Part Competitive Strategy[42] 1. Concentrate your effort on a market with large potential but few competitors. 2. Get in early and big. 3. Establish a proprietary position. 4. Protect that position in every way possible. 5. Aim for high gross margins. 6. Make the customers offers they cannot refuse.
Strengths and Weaknesses Bill Gates strengths lie in his ability to correctly judge the market and understand where the trends are heading. This attests to his visionary capabilities. An additional strength displayed by Mr. Gates is his ability to share that vision in order to get others to help him make his ideas a reality. A further strength is Mr. Gates ability to position Microsoft at the top of the software market by designing and creating products that he knew people and businesses would need coupled with the way he contracted and bundled the products in new computers. Research indicates that one specific weakness of Bill Gates is that of impatience not only with others but often within himself. Secondly he may struggle with showing emotions and developing interpersonal relationships. Lastly it has been alleged that he can have a quick temper and at times is too blunt and direct.[43]
Other Interesting Facts In 1993, Bill Gates received the 'Price Waterhouse Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement' by the Computerworld Smithsonian Honors Program (CSHP). This award was presented to Gates for his remarkable contribution to the Information Technology (IT) revolution, for the distinctiveness of its conception, for the wide reach of its vision, and the benefits it brought to the society. [44] In 1996, Gates was named the 'Technology Leader of the Year' by the editors of Industry Week for his corporate guidance and for his unique ability to make his company - Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft)- adapt quickly to changes in the industry. In 2005 Bill Gates was knighted be England’s Queen Elizabeth II. Because he is an American Citizen he cannot use the title “Sir” but he can place the letters KBE after his name.[45] KBE stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[46] On July 1, 2008 Bill Gates stepped down from role as Chairman of the Board of Microsoft. Mr. Gates served as Chairman for 27 years beginning in 1981. He will continue to serve as an advisor for key projects of Microsoft. During his tenure at Microsoft he held positions such as Chief Software Architect and Chief Executive Officer.[47]
Quotes from Bill Gates
"Ultimately, the PC will be a window to everything people are interested in-and everything we need to know.
“Getting in on the first stages of the PC revolution looked like the opportunity of a lifetime, and we seized it. “The weight of all failures of Microsoft could make me too depressed to come to work. Instead I am excited about the challenges and by how we can use today’s bad news to help tomorrow’s problems.” [48]
“Learning from mistakes and constantly improving products is a key to all successful companies.”[49]
Conclusion I feel that Bill Gates has been a great leader for his company. He has some of the attributes mention in our Global Leadership text but does not necessarily encompass them all. Areas he rates well in were previously mentioned and include thinking globally, developing technological savvy, creating shared vision, empowering people, achieving personal mastery, leading change, anticipating opportunities, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining a competitive advantage. Skills that he did not acutely possess include sharing leadership, demonstrating integrity, and encouraging constructive dialogue. My research has indicated that Bill Gates was very much the boss and he often did things the way he wanted to regardless of other opinions; sharing leadership was not his forte. Although he did listen to his teams and executives he often steered them towards his own vision. Discussing integrity and Bill Gates can be a double edged sword because while he seems to be a responsible corporate citizen there are some questionable tactics involved with his business decisions. For example, there is evidence that Windows was based on designs and ideas misleadingly acquired from Apple and Microsoft has become very a near a monopoly in the operating system market. Bill Gates fostered constructive dialogue dividing teams when numbers become too large. Tasks are then divided among the teams, and the team leaders, in turn, subdivide the tasks among subordinates and coordinate the progress of the group. Gates then encourages debate between the groups, and brings the different units together with a shared vision.[50] It is apparent that Microsoft would not be the company it is today without the excellent guidance, clear vision, and tremendous passion for technology that Bill Gates has demonstrated. He truly encompasses the very essence of what it takes to be a great leader. James Collins, co-author of the book - Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies has said of Gates’ leadership, "To my mind, Microsoft has never been a company. It's a single remarkable individual, Gates, with thousands of the smartest, best-paid people anywhere helping that individual. It's basically like a big wheel, with Gates at the hub."[51] It is apparent that Microsoft would not be the company it is today without the excellent guidance, clear vision, and tremendous passion for technology that Bill Gates has demonstrated.
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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates
[2] Digital Equipment Corporation was a pioneering American computer company, a leading vendor in the minicomputer market throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and for a long time one of the most admired within the hacker community (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Equipment_Corporation)
[3] Programmed Data Processor (abbreviated PDP) was the name of a series of minicomputers made by Digital Equipment Corporation. The name 'PDP' intentionally avoided the use of the term 'computer' because at the time of the first PDPs, computers had a reputation of being large, complicated, and expensive machines. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmed_Data_Processor)
[4] Manes, Stephen (1994). Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself The Richest Man in America. Touchstone Pictures. ISBN 0671880748.
[5] The PDP-10 is a mainframe computer manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from the late 1960s. The name stands for "Programmed Data Processor model 10". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDP-10)
[6] Manes, Stephen (1994). Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself The Richest Man in America. Touchstone Pictures. ISBN 0671880748. [7] Gates, Bill (1996). The Road Ahead. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140260404.
[8] Gates, Bill (1996). The Road Ahead. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140260404. [9] Gates, Bill (1996). The Road Ahead. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140260404.
[10] Traf-O-Data was a partnership between Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Paul Gilbert. The objective was to read the raw data from roadway traffic counters and create useful reports for traffic engineers. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traf-O-Data)
[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates
[12] http://web.archive.org/web/20060510205250/http://theweekmagazine.com/article.aspx?id=803
[13] Pancake sorting is a variation of the sorting problem in which the only allowed operation is to reverse the elements of some prefix of the sequence. Unlike a traditional sorting algorithm, which attempts to sort with the least comparisons possible, the goal is to sort the sequence in as few reversals as possible. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_sorting)
[14] The MITS Altair 8800 was a microcomputer design from 1975 based on the Intel 8080 CPU and sold by mail order through advertisements in Popular Electronics, Radio-Electronics and other hobbyist magazines. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MITS_Altair_8800)
[15] The Intel 8080 was an early microprocessor designed and manufactured by Intel. The 8-bit microprocessor was released in April 1974 running at 2 MHz (at up to 500,000 instructions per second), and is sometimes considered to be the first truly usable microprocessor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_8080)
[16] In computer programming, BASIC (an acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code[1]) is a family of high-level programming languages. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIC)
[17] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3428721.stm
[18] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3428721.stm
[19]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm
[20]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm
[21] http://trendsupdates.com/gates%E2%80%99-vision/
[22]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20StudiesExcp.htm
[23]http://www.microsoft.com/investor/EarningsAndFinancials/Earnings/PressReleaseAndWebcast/FY10/Q4/default.aspx
[24]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm
[25]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm#Focus_on_Product_Development
[26] http://humanity.org/voices/commencements/speeches/index.php?page=gates_at_harvard
[27] Quoted in the Boston Globe June 1, 1993
[28] http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/what-one-can-learn-bill-gates
[29] http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/rss/article/979714/Bill-Gates-pledges-large-risks/
[30] Traf-O-Data was a partnership between Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Paul Gilbert.
The objective was to read the raw data from roadway traffic counters and create useful reports for traffic engineers.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traf-O-Data)
[31] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates
[32] In computer programming, BASIC (an acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code[1]) is a family of high-level programming languages. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIC)
[33] http://www.billycoxinternational.com/blog/take-it-from-bill-gates-vision-action-big-things/
[34] http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0001/01/lklw.00.html
[35] Goldsmith, Marshall. Global Leadership: the next Generation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: FT/Prentice Hall, 2003. Print.
[36] http://news.cnet.com/bill-gates-retirement/
[37] http://www.microsoft.com/about/companyinformation/ourbusinesses/profile.mspx
[38] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[39] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[40] http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/what-one-can-learn-bill-gates
[41] http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/CEOProfiles/story?id=506354&page=3
[42] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[43] http://famous-relationships.topsynergy.com/Bill_Gates/
[44]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship.htm
[45] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3428673.stm
[46] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBE_%28disambiguation%29
[47] http://people.forbes.com/profile/bill-gates/11334
[48] http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/what-one-can-learn-bill-gates
[49] Quotes from Bill Gates http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oG76rdNmFMJBsBauxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzdWFscmExBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA0Y5MDBf
MTE1/SIG=128p0vovm/EXP=1281525853/**http%3a//www.afterquotes.com/great/quotes/products.htm
[50] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[51] "Bill Gates' Executive Style Inspires a Cult Following," by David Streitfeld in the Washington Post, dated May 1, 2000.
Profiles of Global Leaders
July 14, 2010
Abstract This paper will outline a profile of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. I will provide background information about his upbringing, his early exposure to computers, and his founding of Microsoft. I will then detail his unique leadership skills which have allowed him to take his company from a small upstart to a global icon.
Childhood
William (Bill) Henry Gates III was born in 1955 in Seattle, Washington to a middle class family. His father was a lawyer and his mother served on the board of directors for a bank and the United Way. Bill Gates has one older and one younger sister. His parents had originally hoped that he would become a lawyer.[1] At age 13 …show more content…
he enrolled in an exclusive school called Lakeside where he was exposed to an ASR-33 teletype terminal. The school had also acquired a block of time on a General Electric (GE) computer for the students. Gates had a fascination with the programming of the GE system and quickly learned BASIC. He was also able to get himself excused from his math class to follow his computer interest. He wrote his first program on this computer which allowed people to play tic-tac-toe against a computer. Gates was impressed by the computer and how it would always execute software code perfectly. After the school’s computer time was used up at GE, Gates received exposure to other computer systems including DEC[2] PDP[3] minicomputers.[4] One of these systems was a PDP-10[5] belonging to Computer Center Corporation (CCC), which banned four Lakeside students (Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Ric Weiland, and Kent Evans) for the summer after the kids were caught taking advantage of kinks in the operating system to get free computer time.[6] At the end of the ban, the four students offered to find bugs in CCC's software in exchange for computer time. Rather than use the system via teletype, Gates went to CCC's offices and studied source code for various programs that ran on the system, including programs in FORTRAN, LISP, and machine language.[7] This arrangement with CCC continued until 1970, when the company went out of business. The following year, Information Sciences, Inc. hired the four Lakeside students to write a payroll program in COBOL, providing them computer time and royalties.[8] Once school administrators became aware of his knack for programming, Gates was asked to write the school's computer program to schedule students in classes. He modified the code so that he was placed in classes with mostly female students. He later stated that "it was hard to tear myself away from a machine at which I could so unambiguously demonstrate success."[9] At age 17, Bill Gates formed a venture with Paul Allen, called Traf-O-Data[10], to make traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor.[11] Gates graduated from Lakeside School in 1973.
He served as a congressional page in the U.S. House of Representatives after high school. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT[12] and enrolled at Harvard College in the fall of 1973. While at Harvard, he met Steve Ballmer, who later succeeded Gates as CEO of Microsoft, and computer scientist Christos Papadimitriou, with whom he wrote a paper about pancake sorting[13]. Bill Gates never pursued a specific course of study while a student at Harvard but he did spend a significant amount of time using the school's computers. He remained in contact with Paul Allen and joined him at Honeywell during the summer of 1974. Later that year, the MITS Altair 8800,[14] based on the Intel 8080 CPU[15], was released and Gates and Allen saw this as the opportunity to start their own computer software …show more content…
company.
Creating the Microsoft Empire In 1975 Bill Gates and Paul Allen contracted with the developers of the Altair 8800 to write the first computer language (Basic Interpreters)[16] for MITS’s small computer which resulted in them relocating to Arizona and setting up a small office in a run down motel. They called their company Microsoft. A defining moment for Microsoft came in 1980 when an agreement was signed to provide the operating system that became known as MS-DOS, for IBM's new personal computer. In a contractual masterstroke, Microsoft was allowed to license the operating system to other manufacturers, spawning an industry of "IBM-compatible" personal computers which depended on Microsoft's operating system.[17] The real genius of Bill Gates’ move here was that Microsoft didn’t have an operating system to sell to IBM. Bill Gates just knew that IBM needed one and set up the meeting and sold them something he didn’t have while retaining the rights to it. He banked on the fact that Paul Allen had an acquaintance that had been working on an operating system. Once they struck their deal with IBM Paul Allen purchased the operating system from his acquaintance for $50,000. Microsoft tweaked this operating system and made millions of dollars off of it. The “Windows” era that most of us are familiar with today began in 1985. This new software enabled users to run applications and included the use of a mouse for the first time. Rapid growth triggered Microsoft to go public in 1986, raising $61 million. Paul Allen had already reduced his role in the company but Bill Gates continued to lead the company's growth, with his vision for networked computers proving crucial to Microsoft's continued success.[18] Bill Gates used a simple philosophy to take Microsoft to the top of the software market; ‘offer people and business a product that they want and need’. Bill Gates put an emphasis on recruiting and retaining some of the brightest staff in the software industry. He believed that the recruitment of talented software engineers was one of the most critical elements in the software industry.[19] In addition to software experience, Bill Gates looked for several other characteristics which included, the capacity to grasp new knowledge quickly, the ability to ask probing questions, and deep familiarity with programming structures.[20] Bill Gates significantly, and positively, impacted Microsoft through his use of original and aggressive marketing strategies. Gates was a marketing whiz because of his persistence in being in direct contact with customers and the market. Bill Gates spent a considerable amount of his time meeting large numbers of customers which assisted him in leading Microsoft in the direction that the industry was heading; often times Gates and Microsoft greatly influenced that direction and the industry as a whole.[21] A perceptive judge of the potential of software products, Gates successfully predicted future trends and positioned Microsoft's products in such a way that they soon became best selling products.[22] Gates led Microsoft from a $1 million company in 1978 to a market leader in the software industry with revenues of $62.48 billion in 2010.[23]
Primary Leadership Qualities This case discusses in detail the visionary leadership of Bill Gates and his contribution to the Information Technology industry. Gates played an important role in product development activities at Microsoft. Much of his development efforts were directed towards product simplification. Gates believed that user-friendly computers and easily accessible software could attract many new customers.[24] In leading Microsoft Bill Gates centered on three primary areas; 1) Focus on Product Development, 2) Hire the best talent, 3) Aggressively Market the Products. He was successful in these areas because of leadership skills such as a willingness to take risks, taking initiative, and being a visionary. Gates played an important role in product development activities at Microsoft. Much of the development efforts were directed towards product simplification. Gates believed that user-friendly computers and easily accessible software could attract many new customers. He tried to view the entire product portfolio of Microsoft in the light of future prospects and likely competitor moves. Accordingly, he made strategic decisions regarding product development and lead the company to the leading role in software applications. Gates paid special attention to recruit and retain the best talent in the software industry. He believed that the recruitment of talented software engineers was one of the most critical elements in the software industry. Though a great number of potential recruits applied for jobs at Microsoft, Gates assumed that the best talent would never apply directly. Consequently, Microsoft's HR managers had to hunt for the best talent and offer them a job.[25] His leadership in the area of attracting and retaining highly qualified candidates proved to be invaluable to his company. Bill Gates’ marketing style was analytical and persuasive. Very early on Gates had a vision to have a personal computer in every home, not just for financial gain, but because he envisioned the potential of future computer applications and how they would help educate, entertain and enrich people's lives. His strategy began with his own passion for technology and fueled the growth and direction of Microsoft. Bill Gates took significant risks to get where he is today and he did so even at a young age. First and foremost he dropped out of college to pursue his passion and make his mark in the technology field; and not just any college, but Harvard. The timing of this move was key because personal computers were on the horizon and the need for computer languages and software were just becoming evident. In his own words, “I worried that they would realize I was just a student in a dorm and hang up on me. Instead they said: "We're not quite ready, come see us in a month," which was a good thing, because we hadn't written the software yet. From that moment, I worked day and night on this little extra credit project that marked the end of my college education and the beginning of a remarkable journey with Microsoft”.[26] Secondly, his risk taking is evident in the way he approached IBM with a language for their PC before he even had the language. Contracting with IBM proved to be a very significant move for Gates and Microsoft. A third example can be seen in that Bill Gates was building a software company before most people actually knew what software was. His vision in this area is what set him apart from other industry pioneers who seemed to focus on building computers rather than writing languages and code. A final example can be seen with Window’s and a quote from Bill Gates himself “Usually, it's because you take a big risk, you bet on something early, like Windows in our case. Everybody else doesn't believe in it, they don't invest, and we have this incredible success because we were right."[27] Bill Gates’ perception on risk taking is that of “if you decline to take risks early you’ll decline in the market later. Furthermore, if you bet big, only a few out of these risks have to succeed to provide for your future”. Gates cautions that people and companies should be prepared to experiment with new processes and technology solutions.[28] Gates continues to apply his risk taking behavior even today. Along with his wife Melinda, he was quoted as saying that their foundation (The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) will "take a long-term view and take large risks on new approaches". The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation focus on education, food, and health programs in developing countries.[29] Bill Gates took initiative! During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s he not only took an interest in computers he showed initiative by learning everything he could about them including learning and writing such computer languages as BASIC, COBAL, and FORTRA. Furthermore, he showed initiative in the way he found computers to use and practice on. First, at the Lakeside School and General Electric, and then with Computer Center Corporation, and finally with Information Services Inc. Next, Bill Gates showed initiative by forming a company with Paul Allen, called Traf-O-Data[30], in which they made traffic counters based on the Intel 8008 processor.[31] All of this was accomplished while still in high school. However, perhaps one of the most significant example of Bill Gates’ initiative is evident in Gates contracting with the developers of the Altair 8800 to write the first computer language (Basic Interpreters)[32] for MITS’s small computer which resulted in the relocation to Arizona and the formation of Microsoft. A final instance, and arguably an equally significant one, is when Microsoft contracted to provide the operating system that became known as MS-DOS, for IBM's new personal computer. The initiative displayed by Bill Gates to approach IBM and sell them an operating system that Microsoft didn’t even have yet shows not only great risk but excellent initiative to further his company. Bill Gates was a true visionary during the boom of computer age in the 1970, 1980’s, and 1990’s. When asked about his success Bill gates replied “there were a lot of people at the same place I was. One difference was I had vision, I saw the potential that was there … The big difference was I took massive action and immediate action.”[33] Another quote explains why Bill Gates focused on software rather than hardware, “…but we talked about a day when computers would be personal, and that the software part was something we thought we could do better than anybody else… we saw that software was sort of an unlimited thing that we kind of understood. Most of the people in the computer industry thought about the hardware piece. But we had latched on to software...”[34] Bill Gates’ vision for the industry and for Microsoft helped shape the direction of his company as well as contributing to the direction of the entire computer software industry.
Additional Leadership Qualities Several concepts of emerging and effective global leadership trends were discussed during our course. Some of these trends included thinking globally, developing technological savvy, creating shared vision, empowering people, achieving personal mastery, leading change, anticipating opportunities, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining a competitive advantage.[35] Each of these areas are directly applicable to the successful leadership characteristics exhibited by Bill Gates. • Thinking Globally: Bill Gates had a global mindset early on and this evident in a quote from him. Bill Gates said, “Well, we weren't that well-known publicly until sometime in the 1980s, and one of my favorite articles was where they wrote that there were four software companies, and none of them was that much different than the others. But we knew at that time that the other three just weren't long term, hiring the right people, thinking globally.”[36] • Developing Technological Savvy: Bill Gates has definitely developed technological savvy throughout his career. In fact he can be considered one of the pioneers of the software industry. • Creating Shared Vision: A shared vision is commitment from all members of an organization towards objectives and the way to accomplish those objectives. A very early vision of Bill Gates was a computer on every desk and in every home. This may have seemed very farfetched to people 30 years ago but in 2010 it is almost a reality, at least for America.[37] Developing and sharing this vision with Microsoft employees has played a tremendous role in the success of the company. • Empowering people: “The most important part of my work as chairman is recognizing and articulating the opportunities they present to each person in the company. We then empower employees with as much information and as many productivity tools as possible, so they can achieve results within the framework of that vision.”[38] • Achieving Personal Mastery: Personal mastery is developing one’s self to achieve personal goals as well as objectives of the company one works for. • Leading Change: Change is a basic function of today’s information technology companies and Bill Gates summed it up well when he said, “I work in the software industry, where change is the norm. A popular software title…gets upgraded every year or two with major new features and continuous refinements. We listen to customer feedback and study new technology opportunities to determine the improvements to make.” Microsoft’s failure to get in early during the Internet revolution is a lesson that has not been forgotten. Today, Gates prepares for “inflection points” by ensuring that technological developments are monitored and that Microsoft hires employees with the skills to apply these advances to commercial ends.[39] • Anticipating Opportunities: Bill Gates successfully envisioned the direction and future of the software market took advantage of those opportunities by embracing software development rather than trying to build computers. • Ensuring Customer Satisfaction: Bill Gates customer satisfaction theories are reflected in a three-pronged approach; he suggests:[40] o Focus on the most unhappy customers o Use technology to get information on their unhappy experiences and what they expect from you o Use technology to drive the news to the right people, in a hurry • Maintaining a Competitive Advantage: Bill Gates believed that for Microsoft to be successful and remain competitive he needed to provide unique products which would become the staple of the operating systems for most of the personal computers sold virtually anywhere. He said, “My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things. From a very young age I thought software was magical; I thought if I just really focused on that and hired great people that we could change the world through the tool that software has now become. And so you know, I picked just a very few things. I think that's the only way I can make a difference.”[41] o The Six-Part Competitive Strategy[42] 1. Concentrate your effort on a market with large potential but few competitors. 2. Get in early and big. 3. Establish a proprietary position. 4. Protect that position in every way possible. 5. Aim for high gross margins. 6. Make the customers offers they cannot refuse.
Strengths and Weaknesses Bill Gates strengths lie in his ability to correctly judge the market and understand where the trends are heading. This attests to his visionary capabilities. An additional strength displayed by Mr. Gates is his ability to share that vision in order to get others to help him make his ideas a reality. A further strength is Mr. Gates ability to position Microsoft at the top of the software market by designing and creating products that he knew people and businesses would need coupled with the way he contracted and bundled the products in new computers. Research indicates that one specific weakness of Bill Gates is that of impatience not only with others but often within himself. Secondly he may struggle with showing emotions and developing interpersonal relationships. Lastly it has been alleged that he can have a quick temper and at times is too blunt and direct.[43]
Other Interesting Facts In 1993, Bill Gates received the 'Price Waterhouse Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement' by the Computerworld Smithsonian Honors Program (CSHP). This award was presented to Gates for his remarkable contribution to the Information Technology (IT) revolution, for the distinctiveness of its conception, for the wide reach of its vision, and the benefits it brought to the society. [44] In 1996, Gates was named the 'Technology Leader of the Year' by the editors of Industry Week for his corporate guidance and for his unique ability to make his company - Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft)- adapt quickly to changes in the industry. In 2005 Bill Gates was knighted be England’s Queen Elizabeth II. Because he is an American Citizen he cannot use the title “Sir” but he can place the letters KBE after his name.[45] KBE stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[46] On July 1, 2008 Bill Gates stepped down from role as Chairman of the Board of Microsoft. Mr. Gates served as Chairman for 27 years beginning in 1981. He will continue to serve as an advisor for key projects of Microsoft. During his tenure at Microsoft he held positions such as Chief Software Architect and Chief Executive Officer.[47]
Quotes from Bill Gates
"Ultimately, the PC will be a window to everything people are interested in-and everything we need to know.
“Getting in on the first stages of the PC revolution looked like the opportunity of a lifetime, and we seized it. “The weight of all failures of Microsoft could make me too depressed to come to work. Instead I am excited about the challenges and by how we can use today’s bad news to help tomorrow’s problems.” [48]
“Learning from mistakes and constantly improving products is a key to all successful companies.”[49]
Conclusion I feel that Bill Gates has been a great leader for his company. He has some of the attributes mention in our Global Leadership text but does not necessarily encompass them all. Areas he rates well in were previously mentioned and include thinking globally, developing technological savvy, creating shared vision, empowering people, achieving personal mastery, leading change, anticipating opportunities, ensuring customer satisfaction, and maintaining a competitive advantage. Skills that he did not acutely possess include sharing leadership, demonstrating integrity, and encouraging constructive dialogue. My research has indicated that Bill Gates was very much the boss and he often did things the way he wanted to regardless of other opinions; sharing leadership was not his forte. Although he did listen to his teams and executives he often steered them towards his own vision. Discussing integrity and Bill Gates can be a double edged sword because while he seems to be a responsible corporate citizen there are some questionable tactics involved with his business decisions. For example, there is evidence that Windows was based on designs and ideas misleadingly acquired from Apple and Microsoft has become very a near a monopoly in the operating system market. Bill Gates fostered constructive dialogue dividing teams when numbers become too large. Tasks are then divided among the teams, and the team leaders, in turn, subdivide the tasks among subordinates and coordinate the progress of the group. Gates then encourages debate between the groups, and brings the different units together with a shared vision.[50] It is apparent that Microsoft would not be the company it is today without the excellent guidance, clear vision, and tremendous passion for technology that Bill Gates has demonstrated. He truly encompasses the very essence of what it takes to be a great leader. James Collins, co-author of the book - Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies has said of Gates’ leadership, "To my mind, Microsoft has never been a company. It's a single remarkable individual, Gates, with thousands of the smartest, best-paid people anywhere helping that individual. It's basically like a big wheel, with Gates at the hub."[51] It is apparent that Microsoft would not be the company it is today without the excellent guidance, clear vision, and tremendous passion for technology that Bill Gates has demonstrated.
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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates
[2] Digital Equipment Corporation was a pioneering American computer company, a leading vendor in the minicomputer market throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and for a long time one of the most admired within the hacker community (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Equipment_Corporation)
[3] Programmed Data Processor (abbreviated PDP) was the name of a series of minicomputers made by Digital Equipment Corporation. The name 'PDP' intentionally avoided the use of the term 'computer' because at the time of the first PDPs, computers had a reputation of being large, complicated, and expensive machines. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmed_Data_Processor)
[4] Manes, Stephen (1994). Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself The Richest Man in America. Touchstone Pictures. ISBN 0671880748.
[5] The PDP-10 is a mainframe computer manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) from the late 1960s. The name stands for "Programmed Data Processor model 10". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDP-10)
[6] Manes, Stephen (1994). Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself The Richest Man in America. Touchstone Pictures. ISBN 0671880748. [7] Gates, Bill (1996). The Road Ahead. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140260404.
[8] Gates, Bill (1996). The Road Ahead. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140260404. [9] Gates, Bill (1996). The Road Ahead. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140260404.
[10] Traf-O-Data was a partnership between Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Paul Gilbert. The objective was to read the raw data from roadway traffic counters and create useful reports for traffic engineers. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traf-O-Data)
[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates
[12] http://web.archive.org/web/20060510205250/http://theweekmagazine.com/article.aspx?id=803
[13] Pancake sorting is a variation of the sorting problem in which the only allowed operation is to reverse the elements of some prefix of the sequence. Unlike a traditional sorting algorithm, which attempts to sort with the least comparisons possible, the goal is to sort the sequence in as few reversals as possible. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_sorting)
[14] The MITS Altair 8800 was a microcomputer design from 1975 based on the Intel 8080 CPU and sold by mail order through advertisements in Popular Electronics, Radio-Electronics and other hobbyist magazines. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MITS_Altair_8800)
[15] The Intel 8080 was an early microprocessor designed and manufactured by Intel. The 8-bit microprocessor was released in April 1974 running at 2 MHz (at up to 500,000 instructions per second), and is sometimes considered to be the first truly usable microprocessor. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_8080)
[16] In computer programming, BASIC (an acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code[1]) is a family of high-level programming languages. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIC)
[17] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3428721.stm
[18] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3428721.stm
[19]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm
[20]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm
[21] http://trendsupdates.com/gates%E2%80%99-vision/
[22]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20StudiesExcp.htm
[23]http://www.microsoft.com/investor/EarningsAndFinancials/Earnings/PressReleaseAndWebcast/FY10/Q4/default.aspx
[24]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm
[25]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship-Case%20Studies.htm#Focus_on_Product_Development
[26] http://humanity.org/voices/commencements/speeches/index.php?page=gates_at_harvard
[27] Quoted in the Boston Globe June 1, 1993
[28] http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/what-one-can-learn-bill-gates
[29] http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/rss/article/979714/Bill-Gates-pledges-large-risks/
[30] Traf-O-Data was a partnership between Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Paul Gilbert.
The objective was to read the raw data from roadway traffic counters and create useful reports for traffic engineers.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traf-O-Data)
[31] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates
[32] In computer programming, BASIC (an acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code[1]) is a family of high-level programming languages. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIC)
[33] http://www.billycoxinternational.com/blog/take-it-from-bill-gates-vision-action-big-things/
[34] http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0001/01/lklw.00.html
[35] Goldsmith, Marshall. Global Leadership: the next Generation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: FT/Prentice Hall, 2003. Print.
[36] http://news.cnet.com/bill-gates-retirement/
[37] http://www.microsoft.com/about/companyinformation/ourbusinesses/profile.mspx
[38] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[39] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[40] http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/what-one-can-learn-bill-gates
[41] http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/CEOProfiles/story?id=506354&page=3
[42] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[43] http://famous-relationships.topsynergy.com/Bill_Gates/
[44]http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/Leadership%20the%20Bill%20Gates%20Way-Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship.htm
[45] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3428673.stm
[46] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBE_%28disambiguation%29
[47] http://people.forbes.com/profile/bill-gates/11334
[48] http://www.navhindtimes.in/panorama/what-one-can-learn-bill-gates
[49] Quotes from Bill Gates http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oG76rdNmFMJBsBauxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzdWFscmExBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA0Y5MDBf
MTE1/SIG=128p0vovm/EXP=1281525853/**http%3a//www.afterquotes.com/great/quotes/products.htm
[50] http://www.scribd.com/doc/10156528/Inside-the-Guru-Mind-Bill-Gates
[51] "Bill Gates' Executive Style Inspires a Cult Following," by David Streitfeld in the Washington Post, dated May 1, 2000.