Let's have a moment of thanksgiving for Bill Gates.
Two reasons.
- More than any other entrepreneur, Bill Gates is the reason you're using a personal computing device to look at this story right now. For that, he became the world's richest man.
- Now, Gates is no longer the world's richest man because he's busy spending his money trying to save the world from disease and poor education.
When someone who has done, and is doing, such an incredible things – and has something to say – it's worth listening.
On being a "business man"
On how he defines "smart"
"It's an elusive concept. There's a certain sharpness, an ability to absorb new facts. To walk into a situation, have something explained to you and immediately say, "Well, what about this?" To ask an insightful question. To absorb it in real time. A capacity to remember. To relate to domains that may not seem connected at first. A certain creativity that allows people to be effective."
On telling employees the truth, quickly
"If I think something's a waste of time or inappropriate I don't wait to point it out. I say it right away. It's real time. So you might hear me say 'That's the dumbest idea I have ever heard' many times during a meeting."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider