I don't buy the argument that Gates became rich because of IBM's "blunder" with DOS. When Windows was released Microsoft almost had to start over again. They had both a good product and the right business model by horizontally integrating with ODM's and realizing that the value in software is in platform. Then he went and did it again with Microsoft Office.
Bill Gates created some of the most profitable and efficient business units that the world has ever seen, and he did it more than once.
It just happens that he took advantage of IBM's naivety the first time, but that was only a blunder with hindsight.
To add, I think being rich is overrated, and that it isn't a coincidence that the biggest influencers and successes in our industry don't care about money.
>To add, I think being rich is overrated, and that it isn't a coincidence that the biggest influencers and successes in our industry don't care about money.
The biggest influences and successes in our industry don't care about money after they have their FU money. I wouldn't either! Ironically, this tells me that being rich is absolutely not overrated but really important if you ever want to be able to forget about money.
I find very few poor or middle class people who continuously hold the belief that "money isn't important" or they "don't care about money". Once you've got that FU money - you can say FU - that's why it's called FU money!
The few that do may do so because of religious/spiritual beliefs, but almost everyone without enough money cares about it, because a) it's scarce and b) necessary to live.
I don't think PG is arguing that Gates is rich because of IBM's failure. I think he is arguing that Gates is fantastically rich because of IBM's failure. PG states in the essay that someone like Gates who is smart and hard working will be successful. ...but being successful and being a multi-billionaire are two different things. Being a multi-billionaire requires luck.
And, yeah, it’s pretty clear that IBM dropped the ball on this one. There was a good 10 - 15 year period where IBM could have easilly crushed (or bought) Microsoft.
"Battles are decided, Sethra told me, when timing and momentum and courage all come together and, at just the right moment, someone fails to make a critical mistake and doesn't manage to miss a vital opportunity."
Bill Gates created some of the most profitable and efficient business units that the world has ever seen, and he did it more than once.
It just happens that he took advantage of IBM's naivety the first time, but that was only a blunder with hindsight.
To add, I think being rich is overrated, and that it isn't a coincidence that the biggest influencers and successes in our industry don't care about money.