17 May 2014

CNNMoney: “The Bill & Warren Show”

They say success is getting what you want and happiness is wanting what you get. I don’t know which one applies in this case, but I do know I wouldn’t be doing anything else. I’d advise you that when you go out to work, work for an organization of people you admire, because it will turn you on. I always worry about people who say, I’m going to do this for ten years; I really don’t like it very well. And then I’ll do this.... That’s a little like saving up sex for your old age. Not a very good idea. Warren Buffett

This interview with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett is more than 15 years old – basically a relic from the stone age in Internet years – but nevertheless has many good conclusions and advice from two very successful business men. Well worth a read even now.

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates
Although about three million computers get sold every year in China, people don’t pay for the software. Someday they will, though. And as long as they’re going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade. Bill Gates

For me it’s very clear that Bill Gates recognized the dominance of Microsoft and Windows will face a lot of challenges in the next decade, but it was very hard to anticipate which form they will take. Regarding the quote above, people still don’t pay for software in China, but somebody else figured out the recipe to collect: Android solved the Windows piracy problem by bundling the operating system on extra-cheap mobile devices and selling them all over Asia.

I’m very suspect of the person who is very good at one business – it also could be a good athlete or a good entertainer – who starts thinking they should tell the world how to behave on everything. For us to think that just because we made a lot of money, we’re going to be better at giving advice on every subject – well, that's just crazy. Warren Buffett

Post a Comment