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This is a bit late but this should be noted : "Bill Gates: No. I think after the first three or four years, it's pretty cast in concrete whether you're a good

This is a bit late but this should be noted : "Bill Gates: No. I think after the first three or four years, it's pretty cast in concrete whether you're a good programmer or not. After a few more years, you may know more about managing large projects and personalities, but after three or four years, it's clear what you're going to be. There's no one at Microsoft who was just kind of mediocre for a couple of years, and then just out of the blue started optimizing everything in sight. I can talk to somebody about a program that he's written and know right away whether he's really a good programmer." http://blog.codinghorror.com/how-to-become-a-better-programmer-by-not-programming/ http://blog.codinghorror.com/how-to-become-a-better-programm... So Does Bill still believe this or is he a hypocrite in hiding ?

yesco 11y ago
God he used to be such an ass. Sometimes I forget he's even the same person.
- Apocryphon 11y ago
  Perhaps that's the growth mindset in action.
- dennisgorelik 11y ago
  > he used to be such an ass Gates became successful back then, not now when he became mellow.
kevinchen 11y ago
The interview you quote is from 1986, nearly 30 years ago. People change their viewpoints over 3 decades - it would be stupid if Gates always thought the same things even after learning from others or having new experiences. So he's not being a "hypocrite," he's just learning. Just because he is famous and has a lot of interviews doesn't mean he isn't allowed to change his mind.
- kyllo 11y ago
  1986 was 29 years ago dude. Almost three decades.
  - kevinchen 11y ago
    Nice catch - fixed. Too early for arithmetic.
RyanMcGreal 11y ago
FTA: The greatest virtue of the book is that you can’t help but ask yourself things like, “Which areas have I always looked at through a fixed-mindset lens?” and “In what ways am I sending the wrong message to my children about mindset and effort?” Thanks to Dweck’s skillful coaching, you’re almost guaranteed to approach these tough questions with a growth mindset.

yesco 11y ago

God he used to be such an ass. Sometimes I forget he's even the same person.

Apocryphon 11y ago
Perhaps that's the growth mindset in action.
dennisgorelik 11y ago
> he used to be such an ass Gates became successful back then, not now when he became mellow.

kevinchen 11y ago

The interview you quote is from 1986, nearly 30 years ago. People change their viewpoints over 3 decades - it would be stupid if Gates always thought the same things even after learning from others or having new experiences. So he's not being a "hypocrite," he's just learning. Just because he is famous and has a lot of interviews doesn't mean he isn't allowed to change his mind.

kyllo 11y ago
1986 was 29 years ago dude. Almost three decades.
- kevinchen 11y ago
  Nice catch - fixed. Too early for arithmetic.

RyanMcGreal 11y ago

FTA: The greatest virtue of the book is that you can’t help but ask yourself things like, “Which areas have I always looked at through a fixed-mindset lens?” and “In what ways am I sending the wrong message to my children about mindset and effort?” Thanks to Dweck’s skillful coaching, you’re almost guaranteed to approach these tough questions with a growth mindset.