12 ms·

Bill Gates was like Michael Jordan while running Microsoft

12 points by jedwhite 6y ago

jasoneckert 6y ago
When I worked there as a developer (early 1990s), it was definitely a very aggressive and focused culture. You had big targets and would get reamed out if you didn't meet them. But the following day you'd be praised for what you did get done to make sure you knew how much you have achieved - and that often pushed you to meet your targets the following day or so. I liken it today to a perpetual game jam or hackathon. Four months at Microsoft felt like 10 years anywhere else, but no other environment built my skillset as fast, and I have many fond memories of that time and culture.
perl4ever 6y ago
Michael Jordan, as in the CEO of PepsiCo, Westinghouse, CBS, and EDS?
aparsons 6y ago
It was interesting to see both at the White House to receive the presidential medal of freedom. Both are maniacally competitive and dominated their field for a decade unlike anyone before or since.
ncmncm 6y ago
Michael Jordan was an unprosecuted monopoly abuser who got away with presenting fraudulent evidence under oath, and set back computer technology by decades, getting people used to crashing systems without demanding their money back? Who knew?
harassmentmcl 6y ago
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs would never have gotten away with what they did now due to the internet. I know many former Microsoft employees, Bill was famous for grilling people. “That was the stupidest idea in the history of Microsoft” was a common phrase. Watching Gates’ building his legacy has been interesting, I always wondered what happened to the “real Bill” I heard about from my network who worked for him directly. I think it is an interesting move for him to be honest about it due to this book. I suspect that Gates has been able to run interference on accounts of what he used to be like: Mean. Despite that, he has made a lot of his employees very rich. If you were anywhere near Gates during this period you would have counted yourself lucky to be getting reamed and counting your stock options over multiple stock splits. I would take the 1985 - 1998 Microsoft stock options please. I think the changing realities of the internet and laws protecting diverse workforce’s from harassment might be a genuine future risk to his legacy. I have been surprised at how little coverage there has been. If Gates and Jobs engaged in their former behavior in a modern work environment they would definitely get sued. Not “possibly” or “potentially” -> it would be a successful lawsuit, maybe a class action and they would lose. If they did what they did anywhere near women or minorities it would stand a good chance of getting labeled some form of illegal harassment or discrimination under current law. I am not saying they necessarily are racist or sexist, but any type of behavior like this towards women or minorities in general would be an extremely high risk activity.

12 points by jedwhite 6y ago

When I worked there as a developer (early 1990s), it was definitely a very aggressive and focused culture. You had big targets and would get reamed out if you didn't meet them. But the following day you'd be praised for what you did get done to make sure you knew how much you have achieved - and that often pushed you to meet your targets the following day or so. I liken it today to a perpetual game jam or hackathon. Four months at Microsoft felt like 10 years anywhere else, but no other environment built my skillset as fast, and I have many fond memories of that time and culture.

perl4ever 6y ago

Michael Jordan, as in the CEO of PepsiCo, Westinghouse, CBS, and EDS?

aparsons 6y ago

It was interesting to see both at the White House to receive the presidential medal of freedom. Both are maniacally competitive and dominated their field for a decade unlike anyone before or since.

ncmncm 6y ago

Michael Jordan was an unprosecuted monopoly abuser who got away with presenting fraudulent evidence under oath, and set back computer technology by decades, getting people used to crashing systems without demanding their money back? Who knew?

harassmentmcl 6y ago

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs would never have gotten away with what they did now due to the internet. I know many former Microsoft employees, Bill was famous for grilling people. “That was the stupidest idea in the history of Microsoft” was a common phrase. Watching Gates’ building his legacy has been interesting, I always wondered what happened to the “real Bill” I heard about from my network who worked for him directly. I think it is an interesting move for him to be honest about it due to this book. I suspect that Gates has been able to run interference on accounts of what he used to be like: Mean. Despite that, he has made a lot of his employees very rich. If you were anywhere near Gates during this period you would have counted yourself lucky to be getting reamed and counting your stock options over multiple stock splits. I would take the 1985 - 1998 Microsoft stock options please. I think the changing realities of the internet and laws protecting diverse workforce’s from harassment might be a genuine future risk to his legacy. I have been surprised at how little coverage there has been. If Gates and Jobs engaged in their former behavior in a modern work environment they would definitely get sued. Not “possibly” or “potentially” -> it would be a successful lawsuit, maybe a class action and they would lose. If they did what they did anywhere near women or minorities it would stand a good chance of getting labeled some form of illegal harassment or discrimination under current law. I am not saying they necessarily are racist or sexist, but any type of behavior like this towards women or minorities in general would be an extremely high risk activity.