Paul Allen,the Microsoft Founder - what did I learn
First, I have to be ruthlessly honest. I never had strong interest in him but I learned a bit about him since I explored a lot about his more celebrated partner, Bill Gates. This blog is not about Paul's life or achievement. That you will find plenty in wiki and google. I will focus more on my take-out from his life.
Other than Microsoft, he has invested and owned a large number of business. Besides owning every famous clubs in Seattle ( Portland Tailblazer, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounder FC ), he also invested into number of famous IT and non-IT companies. But he barely made any money in any of his ventures. In fact he lost two Billions in Charter Communication and unknown amount in his movie venture Vulkan production. However, he was prolific in his philanthropy for advancing science and technology. He invested and gave way generously for brain research, ocean exploration, space exploration and so on. He was a terrific scientific and technology mind in his heart and spirit but probably not that great as a businessman or business investor. And yet here he is - worth $22B. All because of Microsoft share of 40% which Bill gave him during foundation.
It will not be exaggeration to say, his life changed because he met Bill Gates in Lakeside school. It was the best private school in Seattle and had access to computers in 1960s, when none knew about it. These two kids ( Allen was two year older than Bill ) were bunking regular class to do coding in one of the most archaic and early computer when there was no computer or software industry.
That's what I always spoke about great schools like Harvard, MIT, Stanford or ( IITs in India). It's not about teaching or great teachers. You can always learn what is taught in these great schools anywhere. It's all about finding a Bill Gates among your friends with whom you will be able to create the next big Microsoft. You need to hang out with the kids who had a strong sense of conviction for doing great things- be it technology, business or politics. There will be no shortage of talented and smart kids in the great schools, but people like Bill and Allen are rare anywhere. Imagine what strong conviction does it take to drop out from a school like Harvard and that's too from Computer Science department. What level of self driving force convinced Bill Gates and Paul Allen ( he dropped out on 2nd year from Washington State University and insinuated Bill to do the same from Harvard ) to take up a risky software start-up called Microsoft when software was free. In fact before Microsoft, there was no software Industry. It was all free , installed with Hardware.
Thanks to this deep sense of conviction in their ability to create new technology, they were able to overcome the fear of failure. As I said, there is no shortage of smart and talented kids. Bill and Allen were not only smart, they had upper middle class privileged upbringing. But they stood out among many because of one single thing. Strong self-driving force born out of their conviction that they will be able to build a more generalized "operating system" that every personal computer will need.
Rest in peace Paul.
Other than Microsoft, he has invested and owned a large number of business. Besides owning every famous clubs in Seattle ( Portland Tailblazer, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounder FC ), he also invested into number of famous IT and non-IT companies. But he barely made any money in any of his ventures. In fact he lost two Billions in Charter Communication and unknown amount in his movie venture Vulkan production. However, he was prolific in his philanthropy for advancing science and technology. He invested and gave way generously for brain research, ocean exploration, space exploration and so on. He was a terrific scientific and technology mind in his heart and spirit but probably not that great as a businessman or business investor. And yet here he is - worth $22B. All because of Microsoft share of 40% which Bill gave him during foundation.
It will not be exaggeration to say, his life changed because he met Bill Gates in Lakeside school. It was the best private school in Seattle and had access to computers in 1960s, when none knew about it. These two kids ( Allen was two year older than Bill ) were bunking regular class to do coding in one of the most archaic and early computer when there was no computer or software industry.
That's what I always spoke about great schools like Harvard, MIT, Stanford or ( IITs in India). It's not about teaching or great teachers. You can always learn what is taught in these great schools anywhere. It's all about finding a Bill Gates among your friends with whom you will be able to create the next big Microsoft. You need to hang out with the kids who had a strong sense of conviction for doing great things- be it technology, business or politics. There will be no shortage of talented and smart kids in the great schools, but people like Bill and Allen are rare anywhere. Imagine what strong conviction does it take to drop out from a school like Harvard and that's too from Computer Science department. What level of self driving force convinced Bill Gates and Paul Allen ( he dropped out on 2nd year from Washington State University and insinuated Bill to do the same from Harvard ) to take up a risky software start-up called Microsoft when software was free. In fact before Microsoft, there was no software Industry. It was all free , installed with Hardware.
Thanks to this deep sense of conviction in their ability to create new technology, they were able to overcome the fear of failure. As I said, there is no shortage of smart and talented kids. Bill and Allen were not only smart, they had upper middle class privileged upbringing. But they stood out among many because of one single thing. Strong self-driving force born out of their conviction that they will be able to build a more generalized "operating system" that every personal computer will need.
Rest in peace Paul.
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