Steve Jobs and Bill Gates: two answers to the secret of success
In his opening remarks at Family Office Club's 2023 Super Summit, Richard told a story from his friend Eben Pagan. Pagan interviewed Steve Jobs and Bill Gates on the same day. He asked each the secret to his success.
Both started with mistakes
As Richard tells it, both men began by saying they had made a lot of mistakes and did not get everything right.
Gates: one product, then managers
Richard says Gates answered that you first get one successful product, like Microsoft Office. Then you hire great managing directors and build other products.
Jobs: you have to care
Richard says Jobs gave a different answer. You really have to care. For Jobs it was about passion and caring about quality and every detail. Richard's takeaway is that both kept reinvesting in their winners.
In Richard's words
"They both said They started out with, "Well, I made a lot of mistakes along the way." (Richard C. Wilson, Super Summit 2023 opening remarks)
"And for him, it was all about being passionate, really caring about the quality and every little detail." (Super Summit 2023 opening remarks)
How to use this
- Expect mistakes and keep putting money into what works.
- Get one product clearly working before you add more.
- Hire strong leaders to run each new line.
- Care about the details customers notice.
Questions and answers
Who interviewed Jobs and Gates?
Richard says his friend Eben Pagan interviewed both on the same day.
What did Gates say?
Per Richard, get one successful product first, then hire great managing directors and build others.
What did Jobs say?
Per Richard, you really have to care about quality and every detail.
What did both admit?
That they made many mistakes along the way.