A brilliant kid who loves computers.
Drops out of Harvard in 1975 to start Microsoft with his childhood friend, Paul Allen.
Bill Gates got lucky.
With an IBM deal he signs in 1980.
Here's the hidden truth about the rise of Microsoft:
A brilliant kid who loves computers.
Drops out of Harvard in 1975 to start Microsoft with his childhood friend, Paul Allen.
In 1976, their revenue is $16,000.
By 1978, Microsoft hits $1 million in revenue.
But they were far from taking over the world.
Until...
He had never done this.
So Gates directs them to his friend Gary Kildall from Digital Research.
The two parties argue over non-disclosure agreements and other legal issues.
Eventually, IBM offers Digital Research $250,000 to build the operating system.
They refuse.
"We will only do royalties."
So he buys the "Quick and Dirty Operating System" (QDOS) from Seattle Computers for $50,000.
And repackages it into the now famous Microsoft DOS.
But here's the catch:
It would be a non-exclusive royalty deal.
Translation: Microsoft could sell this operating system to any other computer company in the world.
Microsoft had 0 leverage on IBM. They were basically a supplier.
If IBM wanted an exclusive deal, Gates would have signed it.
But not the $2 trillion company it is today.
Ok, so what can we learn?
But you can also make your own.
1) Create luck through persistence, hard work and hustle.
"Generate enough force through hustle and energy for luck to find you."
-@naval
This is how IBM found Gates.
They thought of him as someone who could build their operating system.
And the rest is history.
https://t.co/Su72jrS4sz
Bill Gates got lucky.
— Chris Hladczuk (@chrishlad) October 11, 2021
With an IBM deal he signs in 1980.
Here's the hidden truth about the rise of Microsoft:
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