Todd asks “why no hard questions for BillG?”

December 14, 2006 By

Over at Geek News Central Todd Cochrane asks an interesting question about yesterday’s Bill Gates Blogger Meetup. “It pisses me off that none of them could ask a  hard question” he says, while asking what hard questions would you ask?

Truth is that getting access to tech industry leaders is so rare that most people, if they do get access, turn into softies. Why?

Well, let’s assume I paid your round-trip airfare, hotel, bought you nice meals, and gave you some nice swag. Wouldn’t you be feeling just a little more generous toward me? But, now, let’s say I set it up so that every year I’d do the same thing but I’d put little hints out there that you wouldn’t get to come to next year’s shindig if you made any trouble.

Or, even better, let’s say I just don’t invite any trouble makers at all.

I remember many times when troublemakers got washed out of many of these kinds of events. Not necessarily because they’d piss off Microsofties either. Often times they’d piss off other attendees. I know of one event that I am no longer invited to simply because I turned on my video camera, which made another attendee uncomfortable. The host, instead of just telling me to knock it off, stayed quiet, but didn’t invite me to his next shindig.

It’s also really hard to just keep your bearings when you meet someone “important.” Remember when I ran into Steve Jobs on a street corner in San Francisco? I became a blubbering idiot. Couldn’t think of a good question, or a good comeback to his insults. I’ve been thinking of them ever since.

Another part of it is simple respect. Bill Gates is at the top of the industry, is probably going to be known as the greatest philanthropist we’ve ever known, and is simply bigger than life to most of us who’ve never gotten to know him personally. It takes a lot of confidence to ask a tough question, particularly when you know that 14 other people are going to be making judgments on you in the public square.

And don’t think it’s a blogger thing, either. I’ve been in attendance at press conferences with Bill and most of the pros don’t ask all that hard a question.

Bill is a professional question answerer. He’s done it probably 10s of thousands of times. If you ask a really hard or biting question that he doesn’t want to answer he’s going to pretty adeptly spin it around on you anyway and answer a question he would rather answer.

The real interesting thing isn’t that hard questions weren’t asked. It was that Google is shipping a ton of little tiny things (you’ll see some in the interviews I did this week that I’ll have up within a few days) that are going unanswered by Microsoft.

See, some bloggers are excited that they get to go see Bill Gates. Done that, have that T-shirt. It’s a fun trip to make (hope you get invited back in April when they do Mix07).

But Google is delivering the Web goods and is taking over more and more of my life. More on that soon.

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  • http://michaeldotnet.blogspot.com/ Michael.NET

    I wouldn’t call this: http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/archives/2006/12/microsoft-linux-patents.html a soft question. I mean maybe he could have followed up some more, but like you said it IS Big Bill…

  • http://michaeldotnet.blogspot.com Michael.NET

    I wouldn’t call this: http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/archives/2006/12/microsoft-linux-patents.html a soft question. I mean maybe he could have followed up some more, but like you said it IS Big Bill…

  • paul

    Robert,

    That’s the problem with professional question answererers; they spin things they don’t want to answer or may not have the answer to. Bill is obviously a super-intelligent guy, and I doubt seriously there isn’t much about Google (or anyone else) he doesn’t know, public or otherwise. Tech shops have people that talk. Top players like Bill talk with other top players off the record all the time.
    I think Bill is a little afraid of what the future might hold that MS cannot tackle, at least not in time to make a difference.
    MS needs to come out with something before everyone else. They need an ace in the hole. I think the problem with MS is they try to be too mainstream. MS appears stodgy and too corporate for alot of people.
    DISCLAIMER: I used to be a Linux-loving, open-source only kinda guy who hated everything MS. A couple of years ago, my favorite computer died, and about that same time, my daughter came into the picture. No more time to tinker AND spend time with my kid. I needed something that just worked. The Mac went in a direction that I didn’t like, so I looked at MS. I bought a high-end HP laptop and loaded XP on it. I love it and I’m looking forward to Vista in a major way.
    I like MS products overall. But they need a coup. Something only they have done first. They need to interview teens. Find out what they want. Cruise the schools and colleges. Take notes. MS has some of the smartest people on the planet up in WA. They could deliver the next great thing if they wanted to. MS doesn’t like taking risks because of the shareholders. Forget that. Create a group that puts out stuff that teens and college students, bloggers, etc. would attach to and run with it.
    I’m waiting for something cool…

  • paul

    Robert,

    That’s the problem with professional question answererers; they spin things they don’t want to answer or may not have the answer to. Bill is obviously a super-intelligent guy, and I doubt seriously there isn’t much about Google (or anyone else) he doesn’t know, public or otherwise. Tech shops have people that talk. Top players like Bill talk with other top players off the record all the time.
    I think Bill is a little afraid of what the future might hold that MS cannot tackle, at least not in time to make a difference.
    MS needs to come out with something before everyone else. They need an ace in the hole. I think the problem with MS is they try to be too mainstream. MS appears stodgy and too corporate for alot of people.
    DISCLAIMER: I used to be a Linux-loving, open-source only kinda guy who hated everything MS. A couple of years ago, my favorite computer died, and about that same time, my daughter came into the picture. No more time to tinker AND spend time with my kid. I needed something that just worked. The Mac went in a direction that I didn’t like, so I looked at MS. I bought a high-end HP laptop and loaded XP on it. I love it and I’m looking forward to Vista in a major way.
    I like MS products overall. But they need a coup. Something only they have done first. They need to interview teens. Find out what they want. Cruise the schools and colleges. Take notes. MS has some of the smartest people on the planet up in WA. They could deliver the next great thing if they wanted to. MS doesn’t like taking risks because of the shareholders. Forget that. Create a group that puts out stuff that teens and college students, bloggers, etc. would attach to and run with it.
    I’m waiting for something cool…

  • http://www.crcexchange.com/ Robert Gerace

    I think Niall Kennedy (not mentioned in Todd’s blog as I far as I can see) asked a pretty hard question — and I think Bill expertly danced around it. I think Bill is scared that we are at a point where Microsoft is not the only game in town any longer.

    They know that Web 2.0 & industry acceptance of Open Source systems in production environments are making their OS less valuable, and they are trying to make sure that Open Source doesn’t kill them.

    Here’s a link to Niall’s blog:

    http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/archives/2006/12/microsoft-linux-patents.html

  • http://www.crcexchange.com Robert Gerace

    I think Niall Kennedy (not mentioned in Todd’s blog as I far as I can see) asked a pretty hard question — and I think Bill expertly danced around it. I think Bill is scared that we are at a point where Microsoft is not the only game in town any longer.

    They know that Web 2.0 & industry acceptance of Open Source systems in production environments are making their OS less valuable, and they are trying to make sure that Open Source doesn’t kill them.

    Here’s a link to Niall’s blog:

    http://www.niallkennedy.com/blog/archives/2006/12/microsoft-linux-patents.html

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Paul: yes, we’re all waiting for the Ray Ozzie show.

    I note that HE wasn’t hanging out with the bloggers yesterday.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Paul: yes, we’re all waiting for the Ray Ozzie show.

    I note that HE wasn’t hanging out with the bloggers yesterday.

  • Jessica

    Reading the transcript of Molly’s question and the subsequent discussion over on her site, it seems it was a hard question by the standards of “If you ask a really hard or biting question that he doesn’t want to answer he’s going to pretty adeptly spin it around on you anyway and answer a question he would rather answer.”

  • Jessica

    Reading the transcript of Molly’s question and the subsequent discussion over on her site, it seems it was a hard question by the standards of “If you ask a really hard or biting question that he doesn’t want to answer he’s going to pretty adeptly spin it around on you anyway and answer a question he would rather answer.”

  • anona

    “MS has some of the smartest people on the planet up in WA. They could deliver the next great thing if they wanted to.”

    Bullshit!

    There, I said it! And I’m sick of hearing this. MSFT has wanted *many* times to “deliver the next great thing.” And failed…again and again. In fact, in markets where there has been competition at the consumer level, they failed more than they have succeeded.

    All that was done with all those “smartest people on the planet.” You can delude yourself by blaming it on a few management types who don’t get it. No, all those smart people just couldn’t/didn’t get it done. Pure and simple.

  • anona

    “MS has some of the smartest people on the planet up in WA. They could deliver the next great thing if they wanted to.”

    Bullshit!

    There, I said it! And I’m sick of hearing this. MSFT has wanted *many* times to “deliver the next great thing.” And failed…again and again. In fact, in markets where there has been competition at the consumer level, they failed more than they have succeeded.

    All that was done with all those “smartest people on the planet.” You can delude yourself by blaming it on a few management types who don’t get it. No, all those smart people just couldn’t/didn’t get it done. Pure and simple.

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  • http://www.almostageek.com/ ET

    They were a bunch of softies, no pun intended, but I probably would have done the same thing. I think it would have been more fun to not do the usual Q & A session. It would have been nice to just talk story with “Bill” over some coffee, tea, beer, or whatever your favorite drink is.

  • http://www.almostageek.com ET

    They were a bunch of softies, no pun intended, but I probably would have done the same thing. I think it would have been more fun to not do the usual Q & A session. It would have been nice to just talk story with “Bill” over some coffee, tea, beer, or whatever your favorite drink is.

  • Jayakumar Hariharan

    While asking hard questions, we should also accept some HARD FACTS.

    The first P.C. which I really used had Windows 3.1 in it.

    The first two application software I used and felt like using again were MS Word and MS PowerPoint.

    In India, I am yet to see a company where people use Open Office.org or any other free office software for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. And unlike individuals, offices cannot use pirated software and get away with it.

    It’s been a long, long time since Windows xp crashed on me (Not after I had SP2 installed). I’ve almost forgotten what the “Blue Screen” Looks like.

    Microsoft, warts and all, ultimately made the world a better place to live for millions of non geeks like me who cannot afford Macs, to begin with. Thank you Microsoft.

    Jay, from Bangalore
    http://ideaburger.blogspot.com

  • Jayakumar Hariharan

    While asking hard questions, we should also accept some HARD FACTS.

    The first P.C. which I really used had Windows 3.1 in it.

    The first two application software I used and felt like using again were MS Word and MS PowerPoint.

    In India, I am yet to see a company where people use Open Office.org or any other free office software for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. And unlike individuals, offices cannot use pirated software and get away with it.

    It’s been a long, long time since Windows xp crashed on me (Not after I had SP2 installed). I’ve almost forgotten what the “Blue Screen” Looks like.

    Microsoft, warts and all, ultimately made the world a better place to live for millions of non geeks like me who cannot afford Macs, to begin with. Thank you Microsoft.

    Jay, from Bangalore
    http://ideaburger.blogspot.com

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Jayakumar: >>In India, I am yet to see a company where people use Open Office.org or any other free office software for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

    Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me! I know lots of people in India and everyone of them tells me that pirated software is running rampant in India (even today). I hear you can get CDs with Windows and Office on it for a few dollars.

    I remember being in China meeting with a Microsoft executive. He said “we have 100% market share, now if we could only get them to pay for it.”

    But, the rest of your points are correct and worthy.

    That said, same points could have been made about Microsoft back in 1985. Back then IBM was the dominant player.

  • http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/ Robert Scoble

    Jayakumar: >>In India, I am yet to see a company where people use Open Office.org or any other free office software for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

    Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me! I know lots of people in India and everyone of them tells me that pirated software is running rampant in India (even today). I hear you can get CDs with Windows and Office on it for a few dollars.

    I remember being in China meeting with a Microsoft executive. He said “we have 100% market share, now if we could only get them to pay for it.”

    But, the rest of your points are correct and worthy.

    That said, same points could have been made about Microsoft back in 1985. Back then IBM was the dominant player.

  • Jay Torin

    I think that Bill Gates was doing a PR event. He is retired and frankly this was a lame session. If I was a blogger I would have been pissed because it was a waste of time other than being ‘star’ struck. Will somone at Microsoft please give us Ray Ozzie not Bill Gates. Microsoft is getting their ass handed to them by Google which you point out. Google delivers and Gates feeds bullshit to bloggers. Swing and a miss Microsoft.

  • Jay Torin

    I think that Bill Gates was doing a PR event. He is retired and frankly this was a lame session. If I was a blogger I would have been pissed because it was a waste of time other than being ‘star’ struck. Will somone at Microsoft please give us Ray Ozzie not Bill Gates. Microsoft is getting their ass handed to them by Google which you point out. Google delivers and Gates feeds bullshit to bloggers. Swing and a miss Microsoft.

  • http://anatifero.us/ William Reading

    I remember when I interned at Microsoft and went to the BillG barbecue, there were certainly people there asking hard questions.

    In fact, I recall him nearly losing his temper when people asked particularly pointed (and perhaps rude) questions then. But yeah, maybe journalists aren’t quite the same :-)

  • http://anatifero.us William Reading

    I remember when I interned at Microsoft and went to the BillG barbecue, there were certainly people there asking hard questions.

    In fact, I recall him nearly losing his temper when people asked particularly pointed (and perhaps rude) questions then. But yeah, maybe journalists aren’t quite the same :-)

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  • Jayakumar Hariharan

    Hi Robert!

    “I know lots of people in India and everyone of them tells me that pirated software is running rampant in India (even today). I hear you can get CDs with Windows and Office on it for a few dollars.”

    Yes, and individuals do use them. But not any business here worthy of it’s name. At least not in BANGALORE!

    Jay, from Bangalore
    http://ideaburger.blogspot.com

  • Jayakumar Hariharan

    Hi Robert!

    “I know lots of people in India and everyone of them tells me that pirated software is running rampant in India (even today). I hear you can get CDs with Windows and Office on it for a few dollars.”

    Yes, and individuals do use them. But not any business here worthy of it’s name. At least not in BANGALORE!

    Jay, from Bangalore
    http://ideaburger.blogspot.com

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  • http://brandonlive.com/ Brandon Paddock

    “MS has some of the smartest people on the planet up in WA. They could deliver the next great thing if they wanted to.”

    It’s an extremely difficult position to be in when you’re told that adding new features is illegal. And you wonder why some people get frustrated working at Microsoft…

  • http://brandonlive.com Brandon Paddock

    “MS has some of the smartest people on the planet up in WA. They could deliver the next great thing if they wanted to.”

    It’s an extremely difficult position to be in when you’re told that adding new features is illegal. And you wonder why some people get frustrated working at Microsoft…

  • http://mediavidea.blogspot.com/ Pramit

    This is Microsoft PR preparing for Vista’s launch.

    MediaVidea has 5 questions for Bill Gates.
    http://mediavidea.blogspot.com/2006/12/5-questions-for-bill-gates.html

  • http://mediavidea.blogspot.com Pramit

    This is Microsoft PR preparing for Vista’s launch.

    MediaVidea has 5 questions for Bill Gates.
    http://mediavidea.blogspot.com/2006/12/5-questions-for-bill-gates.html

  • http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/ Jack

    MediaVidea:

    In this case, the person to ask is not Bill Gates (he doesn’t know everything about what’s happening at Microsoft) but Jeff Raikes, who runs the business/Office software operation.

    Well, I just interviewed Raikes and I did ask him some of your questions. There’s a 3000-word transcript here:

    http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/2006/12/14/jeff_raikes_interview_the_whole_thing.html

    I’ve interviewed a lot of Microsoft execs over the past 25 years, including Steve Ballmer but not Bill Gates (maybe he’s scared of me ;-) ). I’ve never found any of them unwilling to tackle the hard questions, if they are asked reasonably and with the honest aim of finding out information. Just the reverse: they relish the jousting.

    Jack Schofield
    Computer editor
    The Guardian

  • http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/ Jack

    MediaVidea:

    In this case, the person to ask is not Bill Gates (he doesn’t know everything about what’s happening at Microsoft) but Jeff Raikes, who runs the business/Office software operation.

    Well, I just interviewed Raikes and I did ask him some of your questions. There’s a 3000-word transcript here:

    http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/archives/2006/12/14/jeff_raikes_interview_the_whole_thing.html

    I’ve interviewed a lot of Microsoft execs over the past 25 years, including Steve Ballmer but not Bill Gates (maybe he’s scared of me ;-) ). I’ve never found any of them unwilling to tackle the hard questions, if they are asked reasonably and with the honest aim of finding out information. Just the reverse: they relish the jousting.

    Jack Schofield
    Computer editor
    The Guardian

  • http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/ Jack

    Robert:

    Thanks for the link:
    http://scobleizer.com/2006/12/14/great-interview-with-jeff-raikes/

    I had not seen that when I posted the comment above ;-)

    Jack

  • http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/ Jack

    Robert:

    Thanks for the link:
    http://scobleizer.com/2006/12/14/great-interview-with-jeff-raikes/

    I had not seen that when I posted the comment above ;-)

    Jack

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  • http://webwonk.wordpress.com/ webwonk

    Many corporations seek to create a favorable environment for encounters with the media. This is an issue that professional journalists have been dealing with for years, and bloggers will need to adapt to it as they become “the media” as well. Many bloggers are relatively unfamiliar with the trappings of power/celebrity, and this came across in some of the coverage of the BillG event. FWIW, I thought Niall and Molly asked good questions. As you’ve noted, Gates is experienced at handling questions. As bloggers participate in more of these structured media events, they’ll get better at handling these situations and perhaps even have the clout to seek changes in format that give them a better opportunity to explore issues in depth (as Jack schofield does with Raikes). The good news is that bloggers are getting a seat at the table, and obtaining access to newsmakers that is beginning to look like the interview opportunities regularly afforded to traditional media.

  • http://webwonk.wordpress.com/ webwonk

    Many corporations seek to create a favorable environment for encounters with the media. This is an issue that professional journalists have been dealing with for years, and bloggers will need to adapt to it as they become “the media” as well. Many bloggers are relatively unfamiliar with the trappings of power/celebrity, and this came across in some of the coverage of the BillG event. FWIW, I thought Niall and Molly asked good questions. As you’ve noted, Gates is experienced at handling questions. As bloggers participate in more of these structured media events, they’ll get better at handling these situations and perhaps even have the clout to seek changes in format that give them a better opportunity to explore issues in depth (as Jack schofield does with Raikes). The good news is that bloggers are getting a seat at the table, and obtaining access to newsmakers that is beginning to look like the interview opportunities regularly afforded to traditional media.

  • http://blog.danmcweeney.com/ dan mcweeney

    This is the same sort of pandering that got us into the political situation we are in today. Journalists were afraid to ask the administration questions, ifi they asked hard questions they were pushed to the back of the room or cut off from information entirely. Listen to someone like Helen Thomas speak and you will get the gist. “Professional question answerers,” can be and should be forced to answer or at least say in no uncertain terms that they won’t answer a question. If bloggers want to be treated like journalists and afforded the same protections, they will have to start asking hard questions even in the face of “nice swag.”
    -d

  • http://blog.danmcweeney.com dan mcweeney

    This is the same sort of pandering that got us into the political situation we are in today. Journalists were afraid to ask the administration questions, ifi they asked hard questions they were pushed to the back of the room or cut off from information entirely. Listen to someone like Helen Thomas speak and you will get the gist. “Professional question answerers,” can be and should be forced to answer or at least say in no uncertain terms that they won’t answer a question. If bloggers want to be treated like journalists and afforded the same protections, they will have to start asking hard questions even in the face of “nice swag.”
    -d

  • http://molly.com/ Molly E. Holzschlag

    hello everyone. For what it’s worth, I did my best. Honestly, I think given the situation I was one of the more aggressive (imagine that) people there.

    My impressiom of Bill? A lovely man I’d enjoy dinner with, but absolutely disconnected from the workers of this world. Bless him, but with all that money how can you be otherwise?

    To hear him speak of medical and educational help to the world makes me rest a little bit easier.

    If you had that money, I mean to have, and then give away, I’d hope you’d use Bill Gates as an example, regardless of perspective. If you have that much, to my mind there’s only one option, and that is to share.

    It was a great experience and I’m glad I was there. I know I did my best in that environment to be polite and still not back down from the answers I know the development world wanted to hear. I hope I lent something good to the conversation.

    Robert, you of all people know this very thing: Opening the world to what was closed is no easy task.

    Love to all,
    M

  • http://molly.com/ Molly E. Holzschlag

    hello everyone. For what it’s worth, I did my best. Honestly, I think given the situation I was one of the more aggressive (imagine that) people there.

    My impressiom of Bill? A lovely man I’d enjoy dinner with, but absolutely disconnected from the workers of this world. Bless him, but with all that money how can you be otherwise?

    To hear him speak of medical and educational help to the world makes me rest a little bit easier.

    If you had that money, I mean to have, and then give away, I’d hope you’d use Bill Gates as an example, regardless of perspective. If you have that much, to my mind there’s only one option, and that is to share.

    It was a great experience and I’m glad I was there. I know I did my best in that environment to be polite and still not back down from the answers I know the development world wanted to hear. I hope I lent something good to the conversation.

    Robert, you of all people know this very thing: Opening the world to what was closed is no easy task.

    Love to all,
    M

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  • http://blog.digitalbackcountry.com/ Ryan Stewart

    Hey Robert, I’m not sure if you’re still reading this thread, but I thought I’d chime in. You alluded to this a bit in your post, but I didn’t really think it was set up with a format in which we could ask tough questions. If the goal of asking a tough question is to get an interesting, meaningful response, then I think that requires some back and forth. At the event, we each got to ask only one question so it would have been difficult to try and get a dialog going with him about something tough and interesting.

    Also, I was impressed by the wide variety of questions. I think everyone asked a pretty unique question and it was fun to see so many topics covered by Bill.

  • http://blog.digitalbackcountry.com Ryan Stewart

    Hey Robert, I’m not sure if you’re still reading this thread, but I thought I’d chime in. You alluded to this a bit in your post, but I didn’t really think it was set up with a format in which we could ask tough questions. If the goal of asking a tough question is to get an interesting, meaningful response, then I think that requires some back and forth. At the event, we each got to ask only one question so it would have been difficult to try and get a dialog going with him about something tough and interesting.

    Also, I was impressed by the wide variety of questions. I think everyone asked a pretty unique question and it was fun to see so many topics covered by Bill.

  • met

    Why does it always have to be tough questions? When was the last time any tough questions were asked to anyone important?
    Please point me in the direction of some juicy interviews.

  • met

    Why does it always have to be tough questions? When was the last time any tough questions were asked to anyone important?
    Please point me in the direction of some juicy interviews.

  • http://idid.wordpress.com/ idid

    When I was younger I loved to think of really hard questions for presenters. Questions designed to make the presenter or their company appear evil or stupid.

    Afterwards I always felt worse… because really hard questions can’t be answered… they just tend to ruin the event in some way.

    As an example: I once asked the CEO of the company I worked for why the technical field people didn’t get stock options for bonuses when they we’re a common practice in marketing. I aked him in front of a group of 3,000 field technical people. He gave a little pat speech about the compensation practices being competitive and that was the last time he EVER took questions from employees with open microphones.

    I felt pretty bad about asking such a hard question and it hurt my career… but we did get stock options as a group… just after the market peaked and they never amounted to any real value. Go figure.

    At this point… Bill Gates isn’t driving Microsoft on a daily basis. He’s shifted over to working on hhis Foundation work. So, it’s better just to ask him questions that document his life or company history for the record. Let the guy open up and share what makes him tick. Seduce the politician into felling safe and candid.

    Nailing him to the wall for “selling” software when the models are changing to “software as a service” just brings out the crafty, cagey Bill and wastes the opportunity in this time and context. It reminds me of someone asking Buck Rodgers of IBM if they could recover from the Mainframe dying… they did. Microsoft will. The margins will change and their core business will change but they will become a Blue Chip stock and NOT a “growth gorilla” like the current Google.

    Google will stall too… in a few years :^)

  • http://idid.wordpress.com/ idid

    When I was younger I loved to think of really hard questions for presenters. Questions designed to make the presenter or their company appear evil or stupid.

    Afterwards I always felt worse… because really hard questions can’t be answered… they just tend to ruin the event in some way.

    As an example: I once asked the CEO of the company I worked for why the technical field people didn’t get stock options for bonuses when they we’re a common practice in marketing. I aked him in front of a group of 3,000 field technical people. He gave a little pat speech about the compensation practices being competitive and that was the last time he EVER took questions from employees with open microphones.

    I felt pretty bad about asking such a hard question and it hurt my career… but we did get stock options as a group… just after the market peaked and they never amounted to any real value. Go figure.

    At this point… Bill Gates isn’t driving Microsoft on a daily basis. He’s shifted over to working on hhis Foundation work. So, it’s better just to ask him questions that document his life or company history for the record. Let the guy open up and share what makes him tick. Seduce the politician into felling safe and candid.

    Nailing him to the wall for “selling” software when the models are changing to “software as a service” just brings out the crafty, cagey Bill and wastes the opportunity in this time and context. It reminds me of someone asking Buck Rodgers of IBM if they could recover from the Mainframe dying… they did. Microsoft will. The margins will change and their core business will change but they will become a Blue Chip stock and NOT a “growth gorilla” like the current Google.

    Google will stall too… in a few years :^)

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