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What pops into your head when you hear the name, Bill Gates? One way or another, each of us has associations with this person. For a long time, he was known as the wealthiest man in the world. Today, Bill Gates is ranked fourth by Forbes among the wealthiest people on the planet who built their businesses on technology.
From childhood, his keen interest in computers led him to found Microsoft in 1975. In the first decade of his work, Bill Gates became a billionaire. And today, 47 years later, Microsoft is still one of the largest companies in its field.
Until now, the example of Bill Gates inspires many young people who also want to succeed in the field of technology. Inspiration comes from all directions – sometimes followers drop out of university and say they did it, like Bill Gates. He dropped out of Harvard University in 1974 and co-founded Microsoft a year later. Or study his path, from the very beginning to the present day, to understand how one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs of our time thinks and acts.
If you aspire to be as successful as you are, you might be interested in learning ten business lessons we can learn from Bill Gates.
Start implementing your ideas as early as possible
It is believed that you need to finish school, a good university, and only then start implementing your business ideas. From Bill Gates’ point of view, this is a losing move. There is no age limit for starting a business, and the sooner you start, the better.
Bill Gates started learning programming as a teenager. Yes, computers in those days were not at all like they are now – a bulky and slow machine that was not so easy to handle. However, Bill was driven by a lively interest. Starting early helped Bill learn a lot and thus build a business that was a huge success.
Think ahead
The ability to think one step ahead is not an effortless talent. However, leaders in their field have such talent. Few people in the early 80s believed that computers could be on every desktop in every home. Bill Gates saw this concept, and his belief in it helped him create a multi-million dollar fortune. By thinking ahead, you can go further than you ever imagined.
Become a problem solver
Any successful enterprise becomes successful because it can solve many customers’ “pain point.”
Microsoft marketing has changed the rules of the game.
They showed their customers the problems they faced and how Microsoft products could solve them.
Therefore, you need to show the problem and the solution you propose.
Listen to dissatisfied customers
Many do not know how to deal with customer dissatisfaction: ignore, delete comments, or respond aggressively. However, Bill Gates found a way to capitalize on customer dissatisfaction. The most dissatisfied customers are your best source of knowledge, he says.
Your dissatisfied customers tell you things that no one else can and are the key to improving your products or services.
Customer service is a priority
Bill Gates believes that maintaining contact with customers is the key to success. Nothing will help or destroy your business, like your customer experience.
Few businesses will succeed with the lowest price, so most will need a strategy that includes customer service. That is why any software development company must focus on customer service.
Keep innovating
Bill Gates has always been a passionate supporter of innovation.
He advocates for innovation to be a critical factor in tackling the challenges of today, whether it be innovation in products, processes, economics, or leadership. Undoubtedly, this is a bold and risky step – it is always easier to sit on what you have already achieved. But real success awaits only where there is movement and constant innovation.
Take risks
The ability to take risks is one of the most common traits of successful entrepreneurs.
Bill Gates took a significant risk that paved the way for incredible success. Who does not risk does not win – an old truth that Bill did not lose sight of.
During his years at Microsoft, he took significant risks that turned into ample opportunities, developing new products or working with competitors.
Create working ecosystems
A successful business is not about one person. A successful business is a person who was able to build a system that surpasses himself.
Microsoft has maintained its strong position in the technology industry as it has built a solid and expansive ecosystem of innovations, products, solutions, people, and partnerships.
If you want to stay in business, solving one-off problems won’t help. Building systems at the micro and macro levels and using them effectively is how to stay ahead of the game.
Avoid Inefficiency
In everyday life, we strive to automate a lot. However, Bill Gates warns businesses against inefficient automation.
It means that you should use technology to improve the efficiency of your business and not vice versa.
In addition, an automated operation must be efficient in itself for technology to enhance it. If you automate an inefficient process, technology will further multiply the Inefficiency.
Use power to improve the world
At the moment when you already have influence and money, become the one who improves our world. This principle that Bill Gates quickly realized for himself – we can help those who are more complex. That is why, together with his wife, he created a charitable foundation. According to the Statista website, in 2020, the Gates Foundation spent $3.1 billion on global health issues.
He believes that business has a vital role in improving the lives of the underprivileged.
Through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he has committed billions of dollars to end disease, improve education, and improve the overall quality of life for millions of people worldwide.
Final Thoughts
Bill Gates was undoubtedly a pioneer in his business, and this, in many ways, also influenced the success of the entire company. However, besides this, he was also a dreamer, a man who followed his idea and believed that he could change the future. In the end, that’s what happened. The business lessons that anyone can learn from the biography of Bill Gates can inspire and help you decide on your own business and believe in your strength.
