The Friday Thing #8080
OK....so February looks like it's going to be just like the year of January!
The Friday Thing 8080 is an intentional typo for what is actually edition 880. I could not resist the opportunity to reference the 8080 microprocessor. It's also the name of a new Microsoft book imprint I helped launch late last year. 8080 is the soul of Microsoft and yesterday, I got to hear from someone who knows that better than anyone on the planet. Bill Gates.
Bill's new book, Source Code chronicles the first 25 years of his life. Yesterday, he was on Microsoft's campus here in Redmond, Washington to talk about the book and I couldn't miss the opportunity to see him in person as he talked with my old boss, Brad Smith about the book.
As we enter Microsoft's 50th year, I love the symmetry of Bill's book being launched this year too. It got me thinking about my journey to Microsoft. I'd always admired the company, loved the products and dreamt of working there. I wondered what it'd be like to walk the corridors and see where (and how) Windows and Office were made. And then in 1997, the dream became a reality. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to walk those corridors....though I never did see code being made so still wonder where that happens ;)
Back to the conversation though. It was magical as Bill shared a ton of fun anecdotes about his early escapades in computing. He talked about 'dumpster diving' to find TOPS-10 source code, learning COBOL (me too) and the moment he knew that the "revolution" was coming when the Altair appeared on the cover of Popular Electronics magazine. He fondly talked about the next chip, the 8080 as the beginning of Microsoft and I felt proud that we chose to name the imprint "8080 Books".
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More than anything though, I just enjoyed listening to Bill talk and realized what a privilege it was to be in the audience. To truly be in the presence of greatness.
I am sure I was not the only one yesterday who took a moment to consider the profound impact Bill and Paul Allen have had on the planet. They dared to dream and changed the world and so many lives and careers - including mine. For that I will be forever grateful.
Thanks, Bill.
That's all for this week. Music for the week is People Ruin Paintings by Manic Street Preachers.
Happy Friday
-Steve
Customer Success | Solution Architecture | Cloud {Migration & Hybrid} Projects | Achieving technology outcomes that serve the business.
4 天前Was about 1991 or so and I had my driver's license for a couple years but had too many tickets. So, off to Seattle University for a day with the Washington Sate Patrol and who also was in attendance?! Windows 3.1 for Workgroups was all I mostly remember from that day. It had me interested in technology.
Head of Agile Delivery at Charity Commission for England and Wales
1 周Really good post and must have been so good to be able to sit and listen to the man himself
Executive Vice President, Technology at Edelman
2 周Love this. I got to catch him in DC last week on his tour and he provided so much insight and even some hope at a time we all need it.
Strategic Events and Partnerships // Driving Revenues Through LinkedIn Content and Community // $7M Raised Mark Cuban-Backed Startup // Author, The Future of Community
2 周Love this Steve Clayton!
Partner Group Product Manager @ Microsoft | Windows Security, Credential Protection. New Zealand Honorary Consul for Washington State.
2 周Steve Clayton … yes, it felt a real privilege to be in the audience and I was delighted I made it in on a snow day and got a giggle learning why campus is always open!!