 
« Tale of Two Companies: Part 2 |
Main
| Easily Generated Demographic Specific Ads - You Kiddin' Me. »
Bill Gates Doing the Promo CircuitI don't watch that much TV and I've seen Bill Gates on at least two talk shows last week; The Daily Show and the Today Show. I'm sure there were more. Perhaps I've never noticed this tactic before, but he's promoting Windows Vista just like Bruce Willis would be promoting his latest blockbuster film. The Daily Show interview was very entertaining and worth a look. Here's a link to Has Microsoft done this in the past? Has Jobs hit the talk show circuits too? He hasn't as far as I know and I don't think its common for CEO's to use this medium to promote new product launches. I just found this interesting and wonder how much interest it has generated in the new operating system. This may be a new role for Mr. Gates now that he is not as active in the day to day business. If so, they may want to give him a little more coaching so he doesn't appear so awkward.
 
TrackBack URL: http://high.bigwidesky.com/movabletype/mt-neurdependent.cgi/77
|
He's Bill Gates. He's bigger than Bruce Willis.
He's the tech geek turned CEO turned megagazillionaire turned superstar. Unlike Miss Hilton, his fame comes from actual accomplishment, how rare.
Mr. Gates understands the weight his "brand" carries and knows what to do maximize media attention. But he'll never know how to be "cool" or even "comfortable" outside the server room. We wouldn't like him nearly as much if he was Rico Suave anyway.
I've long believed that "cool doesn't advertise." Apple "advertises" but not in the desperate, searching-for-a-point fashion that Microsoft does. Apple stayed afloat, and then became wildly successful, largely through great creative advertising. Microsoft seems to succeed in spite of it.
That book from a few years ago, Good to Great, makes an interesting argument about what actually makes a company truly awesome. Some of its good, some of its just typical business-speak, but I thought the point about the importance of a successor interesting. That is, who the current CEO chooses as the next leader. The author gives several examples of powerful leaders who took their company to great heights during their tenure, only for it to stall or stumble following his departure (Chrysler was one example with Iacocca). Apple clearly depends on the presence of Steve Jobs to do well; is the same true for Microsoft? To an extent, sure. Gates has long been a visible figure, but I'm not sure what sort of advantage this will give to Microsoft in the long run. Once he's totally distanced from the company, what then?
Brad - good pointns. It will be interesting to see if these two companies can still thrive when the founding CEO's leave. When Dave Farrell from May Company left, the company was acquired/merged with its largest competitor about 7 years later (see Tale of Two Companies post). Read Build to Last - same author as Good to Great (I think). Lots of great examplse of companies that have been successful for over 50 years - so through several CEO's. Also - keep an eye on Dell and Nike. Michael Dell handed over the CEO job 3 years ago and just had to take it back. Phil Knight tried to leave twice, and had to jump back both times.
If Jobs can institutionalize the innovation and incredible design into the culture, and select a successor, they may do well. We'll see. Gates just recently stepped out of a day to day role - we'll see there too.
Thanks for you thoughts.
I recently had a conversation wherein I suggested that Steve Jobs is "charismatic". Since this remark was in the context of a Windows vs. Mac spar, I presumed my pal would understand that I meant "only compared to Bill Gates." He didn't.
Pal, it doesn't matter that Steve Jobs isn't charismatic compared to TV heartthrob Chuck Woolery.*
* Bill, we love you too.**
** Send money.