William Henry Gates was born in Seattle in 1955. Today, he is known as one of the richest people in the world—a man who built his fortune not through inheritance, but through intellect, discipline, and persistence.
Success did not come easily to him. At school, he struggled with spelling and several subjects he considered too simple and uninspiring. His behavior worried teachers, and at one point he was even sent to a psychologist.
In his memoirs, Gates later explained this period as a result of obsession with computers. Every free hour was spent programming. He devoted 20 to 30 hours a week in the computer lab. When access to computers was restricted by passwords, he managed to break them. As punishment, he spent an entire summer without a computer.
Difficulties followed him to Harvard as well. Gates dropped out in his second year. Yet, as often happens, failure opened a new path. He focused entirely on programming, and within two years, Microsoft was born.
Two decades later, Bill Gates had earned over 50 billion dollars and created jobs for more than 78,000 people across 105 countries.
From this journey, he shaped his own understanding of success.
Principles of Success According to Bill Gates
- Study your competitors. Gates made it a daily habit to visit competitors’ websites early in the morning.
- Be decisive. A true leader faces bad news calmly. Stay composed—problems are solved faster that way. Learn the bad news first, then the good.
- Understand the internet. The future belongs to it. Soon, there will be only two kinds of companies: those online and those no longer in business.
- Do not focus on success itself. It is deceptive and temporary. Once a goal is reached, immediately begin working toward the next one.
- Create conditions for growth. A good leader builds a supportive working environment. Employees respond with loyalty and dedication.
- Start today. If something does not satisfy you, begin your own project. Bill Gates started in a garage. Invest time only in what truly interests you.
- Think deeply. Several times a year, step away from routine to reflect on unresolved problems.
- Fear failure. Question your decisions before acting, then analyze the results afterward.
- Rely on new technologies. Digital information has the power to change everything.
- Step away from the crowd. The majority is not always right. Choose your own path of development.