Bill Gates

You know, my social skills were slow to develop with people other than a few boys like myself. But with adults, because they were having them over and I, you know, got so I could ask those adults to talk about what they were doing, that was really valuable to me because I ended up through that and through one of my early friends having more of an outlook of, okay, where am I headed now?

at quite a young age, which was super helpful.

at quite a young age, which was super helpful.

Well, unfortunately, my mom passed away in her early 60s. She got breast cancer. And so I had gotten married six months before she passed us away. So she never got to see that I tried to follow her example as a parent. She never got to see the foundation get going. My dad actually ran the foundation and got it off to a fantastic start. So he was involved.

Well, unfortunately, my mom passed away in her early 60s. She got breast cancer. And so I had gotten married six months before she passed us away. So she never got to see that I tried to follow her example as a parent. She never got to see the foundation get going. My dad actually ran the foundation and got it off to a fantastic start. So he was involved.

But her sort of dictate about, okay, if you are successful, you have to give back. It's a shame that she didn't get to kind of participate and see that I'm following what she said. despite all the times I pushed back on her.

But her sort of dictate about, okay, if you are successful, you have to give back. It's a shame that she didn't get to kind of participate and see that I'm following what she said. despite all the times I pushed back on her.

Oh, absolutely. The sense I have of, okay, I've got to do this and do that well, that really came from her. My dad more set the example of being calm and thoughtful, also great, great values. But it wasn't through... the interaction, he would, you know, leave pretty early. And if my mom had to escalate to call him in, you knew you better give in because that was kind of the ultimate thing.

Oh, absolutely. The sense I have of, okay, I've got to do this and do that well, that really came from her. My dad more set the example of being calm and thoughtful, also great, great values. But it wasn't through... the interaction, he would, you know, leave pretty early. And if my mom had to escalate to call him in, you knew you better give in because that was kind of the ultimate thing.

But yeah, so each in their own way, he, through example, her through high expectations deserve a lot of credit. And, you know, part of this book is to really honor them and two of the young friends I had who set me on a great path.

But yeah, so each in their own way, he, through example, her through high expectations deserve a lot of credit. And, you know, part of this book is to really honor them and two of the young friends I had who set me on a great path.

It's weird. I've always underestimated how incredible my father was. His values, even the exchange with my mom, you know, before they get married, one of his dreams was to be a federal judge. And he eventually, that was offered to him. And because his law firm would have had great difficulties, he said, no, I That would hurt my colleagues, so I'm not going to do that.

It's weird. I've always underestimated how incredible my father was. His values, even the exchange with my mom, you know, before they get married, one of his dreams was to be a federal judge. And he eventually, that was offered to him. And because his law firm would have had great difficulties, he said, no, I That would hurt my colleagues, so I'm not going to do that.

And I had written him a note saying, gosh, I hope it's not because you had to pay all that tuition that you're not getting to do this. And I'd forgotten he'd written me back such a nice note. So, you know, in digging through, I'm amazed we ended up keeping those things. It was so touching to me. Now, you know, I'll spend my whole life trying to live up to the example he set.

And I had written him a note saying, gosh, I hope it's not because you had to pay all that tuition that you're not getting to do this. And I'd forgotten he'd written me back such a nice note. So, you know, in digging through, I'm amazed we ended up keeping those things. It was so touching to me. Now, you know, I'll spend my whole life trying to live up to the example he set.

Well, certainly it brings tears to my eyes because he was incredible. And towards the end of his life, we did get a little more direct, you know, where he would say, hey, I'm sorry I worked so hard. And I'd say, no, no, that was fine to be doing that, you know. And so instead of things being sort of through my mom, when she was gone, he had to build up that communication.

Well, certainly it brings tears to my eyes because he was incredible. And towards the end of his life, we did get a little more direct, you know, where he would say, hey, I'm sorry I worked so hard. And I'd say, no, no, that was fine to be doing that, you know. And so instead of things being sort of through my mom, when she was gone, he had to build up that communication.

In a way, it was far more intimate. You know, I feel lucky that he lived as long as he did.

In a way, it was far more intimate. You know, I feel lucky that he lived as long as he did.

You know, and when I was going off to college, you know, I'd call my parents every couple of weeks. But, you know, you couldn't, like, text and send photos. And so... But I always knew, you know, that... they were supportive. And so I actually got into a little bit of trouble where I'd taken my colleagues into the computer center and done some of the early Microsoft Basic work.