Steve Ballmer

But in chatting with both of them, what basically became apparent is Microsoft learned with our applications, we should not be targeting the current platforms at all. The lesson to learn is never leave yourself open to the next generation of technology. They're learning the Moore's Law lesson again.

Right. Even if that platform is not the one you own. Right. That's the interesting thing about when they're evaluating multi-plan and they say, how do we not get Lotus 1, 2, 3'd again? Basically, the applications team gets the freedom to look around and say, okay...

Right. Even if that platform is not the one you own. Right. That's the interesting thing about when they're evaluating multi-plan and they say, how do we not get Lotus 1, 2, 3'd again? Basically, the applications team gets the freedom to look around and say, okay...

No matter what our overall company strategy is right now, or no matter what the systems division is doing, what is the most cutting-edge platform that is going to be so interesting to people that we can develop the most envelope-pushing technology for it? And that becomes the mandate for applications.

No matter what our overall company strategy is right now, or no matter what the systems division is doing, what is the most cutting-edge platform that is going to be so interesting to people that we can develop the most envelope-pushing technology for it? And that becomes the mandate for applications.

You kind of have to counter position. If 123 is the best spreadsheet out there for the current technology generation, you just can't compete with them. You need to wait for the next big leap forward in order to find a new competitive vector.

You kind of have to counter position. If 123 is the best spreadsheet out there for the current technology generation, you just can't compete with them. You need to wait for the next big leap forward in order to find a new competitive vector.

And who's about to come out with the very best instantiation of a graphical user interface? Apple Computer.

And who's about to come out with the very best instantiation of a graphical user interface? Apple Computer.

Yes. The next chapter of our Microsoft story is the Macintosh in 1984. So fun. But before we do that, this is the perfect time to talk about another one of our favorite companies and longtime acquired partners who are back, Pilot.com.

Yes. The next chapter of our Microsoft story is the Macintosh in 1984. So fun. But before we do that, this is the perfect time to talk about another one of our favorite companies and longtime acquired partners who are back, Pilot.com.

For startups and growth companies of all kinds, Pilot handles all of your company's accounting, tax, and bookkeeping needs, and is in fact now by far the largest startup-focused accounting firm in the entire U.S.

For startups and growth companies of all kinds, Pilot handles all of your company's accounting, tax, and bookkeeping needs, and is in fact now by far the largest startup-focused accounting firm in the entire U.S.

Yes. Very fun. Well, back to Pilot. And speaking of incredibly successful Seattle business people, we talk all the time on Acquired about Jeff Bezos' AWS-inspired axiom that startups should focus on what makes their beer taste better. i.e.

Yes. Very fun. Well, back to Pilot. And speaking of incredibly successful Seattle business people, we talk all the time on Acquired about Jeff Bezos' AWS-inspired axiom that startups should focus on what makes their beer taste better. i.e.

only spend your limited time and resources on what is actually going to move the needle for you, your product, your customers, and outsource everything else that you need to do as a company but doesn't fit that bill. And accounting is example number one of what he's talking about.

only spend your limited time and resources on what is actually going to move the needle for you, your product, your customers, and outsource everything else that you need to do as a company but doesn't fit that bill. And accounting is example number one of what he's talking about.

Every company needs this, but it needs to be done by a professional, and you don't want to take any risk of something going wrong. But at the same time, it actually has zero impact on your product or your customers.

Every company needs this, but it needs to be done by a professional, and you don't want to take any risk of something going wrong. But at the same time, it actually has zero impact on your product or your customers.

Yep. These are now companies like OpenAI, Airtable, Scale, as well as large e-commerce companies. So it's not just that they have the experience across startups. They can also keep working with you as you scale to the growth phase and beyond.