How well do CEO's know one another?
They probably run into one another at tradeshows, symposiums, boards of various charities, etc..
But is it common within the computer industry for CEO's to know each other on a friendship level?
How does HP's Carly Fiorina and Jobs' hook up on the whole HP branded iPod deal? Over dinner? Or do lower level execs put agreements like this together?
We know how Jobs and Dell don't get along. And somehow I see Gates and Jobs as cordial to one another on the outside but really despise each other.
I can just see Gates watching Jobs keynote unveiling the new mini iPods and turning to Balmer to say, "Where does he get all those wonderful toys!!?"
But is it common within the computer industry for CEO's to know each other on a friendship level?
How does HP's Carly Fiorina and Jobs' hook up on the whole HP branded iPod deal? Over dinner? Or do lower level execs put agreements like this together?
We know how Jobs and Dell don't get along. And somehow I see Gates and Jobs as cordial to one another on the outside but really despise each other.
I can just see Gates watching Jobs keynote unveiling the new mini iPods and turning to Balmer to say, "Where does he get all those wonderful toys!!?"
Comments
But it's 4 years out of your life to get there. Starting up a tech company is not easy.
They were all the big wigs, bank presidents, CEO's, etc., it all has to do with location, being close to where they work and live for regular meeting.
A lot have a rule not to talk "shop", they played bridge for a dollar a point and talked about other things to get their mind off the incredible resposiblity that is on their shoulders.
Trust me you could almost see the hundreds, even thousands of lives and jobs weighing on their every decision, some are not happy.
Of course if a couple of pal CEO's hit it off, of course big deals come of it, the wives come and meet each other at parties, if they hit it off they invite each other over for dinner etc.
Same thing for any group of people that have something in common.
Originally posted by Sailfish
Of course if a couple of pal CEO's hit it off, of course big deals come of it, the wives come and meet each other at parties, if they hit it off they invite each other over for dinner etc.
Same thing for any group of people that have something in common.
I read an interview with Jobs 3-4 years ago in Fortune magazine where he said that he and Gates had dinner w/ their families.
Hey they are the real players in their field from the start. Now, with success and time they've become...friends?
After reading that I whenever an argument over MAC/PC/Dead/Better/Worse, etc. starts.
do you think he jokes about Bill stealing recipes and copying the look and feel
if return visits to the Gates kitchen reveal clones of menu systems and layout?
Steve gets new brushed aluminum appliances, suddenly Bill orders new brushed metal appliances.
You think Jobs would be pushing iOffice and putting out a Windows version by now.
They get together over dinner, discuss buisness. Jobs says he has all these great things he would like to do and Gates ignores it and drinks heavily.
Jobs ribs Gates about Windows security flaws, Gates responds with customers are nothing more than cattle joke, they will take anything he will feed them.
Jobs says he doesn't think that way, Gates says evil manipulation and the Stockholm Syndrome has served him well. Calls people just cheap bastards and whines about how the Asians are stealing Windows, the Fed's, Linux, and his cronnies at the SCO screwing up and letting that confidential memo loose.
Theres a 10 minute silence only broken by Gates wife making conversation about dessert.
After a bit of whining about how he has no friends, Gates passes out and all three of them have to carry him to the car.