The power of ideas (1)

Any crusade requires optimism and the ambition to aim high” (Paul Allen).

Most people with some knowledge and experience of computers must know something about “Microsoft”, whether as a computer system or as an organisation. Several people also must have heard of Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world, who also happens to be the co-founder and former Chief Executive of Microsoft. What most people will not easily be aware of is that the original idea behind Microsoft and in fact the name was not from Bill Gates. It was from his teenage friend Paul Allen, with whom he founded Microsoft. It was indeed Paul Allen that ‘stumbled’ on the idea in 1974. 

Paul Allen, then aged 21 bought a magazine called Popular Electronics, which featured as its cover story the Altair 8800, the microcomputer reputed to be the first true personal computer. Paul Allen took the magazine to his friend, Bill Gates and managed to convince him to collaborate on what would become one of the most influential and impactful revolutionary partnerships in the digital era. He was to later declare in an interview that it took just five minutes conversation to convince Bill Gates on his idea. 

This is what Paul Allen had to say about the decision to pursue the idea behind the setting up of Microsoft: “The entire conversation took five minutes. When it was over, Bill and I looked at each other. It was one thing to talk about writing a language for a microprocessor and another to get the job done….If we’d been older or known better, Bill and I might have been put off by the task in front of us. But we were young and green enough to believe that we just might pull it off.”

Paul Allen knew that he and Bill Gates had the skills to code the right programming language, but he also knew that they had something else – guts. Paul Allen who decided to drop out of Washington State University to pursue the digital dream also convinced Bill Gates to drop out of Harvard University as they both embarked on plotting the incredible journey that Microsoft became. Theirs was a great and complementary partnership. Paul Allen was the “Ideas Man”, while Bill Gates was the “Action Man”. 

Unfortunately, Allen’s illness in 1982 with Hodgkin’s lymphoma necessitated his resignation from major activities in Microsoft, although he still owned substantial shares in the company. Fortunately, Paul Allen survived the illness and thereafter continued to channel his billions of dollars and entrepreneurial ideas to several other ventures. Importantly, the Microsoft idea has remained and indeed grown even beyond his and Bill Gates’ dreams. It is remarkable that Paul Allen titled his Memoirs, “Idea Man”. It is a compelling story of how ideas can become reality through strong beliefs.  

There are many people like Paul Allen all over the world who have also believed in their dreams and pursued such dreams with great passion. It all boils down to how strong the belief systems behind the ideas can propel the ideas to become realistic opportunities. That is the lesson learnt from Microsoft. Allen and Gates may not have hired coaches that helped reinforce the personal beliefs that made the idea of Microsoft a reality. But, they must have learnt to “coach” each other, especially when the going was tough.

The most important issue is that ideas, which are like seeds of greatness developing within a person must be nurtured and developed to become the strong platform upon which a strong belief system can be placed. Every thing begins with, and develops from an idea. It is like the process of incubation or pregnancy. You have to be first ‘pregnant’ with great ideas. And, except there is a strong belief in the ability and reality of the ideas being delivered, the process of development could be compromised. 

That is why coaching has become so popular and also very important in supporting people to achieve their dreams. The coach in this regard challenges your attitudes, beliefs and values. The objective is to highlight what is really important to you in terms of turning your ideas to reality. It is also about supporting you to set personally inspiring goals, which would ensure that you arrive at the desired outcomes.

Obviously, having a coach by your side provides you with some benefits and opportunities. Among these is the opportunity to reflect on your journey and performance. It thus enables you to evaluate where you are concerning a specific situation or important phase in life. From that point, through the process of coaching, you will be sufficiently resourced and personally empowered to plot the way forward. 

What this means is that, through the process of coaching, it becomes much easier to identify and determine the practical changes that may be necessary for you to make in order to turn your great ideas into worthwhile reality. It is also means that you are adequately equipped, with respect to setting and developing realistic goals. You can read more about the transformational power of coaching at www.ceedcoaching.com.

Emmanuel Imevbere