Hi all,

I've just been watching the Bill Gates documentary on the Money program this evening and I wondered if anyone else caught it??

I have to say I have alot of respect for the man. That said, he is one of those rare characters that will either have people tilting their hats or screwing their noses up in disgust. Ok, so there are the ethical (not to mention legal) issues re: potential/proven monopolistic behaviour, but for me he's a man that knows his own mind - he's ambitious (but his ambition is not and has never been to generate $bn's, its to turn his visions into a reality and be the best he can be in his chosen field), he expects the best and wants to deliver the best and he's very clearly an extremely committed man. Such a passion for success and such an instinct for what will be successful - say what you like about the guy, but one thing you cannot say is that he's a failure.

I have a great respect for him (did I say that already?!). My brother, on the other hand, firmly sits the other side of the fence - I clearly remember in his younger days he even had a laptop bag which had a slogan on which fairly blatently made his views on the big corporation known.

A new age of the big corporation is dawning, with Bill stepping away from the day to day and instead concentrating on using an accummulated $25b on various major pieces of charity work around the globe. The tasks he has set himself in this new era are not small, but then again Bill Gates doesnt do things by halves does he. Some might simply call this work Corporate social responsibility on a scale fully justified by the profits Microsoft has made, others would call it a gesture to mankind from a man that knows he can make a real difference to the level of deaths caused simply by poverty throughout the world.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Whatever the motivation, Bills doing this work because he can see the bigger 'global' picture, something that very clearly got Microsoft where it is today.

Any thoughts?

Hi Kath,

I think this is interesting - perhaps our members are too shy to debate? Personally I think it is good to see people with substantial resources giving some of it away. Whilst I have some concerns about the business ethics at times, as you say he has determination and has built his vision.

I did not see the programme - did anyone else?

kind regards
Stephanie

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Dr Stephanie Morgan
Crosslight Management
www.crosslight.co.uk

Hi Kath,

I didn't watch it either - but I am all for people making lots of money and giving it away - if I were ever lucky enough to make a fortune I would like to do something for charity in a big way!

Did anyone out there see the programme?

Cheers
Alice

I'm just about to watch it but for the record I have a lot of respect for the man, some say misplaced but who could argue his achievement. I emailed him once, didnt get a reply, I guess he was busy...

Shame no reply WildcatSEO!! ;0)

For the record I will give away oodles of money, when I have a spare few billion knocking around - I give to charity now of course, but we arent talking $25b! Its all relative I guess.

I've just watched the Panorama special on Primark (apologies, I'm abit of a documentary junkie I'm affraid), very interesting. What a complex situation that one is. One shocking fact stuck with me - there are 13million child workers in india. I wont get into a debate around the whole thing now though, I could be here for hours otherwise and work calls.................!!