Putting aside Microsoft's current financial performance, and the fact they still have stockpiles of cash in the bank, I think they are doomed. It might take them 20 more years to fail, but unless they radically change, they will fail.
In the last few months I had a chance to meet some folks from Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft. Some are my friends and some I've only met a few times. The first three companies seemed to have retained a ton of engineers that are hard working, driven, passionate about their products and their field. Meanwhile, I only met 1 person at Microsoft who truly was excited about being at MS. Everyone else, who was passionate, left MS either a few years ago or just recently.
You may think that my sample size is too small, but I tend to trust the gut feeling. What saw at MS was a company full of good people, but no one in particular cared about the success of the company. They were all there because it was a good job, a stable pay check, maybe even an educational experience. Meanwhile, folks I got to talk to at Google and Facebook and particularly at Apple were all committed to the cause, hungry to outsmart and outdo their competition. I think that speaks to the company culture and culture speaks to success.
All said, I think MS is doomed because they got too comfortable, too used to the easy money. Microsoft is really good at piloting a massive ship that slowly and steadily moves through the deep waters. But, as the waters are drying, they may just get stuck. To continue prospering, Microsoft needs to innovate, to reinvent themselves, to be agile again. They may get lucky and acquired the next big thing, which will bring them prosperity for years to come, but they may not and if they don't, they will be toast at the current state of affairs.
Lastly, this is a lesson to all of us. If you want your company to succeed, you cannot get comfortable. Like Steve Jobs said in his biography, you have to cannibalize yourself or your competition will do it for you. Your and your company has to keep running the marathon as if you have just started the journey.
Agree with me, disagree with me, bash me for not believing in Microsoft, that's okay. All I know, I will be sure to run this marathon fast and smart and I won't let my company to slow down and get on the death spiral. Come, run along, we'll have a good time.
In the last few months I had a chance to meet some folks from Google, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft. Some are my friends and some I've only met a few times. The first three companies seemed to have retained a ton of engineers that are hard working, driven, passionate about their products and their field. Meanwhile, I only met 1 person at Microsoft who truly was excited about being at MS. Everyone else, who was passionate, left MS either a few years ago or just recently.
You may think that my sample size is too small, but I tend to trust the gut feeling. What saw at MS was a company full of good people, but no one in particular cared about the success of the company. They were all there because it was a good job, a stable pay check, maybe even an educational experience. Meanwhile, folks I got to talk to at Google and Facebook and particularly at Apple were all committed to the cause, hungry to outsmart and outdo their competition. I think that speaks to the company culture and culture speaks to success.
All said, I think MS is doomed because they got too comfortable, too used to the easy money. Microsoft is really good at piloting a massive ship that slowly and steadily moves through the deep waters. But, as the waters are drying, they may just get stuck. To continue prospering, Microsoft needs to innovate, to reinvent themselves, to be agile again. They may get lucky and acquired the next big thing, which will bring them prosperity for years to come, but they may not and if they don't, they will be toast at the current state of affairs.
Lastly, this is a lesson to all of us. If you want your company to succeed, you cannot get comfortable. Like Steve Jobs said in his biography, you have to cannibalize yourself or your competition will do it for you. Your and your company has to keep running the marathon as if you have just started the journey.
Agree with me, disagree with me, bash me for not believing in Microsoft, that's okay. All I know, I will be sure to run this marathon fast and smart and I won't let my company to slow down and get on the death spiral. Come, run along, we'll have a good time.