Quote of the Day: Bill Gates on Success

Notice the word “shaped.” Not “used,” not “operated,” not even “owned”, shaped. It’s a maker’s word, implying that the tool doesn’t dictate the outcome; the person does. “I think it's fair to say that personal computers have become the most empowering tool we've ever created. They're tools of communication, they're tools of creativity, and they can be shaped by their user.”

Empowerment isn’t a vibe, it’s leverage. A personal computer turns intent into reach: a message can cross a building or a continent, a question can become an answer in minutes, a lonely day can become a conversation. The point isn’t to be “online” more. It’s to communicate on purpose, clearer emails, braver outreach, better collaboration, so your work and relationships move forward instead of stalling.

Then there’s creativity, the often-neglected twin of productivity. These machines can be studios, drafting tables, editing rooms, and classrooms, if you decide they are. The best use of a computer is rarely passive consumption; it’s active creation. When you shape your tools, your apps, shortcuts, files, templates, you reduce friction, protect attention, and make it easier to do the thing you say you care about. That’s real freedom.

Bill Gates earned credibility by helping bring personal computing from a niche hobby to a global default through Microsoft, then applying his time and resources to philanthropy focused on health, education, and literacy.

Today, pick one outcome you want, write, design, learn, connect, and shape your computer around it: delete one distracting app, pin one creation tool, and schedule a 25-minute block to build something small. May your tools obey your values, and may your leadership begin at the keyboard.