…and matches his donation by a whopping $37 billion, as per the current value of the stock.
Buffett has pledged to gradually give 85% of his Berkshire stock to five foundations. A dominant five-sixths of the shares will go to the world’s largest philanthropic organization, the $30 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, whose principals are close friends of Buffett’s (a connection that began in 1991, when a mutual friend introduced Buffett and Bill Gates).
Fortune has more.
Seth Godin’s new book is about telling good and authentic lies, that are framed in accordance to to the prospective customer’s worldviews.
Stories let us lie to ourselves. And those lies satisfy our desires. It’s the story, not the good or the service you actually sell, that pleases the customer.
Seth Godin makes a strong case for story telling and defends the marketers who tell stories/lies that customers tell themselves.
The book would have been even better, if it did not try to trivialise or ignore the old marketing ideas. For instance, market research helps to know more about the worldview, which is the very foundation of Seth Godin’s work. And, it is not a 100% online world yet, the customers today still notice the ad jingles and the huge billboards on the freeway. (Remember the recent Google’s hiring campaign?)
Despite these reservations, Seth Godin comes with a thought-stirring effort. A good read for anyone who is attempting to sell. And if you go by him– Don’t hard-sell, tell an authentic story instead.
The unthinkable has happened. Bill Gates decides to relinquish the day-to-day control of the company he co-founded in the 80s. He plans to spend most of his time now spending his wealth through his Foundation.
“Just as Microsoft took off in ways I never expected, so has the work of the Foundation, and it’s growing rapidly,” Gates, 50, said in a press conference announcing the news. “With the early successes comes the challenge of scaling up and delivering these new approaches to everyone who can benefit.” Gates says he plans to remain Microsoft’s chairman indefinitely.
Related Links at Businessweek Online
Bill Gates’s Long Goodbye
Gates Glorified Qualified Legacy
The Vacancy fit for a King
What Ozzie can do for Microsoft?