When Microsoft former CEO Steve Ballmer got ‘frustrated' with Microsoft's culture and shouted….
Recalling his early days as
Microsoft CEO
,
Steve Ballmer
recently revealed that he shouted his now-iconic 'Developers! Developers! Developers!' chant out of frustration with the company's internal structure. Speaking on the 'Acquired' podcast, Ballmer said that the moment wasn't just for show, but a call-to-action to change Microsoft's internal mindset in the early 2000s. Ballmer recalled that during his early years as CEO,
Microsoft
teams were too focused on infrastructure like Windows, Windows Server, and ActiveX, while neglecting efforts to attract third-party developers. 'I was just frustrated with myself and my inability to get people out of, 'We're just a platform company,'' Ballmer said.
In an effort to jolt the company into action, Ballmer took the stage at a Microsoft developer conference and repeatedly shouted the word 'developers.'
The dramatic display, he explained, was a deliberate move to emphasize the importance of external developer support. 'I'm trying to tell people at that time that third parties really mattered, and you got different opinions inside Microsoft,' he stated.
'You have to be able to communicate that you really care about developers who are not your own,' Ballmer said. 'We just had to tell people, 'We want you, we want you, we want you.''
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
Steve Ballmer believed third-party developers were key to Microsoft's growth
At that time, Microsoft was facing growing pressure from rivals like IBM and Linux. The company needed to galvanize support for Windows and its emerging server products, including the then-nascent .NET framework. Ballmer believed third-party developers were key to Microsoft's survival and growth.
The chant, he said, was part of his personal approach to leadership and communication"I have my own kind of wild style," Ballmer said.
"How do you end a speech? You tell people you love them, that you want them. That's sort of the call to action," he added.
iQoo Z10 Review: 7300mAh battery packed in a slim design
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Crafting luxury: How this Jaipur-based MSME is winning India's elite
Jaipur-based ARL Group , known for its Specta Quartz Surfaces brand, has spent 30 years in the utility building material industry. After years of focusing on functional products, the company decided to diversify into the luxury segment, expanding its portfolio to cater to high-end customers seeking premium building materials. The Group explored new opportunities for diversification and discovered engineered quartz stones at exhibitions. Intrigued, they began a comprehensive study of the product and conducted global market research to understand its potential and trends. This helped them in evaluating the demand, competition, and potential applications of engineered quartz stones in the luxury segment, says Ankit Jain, Founder of Specta Quartz Surfaces, a luxury brand specialising in engineered quartz surfaces. 'Globally, the market is huge, and it is a very well-accepted product,' adds Jain. The global quartz market, estimated at $7.62 billion in 2025, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.19% to reach $9.35 billion by 2030. The Indian quartz market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% to reach $2,462 million by 2026. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Tan Dinh (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo 'We saw an opportunity to enter a new product line, leveraging export markets to kickstart growth while simultaneously investing in the Indian market to build our brand. This strategy allowed for a beneficial synergy between international expansion and domestic development,' says second-generation entrepreneur Jain. As these luxury projects continue to grow in volume, there is a growing demand for luxury interior materials like quartz surfaces for kitchen and washroom countertops and wall cladding, says Jain. The entrepreneur identified an opportunity in the market for high-quality quartz surfaces, particularly those manufactured using Italian technology, which is preferred by discerning buyers for its superior quality and durability compared to Chinese alternatives. Live Events Ankit leveraged his manufacturing expertise and built India's first manufacturing facility with the Italian Bretonstone technology in the Bagru Industrial Area , Jaipur, Rajasthan. For the uninitiated, Bretonstone is the gold standard in engineered quartz manufacturing worldwide. This Italian technology enables the creation of highly durable, design-consistent, and hygienic quartz surfaces that are ideal for modern living spaces. 'We were only the third company in India to do so and the first to focus so much on the Indian market. This decision has paid off, as Specta's designs are now a benchmark in the industry,' says Jain. India's luxury housing market The growth of luxury real estate and consumption in India has fuelled the demand for high-end home products, says Jain. As people invest more in their homes, especially kitchens and bathrooms, the market for premium materials like quartz surfaces has naturally expanded, offering an opportune time for brands like Specta Quartz Surfaces to capitalise on this trend, adds Jain. Luxury housing units priced above Rs 1.5 crore account for around 17% of new residential launches in India, according to ANAROCK Research's 2024 data. The luxury homes priced over Rs 1 crore dominated sales in 2024, crossing the 50% mark. Specta is planning to open six exclusive experience centres, including flagship locations in Mumbai, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad. The Jaipur-based MSME has made strides in the stone surfaces market, successfully catering to high-end customers seeking premium building materials. It has achieved nearly Rs 150 crore in revenue within just three years. The company also supplies its products to the Middle East. The price of Specta's products ranges from Rs 500 per sq ft to Rs 2,000 per sq ft depending on design intricacies and colours. 'Our turnover (revenue) has steadily grown from Rs 23 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 90 crore in 2023–24, with an EBITDA of Rs 4 crore. The provisional figures for 2024-25 show continued momentum, with turnover reaching Rs 145 crore, underscoring strong demand, strategic execution, and improved profitability,' says Jain. Over the next one year, Specta is expecting a revenue of Rs 300 crore. Specta Quartz Surfaces is working to boost capacity by year-end and aims for 50% year-on-year revenue growth over the next three years. To drive this expansion, the company is launching six exclusive experience centers, with flagship locations in Mumbai, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad, as part of its strategic retail growth plan. How is the sector placed? Aarti Harbhajanka, Co-founder, CHRO & MD, Primus Partners, says that India's luxury market, including premium building materials like engineered quartz surfaces, is growing steadily due to rising disposable incomes, urbanisation, and demand for high-end interiors. 'The engineered quartz segment is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8-12% over the next five years, driven by real estate development and an increasing preference for durable, aesthetically pleasing surfaces, adds Harbhajanka. However, Harbhajanka cautions that India's engineered quartz market also faces hurdles like price sensitivity due to competition from affordable alternatives such as ceramics and laminates. Additionally, the industry struggles with high import dependency on raw materials and consumer preference for traditional marble, she says. The Jaipur-based MSME has made strides in the stone surfaces market, successfully catering to high-end customers seeking premium building materials. 'Logistics complexities, considering the weight of the quartz and sustainability concerns around silica sourcing and carbon emissions, may add further hurdles. However, manufacturers are countering these issues through localised production and eco-friendly innovations,' adds Harbhajanka. Specta's operating model Specta's business model leverages partnerships with architects, designers, and developers, wherein Specta, founded in 2022, integrates its premium surfaces into luxury residences, commercial spaces, and hospitality projects. Also, it has recently expanded into retail and direct-to-consumer sales for its next phase of scaling. Specta operates in 80 tier-II and tier-III cities across India, supported by a robust network of approximately 60 distributors and 300 dealers. Our business follows a B2B model, wherein we dispatch products from our factory directly to our distributor network, who then handle local logistics and last-mile delivery. 'While our transactions are B2B, over 95% of our sales cater to retail homeowners, facilitated by our dealer ecosystem. Our sales team also works closely with kitchen installers, architects, and designers who act as key influencers, helping get our products specified in premium residential and commercial projects,' says Jain. The company also partners with modular kitchen brands like Livspace, Spacewood, Arancia, and Nolte, who showcase its quartz surfaces in their showrooms. 'When customers place orders, our distributors handle fulfilment. Meanwhile, our business development team collaborates with these kitchen installers and architects in major cities to pitch and showcase our products,' he adds. However, Jain agrees that the product is still at a very nascent stage in India. But he is hopeful more and more people will access the product since people's spending power in India has increased over the years. More than the spending power, the willingness to spend has increased, says Jain. 'With luxury kitchens ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore, high-end consumers aren't satisfied with basic materials like granite. Brands like Nolte and Livspace cater to this demographic, where premium quartz surfaces become a natural choice for those investing in high-end kitchen designs,' adds Jain. Expansion plans Specta, which has so far managed its working capital entirely through bank credit, is planning to open six exclusive experience centres, including flagship locations in Mumbai, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad. 'This is a part of our retail expansion strategy and will help us bring our products closer to customers in high-demand areas. Additionally, we are also banking on the rising luxury real estate market in tier-II and tier-III cities to expand our customer base within the luxury homeowner segment in these regions,' says Jain. The company has also invested in a new manufacturing plant, which will become operational by the end of the year. 'This plant will increase our capacity by almost 150%, and it will be capable of producing super-jumbo slabs and ultra-thin 7mm slabs with unique design possibilities. This advancement will open new applications beyond traditional surfaces, reinforcing Specta's position as an industry leader in innovation and design,' adds Jain.
NDTV
30 minutes ago
- NDTV
US Researcher Proposes Detonating Massive Nuclear Bomb Under Ocean To Save Earth
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A US researcher proposed detonating a nuclear bomb under the ocean to combat climate change. The plan aims to confine debris and radiation while accelerating rock weathering to reduce CO2. The study suggests a nuclear explosion could sequester 30 years of carbon emissions in one event. A 25-year-old Microsoft software engineer has suggested detonating the world's biggest nuclear bomb under the ocean to eviscerate the carbon-absorbing rocks that make up the seabed. Published in arXiv, a non-peer-reviewed website, Andy Haverly has claimed that the move could help solve the "escalating threat of climate change" through this innovative and large-scale intervention. "By precisely locating the explosion beneath the seabed, we aim to confine debris, radiation, and energy while ensuring rapid rock weathering at a scale substantial enough to make a meaningful dent in atmospheric carbon levels," the study highlighted. The study claimed that every year, 36 gigatons of carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere every year. Using a nuclear explosion yield of 81 gigatons, scientists can sequester 30 years' worth of carbon dioxide emissions, the study claimed. The explosion would be well over a thousand times bigger than the 50-megaton 'Tsar Bomba' test, conducted in 1961 by the Soviet Union in 1961. According to Mr Haverly, who doesn't have a background in climate science or nuclear engineering, he got the idea from Christopher Nolan's Academy Award-winning movie. 'Seeing the movie Oppenheimer really brought nuclear power to the front of my mind," said Mr Haverly as per Vice, adding: "There are elements of this idea that are already well known, like Enhanced Rock Weathering, and detonating nuclear weapons underground but combining all of these ideas has not been considered seriously before. And that's the reason I posted this paper." Dimming sunlight This is not the first instance when such a radical plan has been proposed to slow down climate change. The UK government is mulling a Rs 567 crore (50 million pound) experiment to dim the sunlight. The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) is backing the solar geoengineering project, which has piqued the interest of scientists worldwide. One of the experiments involves releasing tiny particles into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. Another potential solution is marine cloud brightening in which "ships would spray sea-salt particles into the sky to enhance the reflectivity of low-lying clouds". If successful, it could temporarily reduce surface temperatures, delaying the climate crisis and giving more time for the deep cuts in global carbon emissions needed.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump vs Musk: Representative AOC takes humorous jab, says 'girls are fighting'
AOC No one was able to contain their glee over Donald Trump and Elon Musk 's feud, not even Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a humorous jab at Trump-Musk's ugly divorce. When questioned about the conflict between the US president and his former close associate, she responded: "Oh man, the girls are fighting, aren't they. " She elaborated that the conflict between Trump and Musk was inevitable. "We've been seeing that these two huge egos were not longed for being together in this world as friends"' she stated. She further noted the potential legislative implications of their disagreement, as Musk continues to oppose the president's spending bill and advocates for Trump's impeachment. The former head of the Department of Government Efficiency and Tesla CEO has expressed concerns that the 'big, beautiful bill' would nullify his recent accomplishments. He predicted the president's tariff strategy would trigger an economic downturn later this year, whilst also promoting an unfounded theory about Trump being replaced. The president has retaliated by threatening to terminate Musk's government contracts, claiming he dismissed the DOGE leader. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Their relationship deteriorated when Musk began opposing the spending bill, arguing it would eliminate DOGE's cost-reduction initiatives. Trump addressed reporters regarding Musk's recent criticisms, stating: 'Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will any more, I was surprised.' He suggested Musk's dissatisfaction stemmed from the administration's reduction of electric vehicle mandates, affecting Tesla, and the replacement of Musk's preferred NASA leadership candidate, potentially impacting SpaceX's contracts. The president explained his decision to withdraw Jared Isaacman's NASA nomination, citing his Democratic affiliation. 'We won, we get certain privileges and one of the privileges is we don't have to appoint a Democrat,' Trump explained. Musk's response on X was succinct: 'Whatever.'
