I held onto my Microsoft stock because of loyalty, and I wanted to be the best investor, staying informed about the company even after leaving.

The transition from stock options to stock awards at Microsoft was crucial for employee motivation and addressing cultural issues after the dot-com bubble burst.

I turned down a $12 billion offer from Microsoft because I felt that we had a unique opportunity to create something special and control our own destiny.

I realized I needed to emotionally detach from Microsoft after leaving, but my loyalty to the company remained strong.

When I left the company, we grew from zero revenues to about $150 million in recurring revenue, leading to a sale to Microsoft for around $800 million.

When considering how much to invest, smaller checks can have a significant impact if the company becomes a billion-dollar success.

Sustainable abundance in technology is essential, and Microsoft is committed to using energy efficiently to generate economic prosperity while minimizing environmental impact.

The antitrust issues Microsoft faced were not just business challenges but also cultural ones that affected employee morale and integrity. The federal government ordered a split, but they didn't specify who had to run which part; I was to run operating systems while Bill would take applications.

I learned that the culture at Microsoft encouraged innovation and big ideas, which is crucial for fostering creativity in a company.