Bill Gates on Netflix
Idly flicking through Netflix I came across “Inside Bill Gates Brain.”
Interesting I thought. What makes the guy I have to thank for making writing possible tick?
I flicked it on and with a wine in one hand and a so-called low carb snack in the other I sat back and soon forgot to fill my glass. The documentary was as illuminating as my reading glasses with small print.
For there is more Bill Gates than diet coke and Windows-whatever, he is a man who despite all his wealth continues to work like a trojan for what he believes in.
The documentary covers in three episodes polio, sanitation and global energy, and weaves into the narrative important stages of Bill Gates life, the people, the setbacks along with his successes.
His approach is always the same, long hours of investigation reading, and seeking out others with knowledge who share his vision and working harder.
He talks of solving problems that destroys lives. Instead of throwing money at short term solutions he strives to find the cause then sources the best brains to help him and the biggest business brain to help make it happen. This man has built and inspired a team of creatives who share his vision, generosity and possible solutions.
And he has had his setbacks, insults, cake thrown in his face, even taken to court. He has been down, cried, come across many barriers but he doesn’t give up. Instead he reaches out to countries all over the world to work together and try to find solutions.
He is a man who rubs along with powerful people who acknowledges his wife as his equal partner, and spends time explaining to his daughter the difference between helping one person with polio and solving the cause of the problem.
And he is on time.
I was in awe. If I had his money would I give up all my days reading and studying to solves the problems of millions or invest in better low carb snacks, save a few cats and maybe tip a bit better?
The documentary seems to conclude that because Bill Gates has not nailed these three worldwide problems, he had failed. That somehow helping the people he has helped, the discoveries his foundation have made are all failures, because they haven’t achieved the goals set.
Bill Gates talks of working harder and this too is questioned as a flaw.
And this is the true spell bounding nub of the documentary people’s reaction to Bill Gates, and success/failure in general.
When is not giving up seen as a flaw? And since when is achieving a goal more important than helping thousands?
Bill (Hero) Gates has employed and inspired engineers to create toilets that function without drainage, a sewerage plant that runs on the energy created by the sewage it collects. Along with the possibility of using nuclear waste to create energy.
Are these failures or work in progress, legacies, and dare I say it-hope, which will live on when Bill Gates is not here.
As I finally drained my glass and stared at my crappy novel sale-figures I pondered Bill Gates…
One creative’s failure is another’s work in progress.
For me people like Bill Gates and his foundation brings hope that the world’s future is not as bleak as the daily news would have us believe.
And as a writer with much smaller goals, I can take comfort in the Bill Gate’s knock backs, be inspired by his determination to keep going and learn from his ability to work with others.
Watch the documentary love to know what you think.
Kerrie Noor Is A Comedy, Romance & Sci-Fi Author based in Scotland. Explore her recent work on Amazon or contact her for more information