Not too long ago, we were still in the world where the dot-com bubble burst, sending millions of dollars of investment into the dumps. Not many years later, who would have expected a tech company to come out of the ashes to grow to a size and presence that Google is today? Reading "The Google Story" left me in awe of the simplicity, audacity and the unwaivering beliefs of the founders.
The first thing that struck me was how both of them were first "inventors" before businessmen. Amazingly, they embarked on the search engine project without much idea of how to turn a profit. It was only much later that they found their Midas touch. From the perspective that the book had put it, making money was just a requirement to continue funding their dream. Had it been possible to pursue their dreams and live comfortably without any cash, whether they turned a profit of 1million or 1 billion probably wouldn't matter as much. This made me think of Thomas Edison (who, unknown to many, founded General Electric) who thought about the commercial viability of his invention before deciding to start on it. The complete difference in thought just made me think a bit. Singapore probably follows Edison's stand and needs it in my opinion, but wouldn't it be nice to have a little Google touch?
Next was the incredible growth that Google has shown. From a mere search engine helping us search the web, it has grown to make itself omnipresent. Google today comprises not only the search engine but also mapping, news, videos and even blogspot.com amongst others. One can only stare and wonder how a search engine has managed to spread its wings so far to cover so many things and not show any signs of stopping. It shows the power of imagination and belief.
The last thing I want to mention is how Larry and Sergey seem to be ever bent on doing things as they see fit rather than succumbing to "regular" and more conventional methods. As I mentioned, they appear to first be Inventors before Businessmen. And, well, I suppose it's an occupational hazard for inventors to create new ways of doing things-from IPO to the company HQ to running the company. As to innovation and new avenues of growth, Google sure is doing one heck of a job. The peculiar thing is how their own stubborness has paid off in the end when on paper, it seems like a one-in-a-million chance. For people seeking to emulate them, should this be one aspect to follow? Or will it lead to disaster in a normal situation?
Larry Page and Sergey Brin, not forgetting Eric Schimdt, are truly an amazing bunch, changing our lives without us truly realising it.
The first thing that struck me was how both of them were first "inventors" before businessmen. Amazingly, they embarked on the search engine project without much idea of how to turn a profit. It was only much later that they found their Midas touch. From the perspective that the book had put it, making money was just a requirement to continue funding their dream. Had it been possible to pursue their dreams and live comfortably without any cash, whether they turned a profit of 1million or 1 billion probably wouldn't matter as much. This made me think of Thomas Edison (who, unknown to many, founded General Electric) who thought about the commercial viability of his invention before deciding to start on it. The complete difference in thought just made me think a bit. Singapore probably follows Edison's stand and needs it in my opinion, but wouldn't it be nice to have a little Google touch?
Next was the incredible growth that Google has shown. From a mere search engine helping us search the web, it has grown to make itself omnipresent. Google today comprises not only the search engine but also mapping, news, videos and even blogspot.com amongst others. One can only stare and wonder how a search engine has managed to spread its wings so far to cover so many things and not show any signs of stopping. It shows the power of imagination and belief.
The last thing I want to mention is how Larry and Sergey seem to be ever bent on doing things as they see fit rather than succumbing to "regular" and more conventional methods. As I mentioned, they appear to first be Inventors before Businessmen. And, well, I suppose it's an occupational hazard for inventors to create new ways of doing things-from IPO to the company HQ to running the company. As to innovation and new avenues of growth, Google sure is doing one heck of a job. The peculiar thing is how their own stubborness has paid off in the end when on paper, it seems like a one-in-a-million chance. For people seeking to emulate them, should this be one aspect to follow? Or will it lead to disaster in a normal situation?
Larry Page and Sergey Brin, not forgetting Eric Schimdt, are truly an amazing bunch, changing our lives without us truly realising it.