I loved every minute of my time at Microsoft, but I had always envisioned having another phase of life just because I thought that would be interesting. It had never been my plan to work until I literally didn't want to do anything and then hang it up.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a desire for change and new experiences, emphasizing that life should be about exploration and not solely about work.
In this quote, Steve Ballmer reflects on his time at Microsoft with fondness while highlighting his belief in the importance of evolving beyond one's current circumstances. He suggests that a fulfilling life involves imagining new phases and opportunities, rather than being confined to continuous work until exhaustion. This mindset encourages individuals to seek out novel experiences and phases in life, illustrating that life is more than just a career.
In practice
During a motivational speech about life choices.
The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn't think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential.
I think the biggest mistake most people make when they pick their first job is they don't worry enough about whether they'll love the work, and they worry more about whether it's good experience
The insistence on complete certainty about the full details of global warming-the most serious threat we have ever faced-is actually an effort to avoid facing the awful, uncomfortable truth: that we must act boldly, decisively, comprehensively, and quickly, even before we know every last detail about the crisis. Those who continue to argue that the appropriate response is merely additional research are simply seeking to camouflage timidity or protect their vested interest in the status quo.
This is what a crisis does: It makes you question the status quo. That doesn't mean that after a crisis we move into some kind of utopia. But it is an opportunity for political change.
The whole story of migration and what that has done in interconnecting the planet is obviously something I've written about a lot.
We need transformational change of our criminal justice system - not just, you know, a handful of consent decrees or policy reforms.
There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.
Going abroad to study as a teenager, and joining the United Nations at 22, confirmed my ease with the world of the frequent flyer. I saw the average airport terminal as a familiar haven, like a friend's sitting room. But 9/11 changed all that.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.