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Bill Gates and Martha Stewart Say Tech Is Important (Duh!)

Gates and Stewart, King and Queen of the Obvious

Bill Gates himself was published today on the BBC site, with a brief essay called, 'The Skills You Need to Succeed.' What startling revelations does the founder of Microsoft have to share with us? What insights does one of the patriarchs of the modern computer industry have that can deepen our understanding of what the modern job market is looking for in an employee?

  • "In almost every job now, people use software and work with information to enable their organization to operate more effectively."
  • "A solid working knowledge of productivity software... has become a basic foundation for success in virtually any career."
  • "Communication skills and the ability to work well with different types of people are very important too."
  • "I also place a high value on having a passion for ongoing learning."

Oh. Dear. God. Bill Gates has turned into our high school guidance counselor. We really don't want to pick on Bill Gates too much here but, excuse us -- what was the point of this little article?

Now, to be fair, Mr. Gates' meditation on the obvious isn't the only example of a supposed business genius babbling like a freshly thawed caveman. Martha Stewart recently felt it necessary to explain, in her typical condescending tone, that the typical young person "accesses their information in many different ways... The world has changed." Are cell phones and the Internet still that fascinating, Martha? Apparently, yes, since she seems to favor those over her own magazines such as Blueprint, which she shut down this week.

Oh brother. Perhaps Bill and Martha should take Bill's own advice and get some of that "ongoing learning." This modern world can be a scary place.

From BBC and ValleyWag (via Geeksugar)

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