“What I Would Tell My 19-Year-Old Self” – Bill Gate Reveals

As one of the world’s richest people, the Microsoft co-founder it is fair to assume that Bill Gates would be fairly satisfied with his life.

But if the billionaire was to give any advice to his 19-year-old self, it would be smartness is not quite as important as he thought back then.

The Microsoft co-founder explained that intelligence is not is not ‘single dimensional’ as he once believed, in a ‘Ask Me Anything’ Q and A, he hosted on Reddit.

The other topics covered included his favourite holiday spot and views on social media but he reserved his most compelling answers for the most complex questions.

“What I Would Tell My 19-Year-Old Self” – Bill Gate Reveals

Regarding the advice to his younger self, he said: ‘I would explain that smartness is not single dimensional and not quite as important as I thought it was back then.

‘I would say you might explore the developing world before you get into your forties.

‘I wasn’t very good socially back then but I am not sure there is advice that would fix that – maybe I had to be awkward and just grow up.’

What he finds most curious in life 

‘I still find the creation of life and the way the brain works the most fascinating areas.

‘Nick Lane has some great books exploring what we know about how life started. It is amazing how little we know about the brain still but I expect we will know a lot more in 10 years.’

His greatest achievement

‘Although the Foundation work is super promising and will be the biggest thing over the decades ahead I still think the chance to be part of the software revolution empowering people was the biggest thing I have gotten to do.

‘Right now I am very focused on making sure we successfully eradicate polio – that will be amazing if we do it – as good as shipping even the best software product.’

Disguises

I sometimes wear a hat. For example when I did college tours with my son I wanted the focus to be totally on him. A lot less people recognize me when I have a hat on or else they realize I am trying to be incognito.

Mostly when people do recognize me they are super nice so I don't feel it is a burden to be noticed most of the time.

Jumping over chairs

No. Perhaps a small chair - a stool. I do exercise and ski but my main sport is tennis which doesn't involve jumping. Some people jump over the net but that isn't part of the sport.

The most pressing issues we can solve in the next decade

A lot of people feel a sense of isolation. I still wonder if digital tools can help people find opportunities to get together with others - not Tinder but more like adults who want to mentor kids or hang out with each other.

It is great that kids go off and pursue opportunities but when you get communities where the economy is weak and a lot of young people have left then something should be done to help.

Social media

This is a great question. I felt sure that allowing anyone to publish information and making it easy to find would enhance democracy and the overall quality of political debate. However the partitioning you talk about which started on cable TV and might be even stronger in the digital world is a concern.

We all need to think about how to avoid this problem. It would seem strange to have to force people to look at ideas they disagree with so that probably isn't the solution. We don't want to get to where American politics partitions people into isolated groups. I am interested in anyones suggestion on how we avoid this.

What money can’t buy when it comes to philanthropy

‘Philanthropy is small as a part of the overall economy so it can’t do things like fund health care or education for everyone. Government and the private sector are the big players so philanthropy has to be more innovative and fund pilot programs to help the other sectors.

A good example is funding new medicines or charter schools where non-obvious approaches might provide the best solution

‘One thing that is a challenge for our Foundation is that poor countries often have weak governance – small budgets, and the people in the ministries don’t have much training.

This makes it harder to get things done. If we had more money we could do more good things – even though we are the biggest foundation we are still resource limited.’

Favourite vacation spot

‘Australia is particularly nice. It is summer there when it is winter here so going there in December and January is especially nice. I spent Thanksgiving there last year.

‘I have gotten to travel to a lot of great places like the Amazon in Brazil which I recommend.’