I flew through SFO on my way to Seattle on Wednesday. Just before I stepped on the plane, I made one final quick stop in the bathroom to wash my hands again (I tend to do that a lot when I travel to help reduce the chance that I get sick). When it came time to dry my hands, I had two options: paper towels or the Dyson AirBlade.
If you haven’t used the Dyson AirBlade, you really have missed out on the world’s best hand dryer. It really is incredibly efficient and effective. I know I haven’t used a better hand dryer. It’s created by the same guy who made the Dyson vacuum which by all accounts (from friends who own them) is the worlds best vacuum. I’ve had so many friends who were hesitant about that initial price, but now swear by Dyson vacuums. They are waiting for the day when Dyson & Roomba combine together to make the ultimate in household floor cleaning devices.
I’ve watched the Dyson ads on TV, where claims to have spent years trying to solve the problem of a vacuum cleaner. I do believe he made great innovations. I do believe he has created the best product in the market. I value vacuum cleaners and admit that one day I would also like to own a Dyson vacuum.
But I can’t help but think–this is your life’s work?
After having breakfast with some friends in Seattle, I started driving to my next meeting. On the way I passed by the construction site for the new offices for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. If you’ve talked with me about any aspect of technology, you know that I am a diehard Apple convert. I almost every product that comes out of Cupertino, and I regularly try to get more people to join me as an Apple consumer. While I’m okay with Microsoft Office, I can’t stand Windows anymore.
Still, I have the utmost respect for Bill Gates.
I saw some of the press conferences surrounding his retirement from Microsoft. He was asked, “Are you retiring?”
His response: “from Microsoft.”
Bill Gates is now spending countless hours and incredible amounts of energy working on his foundation. When I saw him speak at the Sundance Film Festival during the Q&A for the film Waiting for Superman, it was quite obvious that he’s immersed in education research. He’s looking at technology in poor and rural communities.
He’s literally trying to figure out how he can change the world.
The first act of his life was dedicated to technology. I may not be thrilled with all products his company created, but he was most definitely successful in accomplishing this goal.
This next act of his life seems to be filled with even more passion and purpose as he finds ways to serve this world.
So I just drove around thinking about all of this. It’s one thing to create the best product or service in our industry–Dyson has most definitely done this, and many would argue that Gates did this as well. It’s a whole other thing to take that same skill and energy and to make that product or service profoundly purposeful.
What can you do today to add more purpose to your actions?
Make it happen.