Paul Allen – Idea Man – a memoir by the co-founder of Microsoft

Personal Brand Leadership – Book Review

© 2011 MIE Services LLC – 358 pages hardback $- US 27.95 / Cdn $35

PERSONAL BRAND LEADERSHIP POINTERS

From this book you will learn:

- The importance of having several avenues of interest to round out your brand.
- How you can enjoy your passions AND make it part of who you are.
- Remain true to your core beliefs and not wavering.
- Understand the power of doing what you’re uniquely good at.

Paul Allen is certainly best known by many as the co-founder of Microsoft, who left in the early 1980′s but still wound up a multi-billionaire. Many might also choose to pick up this book to find out the insider scoop on what really happened in his ‘fall out’ with Bill Gates. Certainly the publishers have positioned this book to portray these very two renowned key points.

However there is much more to this autobiography than just dishing the dirt and making billions from Microsoft. It could be argued that Allen has had more influence across a wider spectrum with his various successes and failures since, than an ever lasting impact with what remains of his legacy inside Microsoft. After all how much of Allen’s work or influence even is in what the company is now – over 35 years later?

What was more insightful was Allen’s ability to think ahead of the technology curve (and beyond tech.) in a number of ways. This is more where the title “Idea Man” comes in to play – he invested, in some cases more closely gambled, on technology such as streaming content, wireless technology, consumer space travel. Some proved successful, others failed, but likely more from being too soon than completely wrong.

The book can appear in places dry (read – too much technical information that may not have been needed) and although you learn of the trappings that wealth brings – yachts, sports teams, playing guitar with Bono – you certainly also understand Paul Allen to be a very private man, close to his immediate family but you learn little of his own personal life – something in an autobiography is lacking.

Overall an interesting insight in the personal brand leadership of a technology titan, a community leader and philanthropist and some interesting lessons about business.

Personal Brand Leadership Rating – 3.5 stars

Read about the Personal Brand that is Paul Allen HERE

Paul Copcutt first aligned with personal branding after reading Tom Peters ‘Brand You 50’ in 1997. Now a sought after speaker and media resource he has been featured by Forbes, Reuters, the Wall Street Journal and Elle. He works with executives, managers and teams for leading Fortune 500 corporations.