Bill Gates reveals what he would tell his 19-year-old self -Toby Meyjes

Bill Gates has shared his views on a number of topics including intelligence and social media (Picture: @BillGates/Twitter)

As one of the world’s richest and most influential people, 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.
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.’

Bill Gates on…

Bill Gates explained what advice he would give his 19-year-old self (Picture: Michael Gottschalk/Photothek via Getty Images)

…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

 …jumping over chairs

…the most pressing issues we can solve in the next decade

…social media

…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.’

…what is success

Culled from Metro