Tuesday, October 09, 2018

How Netflix changed entertainment -- and where it's headed | Reed Hastings

I have a special interest in Reed Hasting because I worked as a consultant for his first company Pure Software. I was fortunate to be in several meetings, dinners and lunches with Reed. This was many years ago, however I still remember how impressed I was after I got to know him. I spent several hours talking with Reed Hastings and at first I thought he must just be a software programming nerd. 
I was wrong with my first thoughts, and I learned how super intelligent, talented in multiple business methods, and nice of a person he is. It just proves you can be a nice person and still become a billionaire. The other thing I remember and still think about is how strong, and tenacious of an entrepreneur Reed Hastings is. I remember him talking about how he was "home alone" developing his first software product Purify for two years. Reed faced years of rude rejection from venture capitalists telling him he should give up. I think with that much rejection 98% of people would give up. Then Pure Software became very successful, went public and Reed made a "big old bag of money" which he later used to help start NETFLIX. Towards the end of this video you hear Reed talk about how he loves to compete against Disney, HBO, etc. I still see his passion for business and his desire to compete and win, just like I remember from the old days when I used to have dinner with him.
The video below is very interesting and Reed Hastings receives a standing ovation at the end of the interview.