Business

Johnny Appleseed.com

Business schools teach you to build one company that focuses on a few good ideas. Bill Gross never went to business school

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THIRTY seconds after meeting Bill Gross, you may find yourself restraining an unworthy impulse to bully this small, slightly nerdy Californian. After five minutes, you just want to sedate him as he buzzes annoyingly from idea to idea, turning every conversation into a brainstorming session. But after half an hour, irritation turns to enthusiasm: just possibly, you may have decided to quit your job and start a company, 49% owned by him.

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Johnny Appleseed.com”

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