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Jack Lever: An audience with Ace Man
Jack ‘ACE MAN’ Lever dropped out
of Brown University at the age of 19 to set up a computer
software company in his parents’ garage. 22 years, 3
private jets and 16,000 employees later, J-Tech is about to
join General Electric as one of the world’s largest corporations.
Poke business editor Martha Redcap
takes time out with a man who once shredded $175,000 USD to
prove that his employees really were his company’s most
important assets.
MR: Two weeks
ago you splashed down in the Caspian Sea, becoming one of
the first ever CEO’s to join the Mia Programme as a cosmonaught.
What made you do it?
JL: Leverware
products have been launched in over 60 different markets across
the world, achieving 60% share of the global desktop software
category. People asked me where on earth I could grow the
business next, so I started thinking - why earth?
MR: You’re
one of the few people of our generation to experience space
tourism, did you feel awkward about occupying such a privileged
position?
JL: This was
space business, not space tourism. Our Venture Board set up
a strategic SWAT team in 2000 to make sure we’d be on
the money come 3K. I like to think of stimulating venues for
us to knock our heads together and this time I figured, what
better place to float ideas than zero grav?
MR: On a personal
level, did you enjoy escaping the hectic nature of your every
day corporate life?
JL: No doubt
about it, zero grav is an A1 locale for CEO facetime. I’d
recommend it to a friend.
MR: A friend
with $14m+ to spare?
JL: Money is
nothing more than Time + Concept x Competition = Purchase.
You want it, you got it. It’s all in my book.
MR: While we’re
on the subject Ace Man Cometh is coming out next month and
already has a back order that will put it at the top of the
literary charts. What does it tell us about success in the
21st Century?
JL: Less is more.
But the more Less you can get the better. In fact, the market
is so competitive today you’re going to need the most
Less if you’re even going to stand a chance. The moment
you find someone with more Less than you, you’re history.
MR: You’re
a pioneer of non-conformist work culture. How do you feel
about copycat companies who introduce dress-down policies,
hot-desking and non-hierarchical job titles?
JL: If these
people think burning their ties will make them more money,
that’s just depeche.
MR: You’re
not afraid to mock the competition, and yet when it came to
the US Senate’s decision to break up Microsoft, you kept
quiet – why not take advantage?
JL: I’m
always happy to break bread with Gates. He’s a cooky
bird, but deep down there’s a light on somewhere.
MR: Well, you
beat him in the space race, but how will it help your business?
JL: Just because
there’s no actual cash in space, doesn’t mean there’s
no money. We had the same problem cracking Wyoming back in
‘86. If nothing else think of the real estate up there
– vast, vast potential…I guess that’s why they
call it space.
To order advance copies of Jack Lever’s
‘Ace Man Cometh’ visit thepoke.co.uk next month.
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