Fourth in a series of tributes.
Bill Lohse is a pioneer in the tech industry who started with a career in hobbyist computers long before Apple came on the scene. He wore lots of hats but eventually became the turnaround publisher of PC Magazine and president of Ziff Davis Publishing, where I first worked for him. Eventually, after a merger, Bill created ZD Expos/SoftBank Forums, which immersed me in the environment of tech conferences and introduced me to a new group of lifelong friends.
I learned about the emerging tech scene as I felt my way along; what Bill taught me was the basics of doing business. He was a great leader and the kind of boss who helped young people learn how things should be conducted. He showed me how to use goaling to manage my time and energy—how to set goals and short timelines that lead to other goals that fulfill bigger, long-term goals. Disciplined selling—how to grow and scale the business. Keeping commitments—the importance of meaning what you say and saying what you mean. (And doing it!)
Bill could be stern and sometimes draconian, but he really mastered the fundamentals of business leadership. Bill gave me the rules and tools that I’ve relied on throughout my career. And that’s why I love Bill Lohse.
Bill was a critical influence in my career, a mentor who recognized something in me that I didn’t, cultivating it during my time at SoftBank Expos and in a few important conversations. I never thanked him for that, and it why I love Bill Lohse.