Part 6/14:
This obsession with margin and efficiency was so ingrained that Dell’s foundation is built on continuous cost reduction—peeling the onion at every layer, from raw components to customer delivery processes. Tools like Ramp, a platform for expense control, embody this philosophy by enabling companies to obsessively monitor and optimize their spending.
The Power of Self-Belief and the Role of Naïveté
A recurring motif throughout Dell’s narrative is the pivotal role of self-confidence, combined with a touch of naïveté. At 19, Dell boldly aimed to compete with IBM, despite limited resources and scant industry experience, illustrating a powerful trait: belief before ability.