I've seen steveb speak quite a few times at both internal and external events covering a variety of topics. My opinion of him is quite a roller coaster ride. Sometimes he fills me with inspiration and renews my confidence, other times, like this one, I don't find anything he has to say very compelling or insightful. I think that there is something endearing about him, which makes it hard to accurately evaluate his performance.

Depends on which ghostwriter is hired/fired. I would like you to cite an example of an inspiring speech from steveb, which instils confidence. Assuming you are not referring to the dancing monkey performance. I think he just felt he had to do it, like the frontmen of AAPL and GOOG.

Speak to anyone who has attended a Microsoft company meeting. Steveb is definately the main event.

What connection does Steve Ballmer have to entrepreneurs?

maybe it is selling stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGvHNNOLnCk

You can sell shit and get thanks

That's what I learned from the Yanks

-- The American Dream Lyrics

Ballmer is the most irrelevant and the least influential CEO in the history of modern corporatocracy.

In other words, a clown.

And before all shills come to tell me how many gazillions he has, respect can not be bought. Period.