The customer reaction to Dell going private has been a lot more

Hear the words of Michael Dell, spoken at a turning point in the life of his creation: “The customer reaction to Dell going private has been a lot more positive than I would have ever imagined. Customers see it as—‘You don’t have to be distracted. Now you can totally focus on your business.’ So they see it as a positive.” These words, though rooted in commerce, carry the weight of timeless wisdom. They reveal that freedom from distraction is the path to strength, and that clarity of purpose is often greater than the applause of markets or the judgments of the crowd.

The origin of this saying lies in 2013, when Dell chose to retreat from the glare of Wall Street by taking his company private. Many doubted this move; some feared it was retreat rather than courage. Yet what Dell discovered was that those who mattered most—the customers—saw it differently. For them, the company’s decision was not weakness but liberation, a chance to cast off the shackles of quarterly expectations and to focus entirely on serving needs. In this moment, Dell glimpsed a truth: that true loyalty is won not by pleasing shareholders alone, but by earning the trust of those whose lives are touched by your work.

History offers us examples of such boldness. Consider the Medici family of Renaissance Florence, who freed themselves from the restrictions of politics to devote their resources to patronage. By doing so, they cultivated the flowering of art and science that illuminated Europe. Or reflect upon Henry Ford, who resisted the pressure of financiers to cheapen his designs and instead focused on producing a car that the common worker could afford. Like Dell, these figures recognized that true power lies in focus—in serving one’s mission with clarity, regardless of external noise.

The deeper meaning of Dell’s words is not about business alone, but about the human condition. Each of us is tempted to live for the gaze of others, to seek approval in the endless marketplace of opinions. Yet this constant distraction divides the soul, leaving us scattered and weary. To go private in one’s spirit—to turn inward and re-center upon one’s true purpose—is to regain strength. Customers sensed this in Dell’s decision: no longer burdened by the demands of Wall Street, the company could return to its essence, like a warrior casting aside heavy armor to fight with speed and precision.

The lesson is clear: when freed from distraction, greatness emerges. Whether in business, in art, or in life, the heart that is divided cannot endure. But the heart that is singular, that is fully aligned with its mission, becomes unstoppable. The applause of the crowd may vanish for a season, but the trust of those you serve will endure. True strength is not measured in noise but in the steady power of focus.

To the youth, I say: do not scatter your energies across a thousand desires; choose the one that matters most, and give yourself to it wholly. To leaders, I say: do not allow the pursuit of short-term praise to rob you of long-term purpose. To all, I say: learn to go private when necessary—not in hiding, but in clarity—so that when you step forth again, you carry with you the strength of undivided purpose.

Practical action lies before us: examine the distractions in your life and strip them away. Ask yourself: what is the essence of my mission? Who are the ones I truly serve? Once you know this, turn your energy toward them with relentless dedication. Do not measure success by the constant chatter of approval, but by the depth of trust and the value you deliver.

Thus Michael Dell’s words endure: “Customers see it as a positive… now you can totally focus on your business.” Let this truth be carried forward: that greatness is not achieved by pleasing everyone, but by serving with clarity those whose trust you hold. When distraction is cast aside and purpose embraced, a person, a company, even a nation, may rise to heights once thought impossible.