Happy Birthday Google

Happy 9th B'Day Google! It's hard to imagine that only 9 short years ago Google was birthed. And what a journey it's been for the company. With its mission "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful", Google started like most other startups in the Valley from humble beginnings in a Stanford University dorm room by Larry Page and Sergey Brin to become a force that "is now widely recognized as the world's largest search engine -- an easy-to-use free service that usually returns relevant results in a fraction of a second". Their name has even become a verb with Google it being a very common expression to hear.

Google has since and continues to make its foray into every area imageinable: video, social networking, mapping, payments, mobile, email, docs, and much more. (Google Products)

Their philosophy as stated on their site is:

Never settle for the best
"The perfect search engine," says Google co-founder Larry Page, "would understand exactly what you mean and give back exactly what you want." Given the state of search technology today, that's a far-reaching vision requiring research, development and innovation to realize. Google is committed to blazing that trail. Though acknowledged as the world's leading search technology company, Google's goal is to provide a much higher level of service to all those who seek information, whether they're at a desk in Boston, driving through Bonn, or strolling in Bangkok.

To that end, Google has persistently pursued innovation and pushed the limits of existing technology to provide a fast, accurate and easy-to-use search service that can be accessed from anywhere. To fully understand Google, it's helpful to understand all the ways in which the company has helped to redefine how individuals, businesses and technologists view the Internet.

Ten things Google has found to be true:
1. Focus on the user and all else will follow.
2. It's best to do one thing really, really well.
3. Fast is better than slow.
4. Democracy on the web works.
5. You don't need to be at your desk to need an answer.
6. You can make money without doing evil.
7. There's always more information out there.
8. The need for information crosses all borders.
9. You can be serious without a suit.
10. Great just isn't good enough.
(Source: http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/tenthings.html)

The next nine years is shaping up to be equally interesting.