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Notable Achievements at Age 36
Founded Thinking Machines Lab (public benefit corporation)
Launched Thinking Machines Lab in February 2025, positioning it to build more understandable, customizable, and capable AI systems.
LinkedIn launched
LinkedIn launched as one of the first business-oriented social networks.
Marries Laurene Powell
Jobs married Laurene Powell in Yosemite; she was pregnant at the time.
Co-founded BlackRock (under Blackstone umbrella)
Fink and seven partners founded BlackRock under the corporate umbrella of The Blackstone Group; he became director and CEO.
Signed the Gdańsk Agreement
On 31 August 1980 Wałęsa signed the Gdańsk Agreement (using an oversized pen) with government representative Mieczysław Jagielski, winning rights to strike and to form an independent union.
Awarded ACM Turing Award
Received the ACM A. M. Turing Award for contributions to analysis of algorithms and design of programming languages (cited TAOCP).
Designed Pascal
Developed the Pascal programming language (1970), a simple, efficient language intended for teaching and reliable system building.
Voting Rights Act signed into law
The Voting Rights Act, a watershed civil‑rights law eliminating many barriers to African‑American voting, was enacted following Selma protests.
Marries Jacqueline Bouvier
Married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island; marriage became a prominent public partnership.
Earned M.D., University of Chicago
Completed medical degree (M.D.) while on faculty at the University of Chicago.
Birth of son Ronald Lauder
Second son Ronald Lauder born (later held government posts and company roles).
Franklin stricken with paralytic illness (polio)
Franklin contracts paralytic illness at Campobello Island; Eleanor nurses him and persuades him to remain in politics.
Death from cervical/uterine cancer
Ada Lovelace died on 27 Nov 1852 in Marylebone, London, after a several‑month illness; contemporary accounts call it uterine cancer.
Emmy nomination for writing: John Early: Now More Than Ever
Nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for 'John Early: Now More Than Ever' (Television Academy listing).
Daytime Emmy Award winner (Outstanding Daytime Special)
Won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Special as a host for Recipe for Change: Standing Up to Anti-Semitism.
Birth of daughter Palmer
Yates and his wife Chapin welcomed their second daughter, Palmer, in June 2023.
💡 What this means for you
At age 36, you're at a pivotal point where many successful entrepreneurs made their breakthrough. Whether you're building your first company or scaling an existing one, these examples show what's possible with focus and execution.
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