While Amazon was small, Bezos thought big. He was most interested in systems and distribution, which he understood were the key to what he wanted to build. Having been a retail reporter, I could see that what he was selling had less to do with tech chops and more to do with how automated and data-driven Amazon could become. “You’re not a tech company, you’re a souped-up logistics company,” I said to him once. He responded with that maniacal laugh.
