Week 7 Reading Reflection

WEEK 7 READING REFLECTION

     I read about entrepreneur Steve Jobs in a biography by Walter Isaacson.

1) The thing that surprised me most about Jobs is that he was such an informal genius who touted his own individuality, but at the same time remained a perfectionist about his creations. For instance, Jobs didn’t mind being perceived as a hippy by his coworkers during his time at the Atari or making his company represent the antithesis to IBM’s formality. However, when heading a project like the “Macintosh” he had clear restrictive guidelines for engineers and designers in an attempt to present his work in one particular light.

I most admired Steve Jobs for constantly betting on himself. Whether it was going into someone’s office without an appointment to demand a job or having the guts to manage any project that came through Apple himself, Jobs felt he was always the most capable guy in the room.

I have to say I least admire the way Jobs denied his first child Lisa Nicole Brennan, admittedly because he wasn’t ready to be a parent at the time. A man who had the courage to literally build his visions into reality and amassed a net worth of 256 million dollars by the age of twenty-five was so frightened by the thought of being a present father he alienated his one child. In retrospect considering Job’s personal struggles with identity due to the actions of his birth parents giving him up for adoption one might understand his hesitancy concerning the matter. Nevertheless, this was no excuse for his physical absence in his daughter’s life (he was a more than decent financial provider).

Many of Job’s great qualities come from his narcissistic behaviors. Viewing himself as an ultimate innovator he would label those individuals in lockstep with his way of thinking as “enlightened” and he didn’t see potential in as “assholes”.  His narcissism had other considerable drawbacks as well, he’d often repackaging the thoughts of others including his employees as his own brain children. As a younger man, Jobs seemed to have viewed himself as infallible which is why he seemed to shift blame for company failures on others. He blames the disappointing Apple III launch on there being to many designers on the project, while he stated the world wasn’t ready for the powerful “Lisa” computer. Not to mention Jobs gave the bulk of the blame to marketing director John Scully for the Macintosh losing to Microsoft in personal computer sales.  Jobs states he overpriced it at $2,495.

2) Jobs was a very competent man exhibiting an affinity for both the liberal arts as well as mechanical engineering. He could always see how consumer technology was trying to evolve and proceeded to pick and choose what trends he wanted to apply to his own masterpieces. This was the case when Apple encouraged investments by Xerox so Jobs could get his hands on graphical user interface technology. Obviously, Jobs added to this list of skills shrewd business man because inventor/mechanical designer Steve Wozniak claims Jobs always knew how to make a profit whenever Wozniak produced great technology.  

3)  In chapter 16 the relationship between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates is introduced. The two worked together to produce some software for Job’s Macintosh. However, after Gates’ company Microsoft released Windows operating system the two friends had a falling out. Jobs was disgruntled that the graphical user interface was being used in the Windows system. However, I will never understand this grievance because as Gates pointed out on numerous occasions both products are merely an advancement on the Xerox technology. There shouldn’t be any reason for animosity.

4) My first question to Steve Jobs:  You clearly saw potential in the section of Lucasfilms you would eventually re-brand as Pixar shown by the 50 million you invested before work begun on the Toy Story project, but how many companies or company departments had you bailed out up to that point? I’d ask this question because Pixar before Jobs took ownership of Pixar hardware, software, and animation all three sections of the company were hemorrhaging funds. I was curious how confident Jobs was before the sustained success of Pixar that he could save a failing business, or would he just be blowing 50 grand.

My second question to Steve Jobs: What was the event that changed your life making you desire to be a family man. I’d ask him this because Jobs always had trouble establishing strong relationships with people and if he simply wanted more kids he might have considered adoption. I want to know why Jobs became a family man during the late 80s was it simply age and maturity or was there an event catalyst.

5) Jobs’ philosophy of hard work was to always strive to make something great regardless of the fiscal cost. Express your opinion without fear backlash or how you’ll be received. Personally I do agree with Jobs that you’ll always work harder if you’re following your passion. If you take pride in something dedicate yourself to it being ignorant to consequence.