What one could learn from Steve Jobs – passion for creation, attention to detail, making design “insanely great”, delighting the customer (while there is still criticism of not listening to the customer, rather “proposing to them” – but often it is true also that customer’s don’t know what they want), attention to detail, having the long view (vision), inspiring others (or selling the idea to employees, customers, investors), presenting (simplifying, perfecting the message, practice) and maintaining control (while being called control freak, being able to control is not easy).


One specific aspect though. Many people say due to his perfectionist and controlling nature, he was a tough boss to work for. I have worked with a manager like that once. Regardless of the pressure, it could be the best learning experience also. Always looking to improve, pursuing excellence in every step, thinking of customer and uncompromising on execution – that could be tough order, but it is better than working for someone who will accept the middle path, who doesn’t have anything to tell you during appraisals other than the comment you have put in self-appraisal and who cannot think about what could make something even better. They have to get into details to tell you what is wrong, they have to tell you bluntly what needs to be improved, they will be controlling, the arguments can be painful – it comes with the package. But if you realize that all of those arguments and interaction is only aimed at making something better for customer, then it will make it a worthwhile experience.

I hope he has created “clones” of himself within Apple who will carry on and continue to create great stuff.What one could learn from Steve Jobs – passion for creation, attention to detail, making design “insanely great”, delighting the customer (while there is still criticism of not listening to the customer, rather “proposing to them” – but often it is true also that customer’s don’t know what they want), attention to detail, having the long view (vision), inspiring others (or selling the idea to employees, customers, investors), presenting (simplifying, perfecting the message, practice) and maintaining control (while being called control freak, being able to control is not easy).


One specific aspect though. Many people say due to his perfectionist and controlling nature, he was a tough boss to work for. I have worked with a manager like that once. Regardless of the pressure, it could be the best learning experience also. Always looking to improve, pursuing excellence in every step, thinking of customer and uncompromising on execution – that could be tough order, but it is better than working for someone who will accept the middle path, who doesn’t have anything to tell you during appraisals other than the comment you have put in self-appraisal and who cannot think about what could make something even better. They have to get into details to tell you what is wrong, they have to tell you bluntly what needs to be improved, they will be controlling, the arguments can be painful – it comes with the package. But if you realize that all of those arguments and interaction is only aimed at making something better for customer, then it will make it a worthwhile experience.

I hope he has created “clones” of himself within Apple who will carry on and continue to create great stuff.