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While browsing at a
Crossword store in 2011, my eyes fell upon a
captivating book cover. It bore an image of
a man with sharp features,
round glasses, and a determined stare. A
rare stare that seemed to
look through the world
and into an uncertain future. It was the
biography of Steve Jobs,
the founder of Apple.
Without a second thought, I bought it. I read it within a week and
highlighted the sections
that reflected who Jobs really was...beyond
the caricatures and
rumours.
Five years later, I flip through it again. As India is already in the era
of start-ups, what
better time than now for entrepreneurs to learn
from the man who made 'a
dent in the universe'?
Be Different
It is said that Jobs was a creator, not a manager. In fact, Walter Isaacson
called him one of the
worst managers in the world. Jobs sincerely
believed that normal
rules didn't apply to him.
It was his alternative thinking that revived Apple from death's door
and made it the dominant
player in the market. Jobs took the road
less travelled and
introduced a new 'Walkman' - the iPod - and insisted
that users buy music
from iTunes.
The original smartphones such as BlackBerry, Palm Treo, and Good
Technology had physical
keypads before Apple revolutionised the
market with touchscreen
phones.
The lesson: Don't strive to beat your competitors. Be different and
change the game.
Seek Inspiration in all places
Who knew that the name of a common fruit would become synonymous
with high technology!
Jobs derived profound inspiration from simple
things. Deeply
influenced by Buddhism in India, Jobs returned to the
States with a bald head
and simple attire. The experience proved
pivotal for Apple. It is
said that Apple's motto 'Think Different' arises from Buddhism.
The lesson: Inspiration lies in every sphere of life. Seek and make
the most of it.
Stand Up for what is Right
Steve Jobs created an original product, and he didn't go down easy when he
saw his idea stolen by
other players. The litigation war between Apple and
Samsung over patents
owned by the former is widely known. In 2011,
an Australian judge
issued a temporary order banning the sale of the
Samsung Galaxy Tab in
Australia because it infringed on two patents
held by Apple relating
to multi-touch.
The lesson: Healthy competition is essential for every business. It fuels
innovation and growth.
But foul play isn't healthy and one must take
a stand for what is
right.
The Vision Lies Above all The year was 1985. The world was stunned when Jobs was fired from
Apple, the company he started. Fired by a
CEO he himself recruited.
Jobs said in his
Stanford speech:
Jobs didn't compromise on his vision. His lack of humility was heavily
criticised then. When he
started Apple in the 70s, he affirmed that, even
if he lost all his
money, he would possess his company. Fired by his own
company, his quote was mocked
by the media and the people.
In 1995, when Apple was three months away from permanent shutdown,
Jobs was recruited as
the CEO. And what followed gave the world a
new definition of
technology.
The lesson: It is paramount for an entrepreneur to define his beliefs
and follow his
vision...even when the circumstances test him hard.
Intend to Leave behind a Legacy
Steve Jobs wanted to create a lasting culture at Apple that stayed after
his departure. Apple
started an MBA-like program in 2008 called Apple
University to pass on
Apple culture and business ethos to top executives
- ensuring that Jobs' ideals would live on
after his death.
The lesson: Culture, not just structure, matters in an enterprise.
Deliberately working
towards creating a culture will ensure that
your enterprise's repute
and legacy will remain intact after you.
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By
Swapnil Gaur
COMMON
SENSE
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