Biography Business Technology

Steve Jobs (Summary)

by Walter Isaacson

During the development of the original Macintosh, Steve Jobs burst into a cubicle and berated engineer Larry Kenyon because the machine took too long to boot up. Kenyon tried to explain the technical limitations, but Jobs cut him off. 'You know how many people are going to be using the Macintosh?' he shouted, estimating five million. 'Well, if you can shave 10 seconds off the boot time, that’s 50 million seconds saved. That's a handful of lifetimes saved every year!' A week later, Kenyon had shaved 28 seconds off the boot time.

He Willed Reality into Existence

Jobs possessed an unnerving ability to bend people to his will and convince them that the impossible was possible. His team called this his 'Reality Distortion Field'—a potent mix of charisma, brutal honesty, and unwavering belief.

To create the game Breakout for Atari, Jobs promised a working prototype in just four days, a timeline his partner Steve Wozniak knew was impossible. But Jobs simply stared at Wozniak and said, 'You can do it.' Mesmerized by Jobs's certainty, Wozniak worked for four days straight and, miraculously, finished the game.

Technology Alone Is Not Enough

Jobs's core philosophy was that revolutionary products are born at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts. He believed devices should not only be powerful but also beautiful, intuitive, and human.

After dropping out of college, Jobs audited a calligraphy class. Years later, this seemingly useless knowledge inspired him to demand that the Macintosh feature elegant, proportionally-spaced fonts. It was a first for personal computers and a key element that made the Mac feel friendly and creative, not just functional.

Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication

To achieve a truly simple user experience, Jobs insisted on controlling every part of the product, from the hardware to the software to the retail store. This 'end-to-end' integration was the opposite of the open, modular approach of competitors like Microsoft.

The iPod was not just a device; it was a seamless system. It was designed to work perfectly with the iTunes software on your computer and the iTunes Store for purchasing music. This closed ecosystem made the entire process of buying and listening to music effortless, a stark contrast to the clunky, multi-step process required by other MP3 players at the time.

A-Players Only

Jobs believed that a small team of top-tier 'A-players' could run circles around a giant team of 'B' and 'C' players. He was ruthless in recruiting the best and just as ruthless in culling anyone he deemed mediocre.

During a review for the Mac team, a programmer presented a piece of code that was merely functional. Jobs publicly called it 'shit' and asked, 'Are you happy with this?' When the engineer said yes, Jobs fired him on the spot. The message was clear: only insanely great work was acceptable.

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