1. Embrace innovation. Early on, Jobs saw the commercial potential in the mouse, and adopted it for his first computer. This was a real breakthrough for Apple. Without spending lots of time and money, you can stay connected to innovative websites and online journals that allow you to spot what’s emerging.
2. Don’t rule out a comeback. Jobs was famously kicked out
of Apple at one stage. Things didn’t go well for the company after that
and he eventually came back into the fold. If you’ve spawned a great
idea and then for whatever reasons put it aside, never give up on the
notion of returning to it one day.
3. Pay attention to aesthetics. Show an interested in the appearance of your product and work towards a beautiful design. Jobs was absolutely masterful at knowing what would work and had an amazing ability to create emotional connections between the product and the buyer. Apple fans say that even the packaging looks stunning and that once you start running the product, it’s so beautiful you form an emotional attachment to it. (See Micah Solomon’s Forbes guest post, “Four Things Every Business Can Learn From Apple.”) When you fall in love with something at first sight, you’re even willing to overlook technical flaws that might otherwise frustrate you.
4. Swim in your lane. Throughout his career at Apple, Jobs focused on electronic goods. Contrast that with another entrepreneur, Richard Branson, who has gone all over map, with varying successes and failures. Even when Jobs was creating Pixar, he was still staying in the field of design and computer technology. By sticking with what he was good at, Jobs turned almost everything he touched to gold. (For the story of how Bruce Halle, founder of Discount Tire, used the same strategy to become a self-made billionaire, see Michael Rosenbaum‘s guest post, “How To Get Rich Without Being A Tech Titan.”)
5. Be a power couple. Jobs and Steve Wozniak created a multi-billion dollar company out of something that started with just the two of them. Wozniak was the techie and deeply introverted. Jobs was the front man and the more outgoing of the two. Find the right partner and recognize the power of difference in the relationship. Other companies that started in a similar way include Microsoft, Google and Hewlett-Packard.
6. Find a role model. Model your career on that of an individual you respect. Jobs did this with Edwin Land, co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. When Jobs and Land finally met, they found they had a lot in common. Is there somebody in a particular field whom you deeply respect? Look at what circumstances or traits you share with this person and think about how these similarities can inspire your professional life.
7. Do what you love. Find an occupation that is both fun and profitable. It’s axiomatic that you’re more likely to succeed with something you really care about and are happy doing. As Jobs said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
8. Be professional. Jobs was very interested in professional presentation, both in his life and work. Think about how you come across to others, in all aspects of your life. How do you want people to see you? Don’t change who you are, but instead present your true self in the best possible way. The most effective way to do so is to get to know both yourself and your audience really well.
9. Connect with your market. Jobs’s salesmanship skills were extraordinary. He was not only able to create an aesthetically pleasing product, but also able to sell it. He knew that to reach a target market, you need very specific messages. Jobs also recognized the importance of making a personal connection with his audience. Even if you’re essentially selling technology, as Apple is, it’s important to communicate to your customers that you empathize with them.
10. Keep it light. Like many successful businesspeople, Jobs ran into plenty of trouble in his career. That made him reflect on the heaviness of success, compared to the lightness of being a beginner. You never want your professional life to be a burden. In an ideal world you can achieve great success without ever losing that spark.
3. Pay attention to aesthetics. Show an interested in the appearance of your product and work towards a beautiful design. Jobs was absolutely masterful at knowing what would work and had an amazing ability to create emotional connections between the product and the buyer. Apple fans say that even the packaging looks stunning and that once you start running the product, it’s so beautiful you form an emotional attachment to it. (See Micah Solomon’s Forbes guest post, “Four Things Every Business Can Learn From Apple.”) When you fall in love with something at first sight, you’re even willing to overlook technical flaws that might otherwise frustrate you.
4. Swim in your lane. Throughout his career at Apple, Jobs focused on electronic goods. Contrast that with another entrepreneur, Richard Branson, who has gone all over map, with varying successes and failures. Even when Jobs was creating Pixar, he was still staying in the field of design and computer technology. By sticking with what he was good at, Jobs turned almost everything he touched to gold. (For the story of how Bruce Halle, founder of Discount Tire, used the same strategy to become a self-made billionaire, see Michael Rosenbaum‘s guest post, “How To Get Rich Without Being A Tech Titan.”)
5. Be a power couple. Jobs and Steve Wozniak created a multi-billion dollar company out of something that started with just the two of them. Wozniak was the techie and deeply introverted. Jobs was the front man and the more outgoing of the two. Find the right partner and recognize the power of difference in the relationship. Other companies that started in a similar way include Microsoft, Google and Hewlett-Packard.
6. Find a role model. Model your career on that of an individual you respect. Jobs did this with Edwin Land, co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. When Jobs and Land finally met, they found they had a lot in common. Is there somebody in a particular field whom you deeply respect? Look at what circumstances or traits you share with this person and think about how these similarities can inspire your professional life.
7. Do what you love. Find an occupation that is both fun and profitable. It’s axiomatic that you’re more likely to succeed with something you really care about and are happy doing. As Jobs said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
8. Be professional. Jobs was very interested in professional presentation, both in his life and work. Think about how you come across to others, in all aspects of your life. How do you want people to see you? Don’t change who you are, but instead present your true self in the best possible way. The most effective way to do so is to get to know both yourself and your audience really well.
9. Connect with your market. Jobs’s salesmanship skills were extraordinary. He was not only able to create an aesthetically pleasing product, but also able to sell it. He knew that to reach a target market, you need very specific messages. Jobs also recognized the importance of making a personal connection with his audience. Even if you’re essentially selling technology, as Apple is, it’s important to communicate to your customers that you empathize with them.
10. Keep it light. Like many successful businesspeople, Jobs ran into plenty of trouble in his career. That made him reflect on the heaviness of success, compared to the lightness of being a beginner. You never want your professional life to be a burden. In an ideal world you can achieve great success without ever losing that spark.
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