Steve Jobs: good business, bad humanity.

Steve jobs

Steve jobs

This week I finished “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson.

It’s quite an easy read for such a big book – and as a major Apple fan, I’ve always been fascinated by the man who created Apple, and was part of changing the world as we know it.

I’m extremely grateful for all Steve Jobs (and Apple) did…but I never want to be a person like he was.

He’s someone who was incredibly intelligent and brought so much good to the world, but at the cost of bringing great pain, trouble, hurt, anger, and frustration to so many good people along the way.

From reading this book, and watching the films about Jobs, and using his products, there are many lessons about doing good business. And also lessons about being the best person I can be.

To use my talents, yes. But never at the cost of things like kindness. Service. Graciousness. Compassion.

Qualities of Jobs:

  • Genius
  • Wanted control
  • Lied
  • Arrogant
  • Served himself above all
  • Rules didn’t apply to him
  • Wanted perfection
  • Loved simplicity
  • Wanted complete loyalty (to himself)
  • Useless without his company (entire identity wrapped up in it)
  • True intuition (almost magical)
  • Pathological
  • Relentlessly curious
  • Loved negotiation, hated compromise
  • Selfish
  • Remarkable creativity
  • Obsessed with his own image
  • Not willing to change
  • Would stop if it wasn’t right
  • Didn’t get kinder (even when death stared him in the face)
  • Uncanny ability to create things we don’t need, and suddenly can’t live without

That’s a serious list. There are only five items on it I would like to emulate, which are:

  • Loved simplicity
  • True intuition (almost magical)
  • Relentlessly curious
  • Remarkable creativity
  • Would stop if it wasn’t right

All the others are a good example of who not to be. (I skipped ‘genius’ because although it’s positive, it’s not something you can work on. You’re either genius, or you’re not.)

Some of my favourite quotes of his (or about him and Apple) really made me think about my business, and how I run it. There are some powerful, good lessons to learn – even from a man whose character I don’t admire.

“We believe that it’s technology married with humanities that yields us the result that makes our heart sing.”

“The journey is the reward.”

“What are the five products you want to focus on? Get rid of the rest, because they’re dragging you down. They’re causing you to turn out products that are adequate but not great.”

“Even with a small market share, Apple was able to maintain a huge profit margin while other computer makers were commoditised. In 2010, for example, Apple had just 7% of the revenue in the personal computer market, but it grabbed 35% of the operating profit.”

“Sure, it’s great to make a profit, because that was what allowed you to make great products. But the products, not the profits, were the motivation. It’s a subtle difference, but it ends up meaning everything: the people you hire, who gets promoted, what you discuss in meetings.”

Who do you want to be? Who do you admire, in both character and results?

Follow me

ON THE GRAM

Popped into a fave local coffee shop in York this week and this was the mug they gave me. ❤️✨

Wasn’t feeling so superwomanny when I got it - this week was very full, plus period cramps and multiple migraines and my ankle being wonky and more travel than I’ve done in a while. I had intended to get coffee but the cramps were so bad I had to go for mint tea and just sit until they faded enough for me to walk again. 

At the same time, I also had an amazing time during this week with the @weare_pf Board meeting in person for the first time. Getting to know each other better as humans and sharing ideas and making plans and most of all appreciating that the weight of all the business decisions doesn’t rest solely on my shoulders. 

This is just one of your reminders that being a superwoman looks different at different times, and whether you’re striding along strongly or sitting weakly with mint tea, your superwoman status still applies. 

#justkeepgoing #superwoman #muglife #wegotthis #onedayatatime
Every single time I go sailing past this lighthouse on the mull-to-Oban ferry I think “this time I’ll just watch it and not take any pictures” 

And then something wild happens like A SAILBOAT GOES BY and of course I have to capture that, surely I haven’t taken that photo before (spoiler: I have), and then I have about seventeen lighthouse photos to add to my collection of seven thousand lighthouse photos from the last twenty years. 

But, I figure, what’s the harm anyway. It’s my photos and my memories and it brings me joy. I love the lighthouse as a visual of my journey from the mainland to the island (or a reminder I’ll be back soon). 

So, see you soon lighthouse. Thanks for standing there. 

#lismorelighthouse #eileanmusdile #lighthouse #lighthousesofinstagram #oban #ferry #calmac #isleofmull #sailaway #sailboat #scotland #travelscotland
I read. A lot. My list of “books to read” has over 100 titles listed, and every time I mention a book I’ve appreciated, I get another recommendation of a new one and the list gets longer. 

One of the books recommended to me years ago was “The Buddha in Me the Buddha in You”. She mentioned it had some helpful principles about how we navigate life - and whether you’re a buddhist or not, there are principles you can learn from and apply in life.

I wrote it down, forgot about it, and moved on with life. Read lots of other books.

And then when I broke my ankle, and was sitting and resting a LOT, with loads of time for reading, I went back to my list and started reconsidering some of the titles on it.

When I looked up “The Buddha in Me the Buddha in You”, the subtitle was “A Handbook for Happiness”, and that struck me.

Dealing with an injury is difficult. Sad. Wearying. It can be hard to find happiness and every day feels about the same. (Very Groundhog Day.)

So I bought the book, and put it by my bed. I started getting into a pattern of reading a chapter every morning with my coffee.

I thought I’d share some of the principles I appreciated and which are already helping me as I continue to navigate my life right now: 

[the full post on these is too long for an Insta post so click the link in bio or story if u want to read more!]

Thank the spoon - a spoon stirs up the mud in what had appeared to be clear water. Same with life: hard things stir up what you haven’t dealt with yet. So you thank them. “Thank you, spoon”

The Fundamental darkness (FD) - the “Survival Obsessed Self” who responds in a way based on survival but not growth

There’s a gift in the struggle - He describes it visually as “the lotus flower in the muddy pond”. You can focus on the mud, or on the flower, but they’re both there.

Nam - myo - ho - renge - kyo : The happiness soundtrack - I pulled out the core concepts of each of these words as they applied to me, and they are: 

Purpose
Mystery
Potential 
Bloom in the struggle
Flow of life

#karensnotes #buddhainmebuddhainyou #books #reading #happysaturday 

[full note link in bio!]
The snow is swirling the wind is howling IT’S FROZEN OUT THERE 
#snowing #happyspringeveryone #inlikealion