13A- Reading Reflection No.1

13A- Reading Reflection No. 1

1.  I decided to read a biography about Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson.  I chose Steve Jobs because although I knew about his immense successes with Apple, I knew nothing about his upbringing, family life, or how he managed to attain such success.  Fortunately, the novel by Walter Isaacson helped me grasp all of this.  I learned things about Steve Job's ranging from his adoption, his denial of being the father to his first child Lisa, and even his partnership with Steve Wozniack.  However, the most surprising thing I learned was that Steve Jobs dropped out of Reed College.  Although he was such an intellectual man, he simply did not enjoy attending class, nor feel  the need to continue in school.  What I admired most about Steve Jobs, was his determination to get the best out of his employees and people in general.  He settled for nothing less than perfection.  His employees described it as the "reality distortion field."  In other words, Jobs was able to convince his employees that anything was possible.  With all positive attributes come a person's negative attributes.  Regarding this other side of Jobs, I least admired how he handled his relationship at first with his daughter Lisa.  However, he admitted he regrets how he handled it and wishes he could take it back.  Steve Jobs certainly encountered adversity and failure.  He fought for his positions on numerous products and jobs, as well as made something out of himself without following the normal standards of obtaining a degree to do so.  He continued to believe in himself, feed his passion of technology, and customize amazing products for the people.  

2.  What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 

Steve Jobs greatest competency was his commitment to perfection.  Although this led him to belitte his employees, disregard certain ideas, he only did so to attain perfection.  Many consider him arrogant and rude for doing so, however if he hadn't been so brutal and upfront the products that exist today would not exist.  This persona of Steve's also encouraged his employees to do better in fear of being berated by him.  While it is not a great tactic to instill fear in your employees, it worked for Apple.  Apple and it's employees ultimately fully understood why Job's acted the way he did, and even gave an award to employee's each month for standing up to Job's. 

3. Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

One part of the reading that is confusing to me, is when they discuss Steve Job's partnership with Steve Wozinack.  Steve Wozinack is 5 years older than Job's, however they both had the same passion and wit for technology.  What confuses is me is that Steve Job's received this glorified reputation and money for his work, however I had never even heard of Steve Wozinack until I read Job's biography.  Why Job's over Wozinack?  Or why didn't they receieve similar fame? Or did they and I am just ignorant to the matter/ subject? 

4. If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

• Are you happy with the recognition/ fame that came from Apple, or would you have rather been a behind the scenes kind of guy?  (I'd ask this because as a child he wasn't very social, hated attending school, etc.)
• I understand that you came up with the name Apple after attending an Apple Orchard, however why do you think a word so simple was able to inspire so many people? 

5.  For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

I think the entrepreneur's opinion of hard work was that it is necessary to obtain success.  However, I think he would emphasize passion over hard work.  Steve Job's didn't love attending school, going to classes he had no interest in, he solely worked hard on what he was passion about, which was technology.  I share his opinion in that I have found that I excel effortlessly in things I thoroughly enjoy, whereas when I work hard for things I don't enjoy I am never satisfied, just happy the work for whatever task was at hand was over.