Not many people can work in an environment of uncertainty and random acts of anger along with harsh criticisms and public embarrassments, all executed by the boss himself. Yet, there were hundreds of people who tried when they went to work at Apple. While Walter Isaacson’s book, Steve Jobs (Simon & Schuster, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4516-4853-9) is a biography, it also provides a glimpse of a workplace that only the strong could survive.
For a full review of the book, visit The Book of Steve Jobs, Steve Jobs the Man, The Apple Steve Jobs, The Pixar Steve Jobs, The Apple Jobs Again.
Reality Distortion Field
The Apple Computer company was one of the major players in creating the technology that most of us take for granted these days. Through the 1980s and 90s, the tech wars raged and new products and innovations were introduced it seemed like almost daily.
The people that worked laboriously to design and develop that technology had a front row seat to some of the most innovative thinkers that spanned three decades. Apple was a company that tried to mix engineers and creative personalities together to create products that were high-tech and trendy.
Steve Jobs was the true leader at Apple and is a legendary figure in creating products that have changed the way we live and do business. The world will truly never be the same because of his belief in technology for consumers. Isaacson talks in great length about the “reality distortion field” that Jobs lived and worked by.
He wrote, “At the root of the reality distortion was Jobs’s belief that the rules didn’t apply to him. Rebelliousness and willfulness were ingrained in his character.”
Categorizing People
According to the book, Jobs had a “binary way” of categorizing people as either “enlightened” or “an asshole.” Their work was either “the best” or “totally shit.”
The author writes of a company leader that yelled, had temper tantrums, publically belittled people, had the worst habits for personal hygiene (at times in his life, Jobs only bathed once a week and did not wear deodorant) and habitually lied.
Wearing Employees Down or Out
Many people including employees and even Board members got tired of the antics and tirades and gave up and moved on to other companies, many were fired. Isaacson wrote that Jobs would run employee retreat meetings sitting in front of a meeting room in a lotus position and playing with the toes on his bare feet.
Workplace rules have changed over the years. With the advent of casual dress days at the office, many people wear golf shirts, jeans or khaki pants or cropped pants to work these days. Nonetheless, today as in the early days of the tech business world, managers and employees follow the example of the CEO or president.
Following someone as volatile and unpredictable and as public as Steve Jobs ended up being too much for many.
Ever Loyal
One sign of a great leader is his or her ability to create loyalty amongst chaos. Steve Jobs’s leadership style may have been quirky, unpredictable, maniac and maniacal, nonetheless, those that could and did survive ended up loyal followers and true believers not only in Jobs but in the company and the products produced.
