What are the factors that contributed to the success and failure of Steve Jobs as a technopreneur?
Success is directly proportional to failure. We cannot determine a success if we doesn’t know how to fail and vice versa. I mean, how could we actually say it’s a success if failure doesn’t exist ? how can we say we succeeded if we doesn’t know how to fail ? Right ? Think of it. They are somehow related to each other. If we really want to be just like Steve Jobs then we must consider these factors, the factors for his success and for his failure.
These are the factors I had observe from the movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley” which brought the success of Steve Jobs.
· PERSEVERANCE - in our dictionaries, it would simply mean the steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Even though they had encountered a rejection about their works, still they choses to go on to their own, take it as a challenge and decided to be a competitor of the major companies than working with them (the IBM which they considered a rival). Another good example is when he’s appeal for a loan was being rejected over and over again.
· DETERMINATION - the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose. The purpose of innovation. Imagine that they used to fix the computers in their garage? They were determined to succeed that they doesn’t care where they work.
· RISK TAKING – he’s a risk taker. It is should when he sell his car and replaced it with his bicycle to gather a money for their first ever computer.
· STYLE – he has the style to look good when presenting his product in order for him to be much respected. He’s well groomed and he has the business fashion when dealing with the business.
· GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS – “A lot of companies have chosen to downsize, and maybe that was the right thing for them. We chose a different path. Our belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they would continue to open their wallets.” - Steve Jobs
He knows how to interact with his customers. He always make them impress by giving his best towards them.
“I think we're having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we're always trying to do better. ”- Steve Jobs
· CHARISMA – he has the appeal and the charm to invite more customers who would like to purchase their product. Everybody wants to impress him.
· DEDICATED – he is dedicated to his work. He doesn’t have even time to monitor his family especially his child.
· NEVER GIVE UP – a good example to this was the part when Steve was trying to get a loan. These were the exact narration from the movie. “Whenever Steve went to a bank trying to get a loan, it was like they were Eskimos, and we had refrigerator to sell them. Okay, so Steve doesn’t look like a business guy. But who did? Besides, business guys and bankers thought you’d just barfed on their shoes if who tried to interest them in computers for ordinary people.”
· WISE – “Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?” – Steve Jobs
I still don’t have the exact idea on what he means about this line. Is it about like this? “Good artists copy. Great artists steal “. They are so different yet their genius.
These are the factors which I think brought his failure.
· NARROW-MINDED – he does not listen to others suggestion. Even that somebody was his close friend. He always believes that he was right.
· DICTATOR – he don’t care if his employees were still fine. He just wants his projects to be finished as early as possible. He even insults his employees. Instead of motivating them, he keeps on bringing them down for them to strive hard.
· BIGHEADED – he doesn’t know how to appreciate the works of others.
· SELFISH – he only cares about himself, he’s just dictating others what to do and keep on criticizing them.
These were the 12 rules of success by Steve Jobs.
- Do what you love to do. Find your true passion. Do what you love to do a make a difference! The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
- Be different. Think different. "Better be a pirate than to join the navy."
- Do your best. Do your best at every job. No sleep! Success generates more success. So be hungry for it. Hire good people with passion for excellence.
- Make SWOT analysis. As soon as you join/start a company, make a list of strengths and weaknesses of yourself and your company on a piece of paper. Don't hesitate in throwing bad apples out of the company.
- Be entrepreneurial. Look for the next big thing. Find a set of ideas that need to be quickly and decisively acted upon and jump through that window. Sometimes the first step is the hardest one. Just take it! Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
- Start small, think big. Don't worry about too many things at once. Take a handful of simple things to begin with, and then progress to more complex ones. Think about not just tomorrow, but the future. "I want to put a ding in the universe,” reveal Steve Jobs his dream.
- Strive to become a market leader. Own and control the primary technology in everything you do. If there's a better technology available, use it no matter if anyone else is not using it. Be the first, and make it an industry standard.
- Focus on the outcome. People judge you by your performance, so focus on the outcome. Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected. Advertise. If they don't know it, they won't buy your product. Pay attention to design. "We made the buttons on the screen look so good you'll want to lick them." "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
- Ask for feedback. Ask for feedback from people with diverse backgrounds. Each one will tell you one useful thing. If you're at the top of the chain, sometimes people won't give you honest feedback because they're afraid. In this case, disguise yourself, or get feedback from other sources. Focus on those who will use your product – listen to your customers first.
- Innovate. Innovation distinguishes a leader from a follower. Delegate, let other top executives do 50% of your routine work to be able to spend 50% your time on the new stuff. Say no to 1,000 things to make sure you don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much. Concentrate on really important creations and radical innovation. Hire people who want to make the best things in the world. You need a very product-oriented culture, even in a technology company. Lots of companies have tons of great engineers and smart people. But ultimately, there needs to be some gravitational force that pulls it all together.
- Learn from failures. Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.
- Learn continually. There's always "one more thing" to learn! Cross-pollinate ideas with others both within and outside your company. Learn from customers, competitors and partners. If you partner with someone whom you don't like, learn to like them – praise them and benefit from them. Learn to criticize your enemies openly, but honestly.
No comments:
Post a Comment