Steve Jobs on Engineering Success

Apple co-founder Steve jobs was a visionary engineer who became a multimillionaire before he reached 30. What was the secret to his success? Some insights: He Saw Things Differently. Jobs foresaw the development of the PC industry way before others saw where PCs were headed. His high school electronics teacher noted that Jobs always had a different perspective on things. He Surrounded Himself with Talent He Lacked. Jobs knew that Steve Wozniak (Apple's cofounder) was a much better engineer, so Jobs concentrated on marketing. He Sought Sound Advice. Jobs sought advice from a retired Intel CEO, who helped him and Wozniak with marketing strategies. He Satisfied a Growing Need. The Macintosh's GUI interface made interacting with computers far easier. The mouse concept and the engaging software made the Mac far more user-friendly than anything else on the market. He Got Out of His Own Way. In 1985, Jobs retired as chairman of Apple Computer, which was "tough to swallow," but a key step in Apple's success. He Kept the Ball Moving. Jobs built on his success and founded another company called Pixar Animation Studios, which won 6 Academy Awards for Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc. He Made a Huge Comeback. When Apple rehired Jobs 11 years latter, he initiated one of the most stunning turnarounds in U.S. history. The products are now legend—iPhone, iPad, iPod…and the hits just keep on coming. For an additional perspective, check out this video. Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. You can read more of Alex's blogs on Engineer-jobs blog.