Steve Jobs…On a recent appearance on Fareed Zakaria GPS, Bill Gates discussed the inspirational leadership of his contemporary, Steve Jobs.
Gates revealed that he has never met a person who rivaled Jobs’ ability for “picking talent and hyper-motivating that talent.”
But Gates added nuance to his praise of Jobs, referring to the Apple founder as a “wizard” who “cast spells on people”, mesmerizing employees with his vision and captivating the public. That ability to enchant people enabled Jobs to push his team to work arduous hours and withstand withering criticism from the founder.
“I was like a minor wizard because he would be casting spells, and I would see people mesmerized, but because I’m a minor wizard, the spells don’t work on me,” said Gates…
When Gates refers to Jobs as a wizard, he’s describing Jobs’ ability to get others to buy into his vision for Apple and its products. In doing so, as Gates notes, he was able to convince the most talented people in the tech industry to join Apple and fulfill his vision… While he was undoubtedly difficult to work for, he was a masterful motivator who drove his employees to do the best work of their careers, often beyond what they believed they could do. In the process, they created products that set the standard for the industry and changed the way we live.
Agreed. I was crushed when he passed but it’s been 8 years. Apple is a very strong company, run by people who were much nicer to their friends and families than Steve ever was.
Bill Gates was apparently right about $104B worth of things. He’s also still alive. Steve may have been able to withstand his disease if he had listened to the doctors. Sadly, some things we learn too late,
It often happens that people with great skills have great flaws too. It makes sense to study and learn from their example – but one can easily become confused about were the skill ends and the flaw begins. The flaws tend to be the easier parts to emulate.
Jobs himself said “magical” when describing the iPad. Maybe it was to King James, but it was total BS when he said it. And yes, the magic is wearing off.
With all do respect to the great Steve Jobs, it’s time to move on.
Agreed. I was crushed when he passed but it’s been 8 years. Apple is a very strong company, run by people who were much nicer to their friends and families than Steve ever was.
Please list everyone that has not MOVED ON.
Nothing wrong with commenting on history…
Bill Gates was apparently right about $104B worth of things. He’s also still alive. Steve may have been able to withstand his disease if he had listened to the doctors. Sadly, some things we learn too late,
It often happens that people with great skills have great flaws too. It makes sense to study and learn from their example – but one can easily become confused about were the skill ends and the flaw begins. The flaws tend to be the easier parts to emulate.
Wish it was the other way around
That was as wrong as me telling you to meet your idol in person.
A wizard? Sounds like Bill Gates is one small step away from saying Steve was a witch, who needed to be burned at the stake…
I would put Bezos in the same category. People were buying up Amazon stock long before it made money
Bad metaphor. Calling Steve a “wizard” implies he used magic. Utter nonsense, because magic wears off.
Jobs himself said “magical” when describing the iPad. Maybe it was to King James, but it was total BS when he said it. And yes, the magic is wearing off.