"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." ~ Steve Jobs.
My daughter, Brina, recently graduated from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and has accepted a position to work for Apple Computer at their headquarters in Cupertino. It got me to thinking... She is going to work for a man I admire a great deal, Steve Jobs. A man who is the same age as I am and has accomplished so much that I am truly humbled to think we have been on this earth the same number of years.
Apple Computer is really a remarkable company. It's an exceptional brand and an American success story for the ages. You've got to hand it to the guy - whew - What a Vision! What Drive. What a Standard of Excellence and what...
But let's take a look at something the man has done that doesn't get mentioned as much. He has surrounded himself with vibrant, creative and driven individuals. He has articulated his vision and consistently won the hearts and minds of both internal and external stakeholders. He has won those hearts and minds with a brand that is seen as cool, innovative and a must have. Along the way he has successfully commoditized cool while keeping his profit margins out of the commodity realm. Now that takes something special. That takes a discipline and a desire to make something, to produce something, that truly makes a difference - In his own words that takes "Wanting to make a ding in the universe". More importantly it takes getting a whole lot of other people to want to make a ding in the universe too.
It takes winning hearts and minds.
You've got a pretty good business model there sir - "Win Hearts & Minds with Excellence." Well Mr. Steve Jobs You've got my daughter. I do believe she couldn't be in better hands.
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