How was Jay Elliot changed by Steve Jobs?
A conversation with Jay Elliot, the former Sr. V.P. at Apple, must eventually swing to the enigmatic Steve Jobs.
I didn’t ask about Steve. Jay just began talking. He spoke as if his years at Apple were the most exciting years of his life. That’s saying a lot for a forward looking entrepreneur that’s been at IBM, Intel, and interacted with the A-team of global leaders and organizations.
Jay Elliot: Steve Jobs was 25 years old when I went from Intel to Apple. He was the most mature 25 yr. old I ever met. I never worked with anyone so motivational and inspirational. When I worked at Apple, I couldn’t wait to get to work.
LF: What did you learn from Steve?
JE: I took away many lessons. One lesson that Steve taught me is, “You are your own person.”
Jay went on to say that he couldn’t work for anyone after Apple. He had to follow his own dream; be his own person.
JE: I learned supreme passion for users from Steve. He expressed passion for users by satisfying himself. Everything Steve Jobs creates enhances his own experience. Steve does what he loves. I learned to satisfy myself.
Jay’s comments open the tension between passion for users/customers and passion to please yourself. Perhaps you can reconcile the tension by saying; you are your own best customer.
JE: “The more what you do … matches with your deepest core as a person, the more you are going to care about it and take the great pains to demand the perfection that every product deserves. … The number-one sign of product passion is whether you yourself are an avid user.” Jay Elliot, The Steve Jobs Way: iLeadership for New Generation.
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This is pt. 4 of my conversation with Jay Elliot. Jay is an entrepreneur and author of, “The Steve Jobs Way: ileadership for a new Generation.” Due to be released March 8, 2011
Pt. 1: Plan execution: From an Apple Sr. V.P.
Pt. 2: Great Leaders aren’t Emotional
Pt. 3: A Sliver of Light
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Jay explains how Steve Jobs impacted his own thinking and behaviors. How are you impacting those around you?
Dear Dan,
I recall the words of steven covey ” First understand to be understood”ou . If you want to convince someone, first convince yourself. It is a good lesson. I interpret the thoughts and ideas of Steve Jobs as ” First be passionate to arouse passion among others and first satisfy yourself to satisfy others. It is a great lesson. The crux of the idea is be yourself, passionate towards your dreams and do not try to be somebody else. I think when we want to be ourself, we improve and develop but when we want to become somebody else, we usually land up in compromising our values.
I try to impact people around me with my thoughts, ideas, behaviour and provide logic behind those ideas. I never tried to impose my ideas to others but I tried to convince them with logic and examples.
History is witness to great leaders contribution. They were unique in their own thoughts and beliefs. They were real, authentic and loved their dreams. So, I think, anyone who believes in his ideas and dreams, believes in values. And anyone who love somebody else dream, believes in values of others. Values and dreams go together and they create passion. Any mis alignment destory passion.
Ajay,
Thanks for your comment. One thing I’m taking away is .. “love someone else’s dream” mmm thats a great statement.
Cheers,
Dan
Great interview, Dan. Jay Elliot’s book is clearly worth reading. Thanks for bringing him to our attention.
Thanks for the encouraging word Jeremy. Just for the record, I’m reviewing the book next Tuesday with the usual give away.. so be sure to jump in.
Here’s a line that almost moved me to tears: When I worked at Apple, I couldn’t wait to get to work.
Isn’t that what we all want, in one way or another?
At my organization, conversation frequently turns to disgruntlement when there isn’t an annual pay increase, or someone feels their pay isn’t “enough.” From a pure economics standpoint, it is true that we could all do more economically with more money (duh) but I consistently feel that if we tapped in to what it is that makes people happy, inside, to walk in the door every morning, we could create an amazing synergy. We don’t produce a “revenue” product so I can’t argue that by making a better “commodity” we can sell more and therefore earn more. BUT we do provide a product – health insurance for uninsured children – and there has to be some payoff down the line (better image for the program? more likelihood of increased state and federal funding? happier families with healthier children?) that all of that passionate, directed, customer-centric energy could create.
Hi Paula,
Thanks for sharing your passion. You tap into something that can make a difference. Thinking about the purpose of our work may help us rise above working just for money.
Best to you,
Dan
Paula is a featured contributor on Leadership Freak. Read her bio at: http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/paula-kiger
Conversation at Paula’s water cooler, in the future…”I still can’t believe they pay us to do this work! Wow, in the scheme of things, imagine we make sure kids who might not have any chance for a doctor or immunizations, gets them. How lucky are we to do this important work! So many people, even in the US, over 30 million out of work. Geez, 100 years ago this was unheard of and kids worked in factories. Shoot, 75 years ago, kids worked in mines. If it were my son/daughter, grandson/granddaughter who was sick, I certainly would be glad those people got us insurance. And they pay us to make sure the kiddos are insured. What a great time to be a human being. What a great service to provide.”
Paula
There may be other payoffs for you and your colleagues at your company – they may come in the form of job skill development, networking opportunities and strong recommendations should you choose to work elsewhere at some point.
I would like to take Steve Jobs’ philosophy one step further: “You are your own person – how you treat others is entirely up to you.” When people come to realize that they represent their own brand first, and the company second, it is far easier to encourage and retain a commitment to first class customer service – to your colleagues as well as your external customers.
Barbara,
Thank you for your comment.
You help me think about the importance of alignment. If I represent my own brand first then finding an organization where I can align with their brand creates a powerful connection.
Best to you,
Dan
Thanks for sharing this interview. I watched the iPad 2 launch the other day. One of the things that amazes me about Apple is that they are constantly working out ways to meet customers needs before they realize they have them. I thunk that comes from the supreme passion for users and their experience. In addition, the team at Apple just seem so excited about what they are doing. What a way to do business!
Dan
Brilliant strategy – makes absolute sense.
This seems to be a timely topic because I recently reflected on it on my own blog “Business Class” — To Quit or Not To Quit.
Would love you thoughts on this blog:
http://blogs.bclocalnews.com/business_class/
cheers
Barb
Greetings from the Great State of Maine, Dan!
Your post resonates in so many ways at personal and professional levels!
When we look at the success of Apple products, it becomes clear how it all ties back to “Supreme Passion for Users.”
Something that I felt Apple has always done: Build a great customer experience into every product:
http://jlwatsonconsulting.typepad.com/my-blog/2011/01/this-weekend-new-york-times-published-an-article-entitled-the-power-of-the-platform-at-apple-according-to-author-ste.html
Hi Dan
I’ve enjoyed these posts. Will be watching for the book review and comment comp later.
I enjoyed Paula Kiger’s comment and your response. Paula, you say: “if we tapped in to what it is that makes people happy, inside, to walk in the door every morning, we could create an amazing synergy.” I tend to believe that when people are motivated, fulfill a personal purpose at work, find their work has meaning, and their work and company match their own core values and beliefs, then working just for pay becomes irrelevant. A good book comes to mind: “Drive” by Daniel Pink. It’s a great read.
Once again, Dan, thanks for the post. Brilliant as always.
“The more what you do … matches with your deepest core as a person, the more you are going to care …” So, you do have to know what is at your core. And the more you can take care of yourself and know that core, the more you can actually give to others. Such an odd paradox.
Have always heard of Mr. Jobs’ passion and focus, sometimes painted with negative colors, too demanding…perhaps though, it was the demand for excellence of himself and others.
Dan,
All four points of interview are the best leadership motivations I have ever read. Elliot has inspired me a lot, but the you have presented Elliot’s leadership very well in your interviews.
Jay is an inspiring guy… thanks for you kind words.