The passing of Steve Jobs

What can be said that hasn’t already been said.

Steve Jobs was one-of-a-kind: an entrepreneur, a thought-leader, an innovator, a perfectionist, a mentor, a visionary.

A few years ago, a minister offered that we shouldn’t ask “why a person died”–it is better to ask “why a person lived?”

We know why Steve lived.

Fadra Nally (@allthingsfadra) offered the following thought on Twitter moments after the news broke:

Very sad news about Steve Jobs. Apple now seems like just another computer company with faceless executives.

I offered 2 replies via Twitter (@Gardner_Dave):

The heart, vision and spirt of innovation lives in every Apple employee and Apple executive. It’s in their DNA.

In Silicon Valley, when we lose a key person, the survivors strive to keep that person’s vision alive…that’s our DNA.

God speed, Steve.  And, thank you!

Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting, http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

Dave Gardner’s “Thank God It’s Monday” 29AUG11

“Thank God It’s Monday” is to help companies thrive!

This week’s focus: leadership

Some of us get to make a more profound impact on our world than others. I’m thinking about you, Steve Jobs.

• When Steve Jobs announced the iPod, I scoffed at it.  The iPod and iTunes transformed the world of music and how we distribute information. I missed it; Steve didn’t.

• When Steve Jobs announced the iPhone, I scoffed at it. Did the world really need another smart phone?  I missed it; Steve didn’t.

• When Steve Jobs announced the iPad, I wondered what he had up his sleeve.  He made the tablet computer worth owning.  No other tablet device has come close to creating the excitement of the Apple tablet computer. I missed it; Steve didn’t.

Steve Jobs has created a better world for his shareholders, his customers and his employees.  While Steve has not invented new things, he’s perfected the Apple products offered in the marketplace. That has made Steve and Apple thrive.

What are you doing to perfect your offerings and your business execution to make your company thrive?

Thought for the week:

“Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.” - E. W. Howe

What do you think? I welcome your blog comments!

___

Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting

http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2011 Gardner & Associates Consulting  All Rights Reserved

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Steve Jobs Tech Industry Exemplar

Apple has been successful due to Steve Jobs being both a visionary and a fastidious micro-manager about front-end design and back-end execution. No detail falls off his radar screen.

It is almost as though Steve asks, “What would I personally want in a product? What’s missing that would make this really exciting?” And, then, he personally leads the effort to develop and commercialize the product.

When Apple customers suffered an antenna problem with a new iPhone, an SVP lost his job. In Steve’s mind, customers never should have suffered with the problem. Poor execution followed by immediate accountability. How often do we see that in the business world?

Steve Jobs has delighted his customers and shareholders. He’s folllowed other marketplace innovations with breakthrough innovations.

• There were mp3 players before the iPod.
• There were smartphones before the iPhone.
• There were tablet computers before the iPad.
• There was cloud computing before the iCloud.

Look at the embarrassment HP has just suffered with its TouchPad tablet. HP sold 25,000 units in the first month of availability–Apple sold 3 million iPads in the first 80 days. HP’s half-baked effort reflected poorly on its brand.

In Steve Jobs, we have seen genius at work. But, the genius is in both the innovation and the execution. Bravo, Steve, bravo.

I pray Steve can continue to do what he loves for as long as he wants.

Dave Gardner, Gardner & Associates Consulting

http://www.gardnerandassoc.com

© 2011 Dave Gardner