In the WSJ today, there is a quality article poking a bit of fun of all the Steve Jobs wannabees out there. I would like to take things a step further.
While there is no doubt that we can learn things from great leaders, it is a bit ridiculous to try to copy others’ style. There is one person who is excellent at leading/managing exactly as Steve Jobs did, and that guy is now in the great turtleneck shop in the sky.
I, as many TPS planet members can attest, love to read as much as possible. However, my career objective does not involve becoming the next Page, Clinton or Jobs. It involves becoming an excellent version of me. The only way to lead is to be genuine…there is no way to manipulate your way to greatness. People won’t buy in to someone they don’t trust.
One potentially damaging outcome in all this Jobs worship is the idea that you have to be a jerk to achieve excellence. It worked for Jobs, but it does not follow that it must be that way. In fact, I would argue that he succeeded in spite of that aspect of his personality.
Tim Sutherland, the CEO for Pace Energy, is a man that has had a successful business career and he is one of the nicest people I have ever randomly met on an airplane. He went as far as answering multiple emails, and to put me in touch with his Head of Purchasing. The guy exemplifies the maxim that in order to lead, you must truly care about people.
Steve Jobs shows off the white iPhone 4 at the 2010 Worldwide Developers Conference Español: Presentación del iPhone 4 por Steve Jobs en la Worldwide Developers Conference del año 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Kevin Horner, former CIO at Alcoa and current CEO at Mastech comes across as tough…and genuine.
There’s many ways to make things happen. Do it your way.
Related articles
- Memo: From Steve Jobs To All At Ecademy [Robert Craven] (ecademy.com)
- RIP Steve Jobs (celebritynetworth.com)
- Steve Jobs steps down, leaves big turtleneck to fill (celebritynetworth.com)
- It’s Turtle Time: 5 Ways to Wear a Turtleneck (fabsugar.com)
- “The Social Network” Writer Aaron Sorkin Wanted for Steve Jobs Movie (celebritynetworth.com)
Tags: Apple, Kevin Horner, Pioneers, Timothy Sutherland
