MCPc Blog

Paying Tribute: The Steve Jobs Effect

 

With the publication this week of Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, many people interested in computing, the nature of innovation or just the man himself will be reading the full story of how the visionary Apple leader transformed the way we use technology. I know I and many of my colleagues at MCPc will be among them.

Steve Jobs impacted the world. More personally, however, as technology consultants, we’ve looked to Steve Jobs and to Apple for leadership, inspiration, and the next big advancement that will shape the way we work, live and even think.

In honor of one of the greatest innovators of our time, this post serves as a tribute to the advancements and impacts we’ve gained from the life and example of Steve Jobs. 

Think Differently

"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules ... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do." — Steve Jobs, Think Different, 1997

Darin Haines, Group President, Advanced Technology Group

Steve Jobs has had a profound impact on both my personal and professional life — with the quote above having shaped and inspired much of my life’s experiences. Allow me to share a few of them with you.

In my consulting days, and shortly after Apple’s Think Different campaign, I started to think about SaaS before it was in vogue. In fact, in 2001, I was involved in developing a web-based CRM system that was — gasp — hosted outside of our firewall! The team and I were vilified, but his words gave us the encouragement to push through the criticism and persevere. And years later that same system is still in place. Steve's vision for “us misfits” is one that I took seriously, propelling so much more than my career — but my entire way of thinking.

Another quote that comes to mind when thinking about Steve Jobs is from his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University.

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet, death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it, and that is how it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It's life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."

We all yearn to make a difference, to move new ideas forward, and to kill old thinking.

Simply put, death is life's greatest change agent; Steve nailed it. We can't escape it, no matter how hard we try. For some it comes sooner than it should. At 56, Steve was much too young to die. His impact on technology, management, design and innovation will live on, but it won't be the same. Here's to you Steve. All I can say is thank you.

Transform Products & Processes

Peter DiMarco, Executive Vice President of Sales

As manager and enabler of MCPc’s Apple channel, I think mainly about the ways that Steve Jobs transformed how we share information and work collectively.

I have personally witnessed Apple grow its B2B channel exponentially over the last five years. The brand provided solution integrators with the awareness and runway to teach customers about “user value” for all — showing customers how Apple products enable entire organizations, from sales and marketing to engineers and developers.

Steve Jobs’ push for continual evolution led to tools and standards that others are now chasing — namely the iPhone and iPad. Thanks to his vision, these technologies not only fulfill a function, but also a desire, and therefore have become staples in everyday life. Through his relentless focus on user experience, Jobs was able to take consumer-like elegance and apply it to how businesses work today.

Demand Excellence

"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." — Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs’ drive for excellence made Apple one of the most valuable and innovative companies in the world. It’s a drive and expectation that technology consultants like MCPc will continue to follow for years to come. Our history of excellence and continual innovation are standards we take seriously in our own practices, and as we bring the latest technologies to our clients.

 

Lance Frew is the President and Chief Financial Officer at MCPc and helps guide the organization in achieving its strategic vision as an industry-leading technology products and solutions provider. Connect with Lance on LinkedIn.

 

Stay Connected with MCPc: Subscribe to the blog; follow us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

 

image credit: segagman