13A Reading Reflection 1

Steve Jobs

What surprised you the most?

I was most surprised to read about how Apple started because it was more difficult than I would have thought. It seems like almost everyone has an iPhone, or had an iPod, or has a Macbook, so its easy to see how successful Apple has become. I never really thought about the actual process behind creating such a huge and influential company until reading about Steve Jobs. Reading about the rocky start of the company and how Steve Jobs actually left Apple for a while was very surprising. 

What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?

I admire Steve Jobs for his commitment to his vision. I read somewhere that he sold his car to get the money he needed to actually start up the company. I know that for me at least, selling my car to start a risky process would be kind of scary because of the potential for things not to work out. But for Steve Jobs, he was so passionate about his vision that he was willing to do what it took to make it happen. I admire how much he believed in himself and his commitment to his vision. 

What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?

I think that I least admire the way Steve Jobs handled conflict with people he worked with and cared about. His creativity seemed to be both a strength and a weakness because it sometimes hindered his personal relationships. As a said before, I admire his commitment to his vision, but this seems to be a double edged sword. It seems like at times he could be difficult to work with and had trouble listening to other people's opinions. 

Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

Steve Jobs did encounter adversity and failure, especially after the initial success that Apple had. In the beginning, the Apple company started off as a very promising industry as it met people's needs, but over time issues emerged and the company met a slump. Part of the problem was that the Apple products were too expensive for the average person to bWouuy. Then, Steve Jobs had to leave the company he started. I think this was a time of adversity for him because he had to figure out a way to start over again. He did overcome this adversity/failure by focusing his attention on other aspects of the industry and making success for himself all over again. 

What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?

I think Steve Jobs had several different competencies that contributed to his success as an entrepreneur. I think above all, his creativity and commitment were crucial. He had a vision, and he had the guts to create it and stand by it. Even in the face of adversity, he did not give up. He could have walked away from Apple and the entire industry, but he didn't. Not everyone has the determination to do what he did. Also, he needed to have knowledge and skills to create new and innovative products. He had a drive to create and succeed. 

Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

I do not know very much about technology and how it works, so that was a little bit hard to understand at times. However, I think the reading was pretty straight forward although it probably could have been more concise. I was interested in reading about Steve Jobs considering I have an iPhone, Macbook, Airpods, etc. which are all products that come from the company he originally started.

If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

1. How did you continue to create and remain inspired after leaving Apple?

2. Did you ever experience self doubt, or were you just that confident in your abilities and vision?

For fun, what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

I think Steve Job's opinion of hard work would be that it is necessary to be successful. I think he was completely involved in the entire process, and continued to keep going even when the situation was less than ideal. I do share the same opinion that hard work is what makes a difference.