Re-reading Steve Jobs
I recently reread Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs (for the first time in about ten years). Returning to a book after a decade often yields a fresh impression. That may signal memory decay, but I like to think the new reaction reflects how I’ve changed; after all, any response to a work says more about the reader than about the object itself.
Many points struck me this time, and I noticed I share a few traits with Jobs (caveat: that hardly means I can equal his impact):
Relentless focus on the essential. Jobs hated seeing random projects mushroom. I share that instinct, though in my startup’s early days I tried to do everything. I’m happiest when I concentrate on a few critical priorities instead of juggling many tasks at once—an ability I had to cultivate during my investment-professional years.
Pushing ideas until the last moment. For the scopes I select, I think deeply until I’m fully satisfied, often struggling with the subject until the deadline. Some designers and architects show the same pattern: Yoshio Taniguchi, famous for perfectionism, resisted being rushed. Jobs likewise reordered major elements late in a project and forced teams to redo work at the eleventh hour. One difference is that I tend to consider others’ feelings before making late changes and often hesitate to do so.
Indifference to material trappings despite love of great products. Unlike many tech billionaires, Jobs lived in a modest house with no security guards—an echo of his counter-culture roots and Buddhist influence. I, too, would prefer a simple life even if wealth arrives (though who knows whether I would succeed).
We often chase new books, but—as with favorite music—it’s worth rereading the good ones. Our time is limited, and the odds of finding truly great new titles drop with each gamble. I’ve read more than 5,000 books in my life, always hoping for greatness, so the probability of success naturally declines over time. Revisiting proven works can yield deeper returns.