I have my own theory about why decline happens at companies like IBM or Microsoft. The company does a great job, innovates and becomes a monopoly or close to it in some field, and then the quality of the product becomes less important. The company starts valuing the great salesmen, because theyโre the ones who can move the needle on revenues, not the product engineers and designers. So the salespeople end up running the company.
Walter IsaacsonPolite and velvety leaders, who take care to avoid bruising others, are generally not as effective at forcing change.
Walter IsaacsonSo thatโs our approach. Very simple, and weโre really shooting for Museum of Modern Art quality. The way weโre running the company, the product design, the advertising, it all comes down to this: Letโs make it simple. Really simple.โ Appleโs design mantra would remain the one featured on its first brochure: โSimplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Walter IsaacsonHe had the uncanny capacity to know exactly what your weak point is, know what will make you feel small, to make you cringe," Joanna Hoffman said. "It's a common trait in people who are charismatic and know how to manipulate people. Knowing that he can crush you makes you feel weakened and eager for his approval, so then he can elevate you and put you on a pedestal and own you.
Walter Isaacson