Be like Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs…I finished it!

I finished reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. I completed 550+ pages covering 5 decades of a man who left a legacy in the form of computers, music players, entertainment and much more.

Last week I shared one short lesson on overnight success I took from the book, but I knew there was more…much more.

So, after reading the book, I reflected. I reflected on what I had read. I reflected on what Steve Jobs had accomplished. I reflected on how Steve Jobs had overcome obstacles in his life.

I came to the conclusion that I would like to be like Steve Jobs. I would like to create beautiful products that have meaning. I would like to create a business that has a purpose beyond profit.

7 ways to be more like Steve Jobs.

Specifically, here are 7 positive traits I saw in Steve Jobs I could use more of in my life.

1. Know what I believe.

You can sum up what Steve Jobs believed in one word – SIMPLICITY. Everything he did in life pointed to simple. Simple didn’t always mean easy or perfect, but knowing what he believed allowed  him to always aim for it.

I’ve come to the conclusion what I believe is contained in the word LIFE. I want to live a full, abundant and free life. I want to see others around me live that same type of life.

2. Focus.

Knowing what he believed, Steve Jobs was able to focus on projects and problems with laser-like intensity. He wasn’t a designer, a coder or an engineer, but he found the best of those to help him create exactly what he wanted.

He would focus on what it was he wanted, and work tirelessly until it was complete. He would go through iteration after iteration until it was perfect. He focused all of his attention on exactly what he wanted.

A key focus like this is to finding balance in my schedule. Knowing when I am creating versus when I am managing helps me maintain focus to build the product I want.

3. See the forest and the trees.

As focused as Steve Jobs was, he could still keep a vision of the whole.

He was so detailed that he would stress over a certain line or bevel in the casing of his products. He would fret over the design of a circuit board inside a computer (which no one would see).

Yet, he also was able to see the big picture. He knew the iPod, and ever more so iTunes, could change the music industry. He realized the tablet was the future of computers.

Being disciplined to see both the big picture and the minute details is a learned gift. I’m a big picture person, so I gloss over details sometimes. I know to be or build great, I need to discipline myself to see the flawed details.

To be continued…

Whoops…there are only 3 here. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see the rest. Don’t worry, they are worth the wait.

Have you read Steve Jobs? What is one lesson you have taken away from the book?

Header image courtesy of Flickr/ssoosay

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