Writing as Managers, Justin Phifer and Jaclyn Falzarano

1. STEVE JOBS
UNCOMMON KNOWLEDGE
Jaclyn Falzarano & Justin Phifer

2. Early Life & Upbringing
Common Knowledge: Adopted by Paul
and Clara Jobs of Mountain View
California.
Uncommon Knowledge: Early in his
Childhood he confronted his parents in
tears about “why his real parents had
rejected him.” His parents sat him down
and explained to him he wasn’t rejected
rather he was “specifically picked” by
This would go on to influence them.
his thinking throughout the rest of his life
as he realized he wasn’t abandoned but rather chosen. This is
something that would carry over to his design of Apple products as he
wanted consumers to feel as if they specifically “chose” them as well.

3. Education & Experience
Common Knowledge: He dropped out of College after only six months of
schooling.
Uncommon Knowledge: Despite Dropping out of College Jobs was still
looking for opportunities to learn. He would drop in on college classes that he
found interesting.
The most beneficial to him was a calligraphy
class that he took. This class taught him about
“serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the
amount of space between different letter
combinations, and about what makes
typography great.” This would be something he
would later use when designing the Macintosh
Computer.

4. Thought Processes &
Continuous Innovation
The question is often posed: “Which ingredients
of character, talent, skill and/or knowledge
accounted for the Jobs’s entrepreneurial
success and genius?
The big thing about Jobs was not his genius or
charisma but rather his ability to be an
extraordinary risk-taker.
Risk-taking alone wasn’t the key but rather he
was always well prepared to take these risks.
The key then being in the preparation not in the
desire to take the big gamble.
Some characteristics that helped make this
possible were Jobs’s ability to: Question,
experiment, observe , associate ideas, and
network.

5. Creation & Development of
Apple
Apple is known all over the
world for the life-altering
technological products it offers.
Had the mindset that Apple
products needed to be a
necessity for all consumers
rather than just a desire.
He was extremely successful in
doing this, as the majority of
individuals all over the world
have a least one Apple product.

6. Motivation for Success
Jobs was an extremely motivational person
and had a great positive impact on those
around him.
First I Phone: Jobs told his team that he was
not interested in creating a phone that had all
sorts of Apps and media options.
Jobs wanted the team to construct a phone
that consumers simply would not be able to
leave the house without.
I Phone vision: create the first phone that
people would actually fall in love with.
But the idea was simple: create a phone that
people could not be without, and that they
would rather leave home without their wallet.

7. Leadership Style
Jobs had very unique styles of He did not call for group
management and leadership. consensuses; he dictated
his employees and followed
Considered a “high- his personal intuition.
maintenance co-worker” who
demanded detailed excellence. Known for being a very
tedious micromanager, and
He would not settle for would not let up on his
average. employees for
unsatisfactory work.
Jobs had a very impressive
ability to articulate his vision Without his ways of
to his team members, leading, Apple would
investors, and customers. certainly not be where it is
today.

8. Loved/Hated
as a Manager
Common Knowledge: Jobs was known
as a tough boss who had unreasonable
expectations of employees. He was also
known for yelling and swearing at
subordinates when something did not
meet his level of satisfaction.
Uncommon Knowledge: During Jobs’s
time at Apple he received a 97%
approval rating from employees. Jobs
was also ranked number one when it
came to the top 25 highest rated CEOs
(rated by employees via one question:
Do you approve of the way your CEO is
leading the company?)
This proved the effectiveness of his

9. Sources
http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/glassdoor-reveals-top-25-
highest-rated-ceos-2012/
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/03/30/tim-cook-approval-
rating-97-percent/
http://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805?page=2
http://timelines.latimes.com/steve-jobs/
http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/steve-
jobs-an-unconventional-leader-20111007-1lcmo.html
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/23/tech/innovation/60-minutes-
steve-jobs/index.html
http://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-jobs/
http://www.hoover.org/publications/defining-ideas/article/93066