After watching this Recode interview with Jony Ive, Laurene P. Jobs, and Tim Cook about the influence of Steve Jobs, I must say it really does harmonize with what I have long felt about Steve. I highly recommend you give it a complete watch.
I especially appreciated the discussion around the middle of the video, which talked about Steve being misunderstood. As mentioned there, he loved debate. He took positions he didn't even feel passionately about in order to stimulate debate and flesh out ideas.
I myself have always felt that we need to debate things, even heatedly, yet in the end remain on friendly terms. That is what mature and educated adults do. If we in a group fear debate, the resulting decisions we make will be less than optimal. So while it's hard to remove emotion from debate, we need to try do that for the sake of not getting angry or hurt. And yet, we need just the right amount of emotion to debate with passion. The ultimate aim being to make something as great as it can be.
Think about someone in our community that you refuse to get along with. Is it because they have only bad ideas perpetually, or is it because you merely have a personality incompatibility with them? Maybe they just rub you the wrong way. Do you despise that person so much that you have fanned the fire which burned the bridge between you and them? If so, is it not possible to re-engage with them to benefit from the outside-the-box input they may be able to offer?
I know I can't get along with everyone, but man do I try! I refuse to end relationships with other people only because I am advised to do so, because I know if I maintain relationships with a diverse number of people, I will reap benefits of those ongoing relationships somewhere down the line. But if I burn a bridge with someone, I have lost them as an information and idea resource, as well as (perhaps) a friend. I am evening willing to forgive the sins of bullies, so long as they turn from those ways and prove their newfound commitment being tolerant and understanding of others.
All of this really does pertain to the video I linked for you above. You see, to debate a matter properly involves slowly and carefully considering that matter from all angles. That takes time. And when things take too much time, some grow weary and frustrated. But when we consider the amazing products that Apple has created, largely for the good of humanity (in my humble opinion), we see their approach to internal debate has worked well. That debate you and I never see has crafted "the insanely great." That's why I cannot help but feel the tremendous need for mimicking that thinking in our own lives, and in our own committee meetings wherever possible. Debate is a good thing. Yes, we need to maintain order and prevent screaming matches, but debate is nevertheless important. Let's never shy away from it or do anything to discourage it.
Follow your passions and your dreams! Be prepared to defend your feelings, yet be open minded enough, like Steve, to change on a dime when you're presented new and compelling ideas and information. Be willing to fight for what you believe in, yet do it with tact and go the extra mile to ensure everyone you debated and disagreed with understands you and seeks to remain friends in the end. This is easier said that done, but it's a noble goal I try to strive toward in my own life. We don't have to agree on everything perpetually to get along. Diversity of thought spawns wonderful and amazing things. When we open our minds to different ways of thinking, we usher in delightfully new possibilities!
I especially appreciated the discussion around the middle of the video, which talked about Steve being misunderstood. As mentioned there, he loved debate. He took positions he didn't even feel passionately about in order to stimulate debate and flesh out ideas.
I myself have always felt that we need to debate things, even heatedly, yet in the end remain on friendly terms. That is what mature and educated adults do. If we in a group fear debate, the resulting decisions we make will be less than optimal. So while it's hard to remove emotion from debate, we need to try do that for the sake of not getting angry or hurt. And yet, we need just the right amount of emotion to debate with passion. The ultimate aim being to make something as great as it can be.
Think about someone in our community that you refuse to get along with. Is it because they have only bad ideas perpetually, or is it because you merely have a personality incompatibility with them? Maybe they just rub you the wrong way. Do you despise that person so much that you have fanned the fire which burned the bridge between you and them? If so, is it not possible to re-engage with them to benefit from the outside-the-box input they may be able to offer?
I know I can't get along with everyone, but man do I try! I refuse to end relationships with other people only because I am advised to do so, because I know if I maintain relationships with a diverse number of people, I will reap benefits of those ongoing relationships somewhere down the line. But if I burn a bridge with someone, I have lost them as an information and idea resource, as well as (perhaps) a friend. I am evening willing to forgive the sins of bullies, so long as they turn from those ways and prove their newfound commitment being tolerant and understanding of others.
All of this really does pertain to the video I linked for you above. You see, to debate a matter properly involves slowly and carefully considering that matter from all angles. That takes time. And when things take too much time, some grow weary and frustrated. But when we consider the amazing products that Apple has created, largely for the good of humanity (in my humble opinion), we see their approach to internal debate has worked well. That debate you and I never see has crafted "the insanely great." That's why I cannot help but feel the tremendous need for mimicking that thinking in our own lives, and in our own committee meetings wherever possible. Debate is a good thing. Yes, we need to maintain order and prevent screaming matches, but debate is nevertheless important. Let's never shy away from it or do anything to discourage it.
Follow your passions and your dreams! Be prepared to defend your feelings, yet be open minded enough, like Steve, to change on a dime when you're presented new and compelling ideas and information. Be willing to fight for what you believe in, yet do it with tact and go the extra mile to ensure everyone you debated and disagreed with understands you and seeks to remain friends in the end. This is easier said that done, but it's a noble goal I try to strive toward in my own life. We don't have to agree on everything perpetually to get along. Diversity of thought spawns wonderful and amazing things. When we open our minds to different ways of thinking, we usher in delightfully new possibilities!
