When there is a lesson to be learned, listening makes for the best course of cumulative action. Learn and listen, listen and learn. Watch how it grows. In my history, it’s the leaning-in to experiences on the trail of wisdom and great brand strategies that has taught me the most. And to lean-in is to list, as in —tilting-in to hear better the teaching conversations in play. In our experience, we’ve had the chance to play into the best of the best in brand development.
Steve Jobs and Apple Attitude
Early in my career, I met Steve Jobs. He said, “Can you come down to Cupertino to see what we’re working on?” I did. And I went down to learn about the Mac. And to experiment with it, with him watching nearby. From there, I went on to packaging, merchandising, store and web work, then kiosk, college systems, 4 years of designing the WWDeveloper’s conferences for Apple — then with Steve, onwards to NeXT Computers.
What I learned, in startup strategy, are the following:
— The longest shadow comes from the top; Steve set the stage for everything. Leadership means that you’re literally “in front,” your leadership has to be out there, in front of everything. And in that premise of prowess, the leading edge, the very persona, drive and attitude of leadership set the attitudinal stage for the ring of fire. The character of a brand, startup especially, has to be clear and top of mind for anyone that works there.
Startup Wisdom
Startup Brand Lessons from Steve Jobs, the
Wachowski Brothers and Stan Lee.
By Tim Girvin
— with Social Media commentaries and recommendations by Fletcher Helle