Reading Reflection No.3

27A – Reading Reflection No.3

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

1) You read about an entrepreneur:

The thing that surprised me the most about Steve Jobs and this book was learning about reality distortion field (RDF). I always knew that Steve Jobs was a remarkable man who made remarkable things happen, but I never knew that there was an explanation for the reason he was able to get things done. This book taught me that RDF was a term originally used in Star Trek to describe how aliens created their own new world through mental force, which is an analogy for how Jobs was able to get anything done through his mindset and charisma.

      I think Steve’s ‘RDF’ and his charisma is what I admired the most. He was able to inspire his team of people to accomplish anything they set their mind too. He charisma made his employees want to succeed and do well.

While Steve Jobs was truly an incredible person, the one thing I do not admire about him was his short temper and his obsession with control. Jobs would get frustrated at his employees, partners and other people he worked closely with. I think that this trait is common among very intelligent people. Jobs became frustrated when people didn’t understand him or execute his ideas as he imagined.

            Like any other successful entrepreneur Steve Jobs faced failure. Jobs drive for perfectionism and power struggle with John Sculley led to his disbandment from the company, which he saw as an incredible failure. However, his time away from Apple helped him develop a new attitude that allowed him to become the charismatic person everyone knows and loves today.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 

            Jobs was extremely driven and motivated. His RDF allowed him to accomplish anything he put his mind too. While the beginning of his journey was rough, he was able to reevaluate himself and become an incredible leader with the mind like no other. Jobs’ story shows that attitude is everything. His determination allowed for him to succeed in the way that he did.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

            His relationship with his biological sister and parents. He later said that his sister became one of his best friends, and he dismissed the question of his biological parents. He also never read the book his biological sister

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

            First I would ask him if he could change one thing about his life or products what would he change. Jobs was a perfectionist so I wonder if he was ever truly happy with the products and the life that he lived. Also, Jobs died at a young age. If he knew his fate would he have lived his life differently?

            The second question I would ask would be his opinion on how his products have shaped the world we are in today. While his revolutionary products have brought so much innovation and good into the world, the have also completely taken over our lives. Would Jobs be happy with the obsession people have created over his products?

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

            Steve Jobs was an extremely hard worker. While I agree that hard work is very important, I also think selfcare is important as well. I think that Jobs could have been slightly easier on himself, but I do admire his hard work and passion.