To me it's always seemed strange how there's an expectation that iconic leaders could have achieved all they achieved while being nice, polite, gentle, etc. Yo

To me it's always seemed strange how there's an expectation that iconic leaders could have achieved all they achieved while being nice, polite, gentle, etc. You see it a lot when Steve Jobs is discussed - as though he could have been as docile and friendly as Woz and still accomplished all the same things. The truth is that the truly exceptional achievers are typically a-holes to deal with. Their uncompromising attitudes and relentless techniques for getting what they want rub many people the wrong way. Personally, I don't have to be good friends with these people or approve of how they interact with others in order to appreciate their contributions to technology and society in general.