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John Sculley on Why He Fired Steve Jobs
- pedalpete 16y agoI think this article misses a HUGELY important factor in Jobs current ability to manage and lead Apple. What did he learn from his initial departure and in the years before his return. Jobs is a different person. I'm sure getting kicked out of Apple was devistating, and cause much soul searching. The 'what would I do different next time' theme had to have been there. He went on to found NeXT which never became a smashing success, but was likely another huge learning experience. If Jobs was so infallible and could lead any tech company, why did NeXT not have the same success as Apple did initally? Then he went off and worked in a completely (or mostly) different industry with Pixar. That must have been a HUGE learning experience. Now he not only had media contacts, but really new the inner workings of that industry. With Pixar, Jobs was now working with more artists, learning more about aesthetics, animation, etc. All the while, the technology industry was still growing in this area, and the core of these technologies was not yet available to the personal computer. THEN, he goes back to Apple. He's got a better understaning of aesthetics, and character development, and he leads with some really innovative designs. I wasn't a huge fan of that first iMac, but that lamp base type one was truly a character and a computer all at once. Much more personable. Then he gets into music with the iPod. Now he's able to better use the expertise he's gained from all his previous experiences. iPod goes into movies, media and technology are blending faster than ever before. I ask, if Steve Jobs hadn't been ousted from Apple originally, would Apple be what it is today?
- kls 16y agoI agree, without Pixar and that experience, I dont think Jobs would have the knowledge of the creative content arena to have made the IPod happen.