When You Want to be Steve Jobs

Did his ideas change the world? Was he a visionary? Did he pursue perfection like a madman? Was he a jerk at times? The answer to all those questions is seemingly: yes, according to Schlender and Tetzeli’s biography.

It’s easy to want to be like Steve. There’s something alluring about relentlessly pursuing your vision with little regard for what people think about you.

It’s like being Batman–a misunderstood vigilante, rogue, rebel–who still does great things for the world.

But what about you? Is being like Steve truly you?

It’s probably not you. But what you’ve got is better. It’s better because it’s true.

Right now, there’s a mass of people out there who want to consume what you’ve got. They’re waiting to follow you, buy from you, tell others about you.

Put yourself on the line, not Steve Jobs.

So many of the people who want to be like Steve have the asshole side down. What they’re missing is the genius part.

– Bill Gates, Becoming Steve Jobs: The Evolution of a Reckless Upstart into a Visionary Leader