13A

For this assignment, I read the interesting novel, "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson. This story focused on the life of Steve Jobs including how his upbringing influenced his technology which is still relevant to this day. 

1) About the Entrepreneur 

• What surprised me the most was the fact the Steve, the main entrepreneur was someone extremely difficult to work with. Because of his upbringing and attitude, he was kicked off the brand that he had created from scratch with a parter. I'm surprised because a leader should always control his/her temper especially if they own a business. 
• I mostly admired Jobs' dedication and passion. As a young boy who was adopted by a high school drop out, he grew up knowing the meaning of artistic perfection. Many entrepreneurs do not possess this quality. He understands that customers are the top priority. 
• I least admired how he always seemed to always lash out when things did not go his way. In my opinion, I found those actions to be very childish when working in a professional environment with a team of other engineers. Although he ended up being successful and getting back on his team, he could have avoided facing negative impacts by simply controlling his anger or seeking help to do so.
• Jobs certainly encountered failure and adversity like with his initial product, the Lisa. He also encountered this when looking for the right glass for his products and finally finding it (Corning Glass) in New York. Although he had an attitude, he overcame his failures by trying again and reflecting on his mistakes. He never let a mere failure hold him back from being one of the richest men in the world. 

2) One competency I noticed that the entrepreneur exhibited was in leadership. Although his leadership style was far from democratic, he eventually exhibited it in DreamWorks. He was the reason why that company thrived. 

3) One part of the reading that confused me was when Jobs attended college, dropped out and went to India. I find it confusing because it brings me to question why would someone leave their American life to go to a foreign country, become vegan and barely shower. The Buddhist religion, in general, confuses me but I see how much of an impact it had on Jobs' company. He learned the true meaning of simplicity, reality distortion and adaptation. 

4) I would ask Jobs why he chose to seek out the Buddhist religion and no others and I would ask him also if he regrets the way he handled his cancer. Although he was against undergoing chemotherapy it would be interesting to know if he would go back and do it despite his beliefs. 

5) Steve Job’s opinion of hard work was put together in these simple words: No Excuses. He knew the value of working hard and did not expect anything less. Although he was inferior and had a bad temper, he made it clear with his team how non-negotiable he was. I truly believe he not only learned this from going to India, but through his stepfather who motivated him to feel chosen and develop a passion for perfection during the technology and cultural movement.