The Apple changed people's idea of a computer from a gigantic and inscrutable mass of vacuum tubes only used by big business and the government to a small box used by ordinary people.
Possibly more than any other trait that Steve Jobs has had and has now, is his ability to put ideas in the minds of people. I mean that in more than one way, but in this post I'm talking about with consumers.
With the computer, he had to transform the thoughts of people to even begin to create a non-existing market at the time. As the comment above says, in those days, the thought of a computer was a huge, complicated machine in some way connected to the government or business. To think of it being in a home was a massive job that in the end, Jobs accomplished.
It may not be appreciated today, but it was a more formidable task than can be understood in a cursory way.
Computers weren't really part of the general populations' mindset at that time; it wasn't part of their matrix. So when you consider not only bringing the concept home to people, and bringing it into their homes physically, the accomplishment was extraordinary. Once it caught on it expanded like wildfire.
It shows the power of an idea that when communicated to people in the right way can result in an avalanche of change. The Apple (AAPL) computer was all of that and more.
I don't know if the way Steve Jobs can communicate ideas to people and sway them to do it his way can be duplicated, but I know it is an extraordinary talent and ability he has.
To this day he uses that ability to create entire markets and make it look like it was his idea in the first place. Not too many people dispute it either.
Beyond just his talent in this area, ideas are powerful, and there anybody can use them to make great strides in creating products or services that resonate with the public. The idea itself, if a great one, will catch on and ride a wave itself. Jobs genius is he blends that with his own unique personality and perspective to enhance it beyond what most people are able to do.
For the rest of us mere mortals, it is important to know that ideas have seeds in them. And even if we don't have the skill of Jobs in this area, great ideas can still be powerful and create great opportunities and successes with even average people.
That's why sometimes we'll ask ourselves when we seem what we deem as average people doing extraordinary things, how they could do it being so ordinary, it's because the idea itself is extraordinary, not the person. Ideas are power.
Even so, with Jobs, he was able to blend who he is with the idea to bring them to even greater levels than most people are able to. That can't be taken away from him. It's why he's still feared and respected in the business world to this day.
Other Steve Jobs Resources:
You've got to find what you love
Steve Jobs, Business Personality
Steve Jobs' Greatest Presentation
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