This was the comment of a CEO that talked about the attempt by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) to offer the iPhone and Apple TV at the same time.
In the past, especially with the Mac operating system, Jobs and Apple have been able to make improvements at an incredible pace. With two projects at once, it probably won't be able to be done, and really hasn't so far.
Even that slowed down when Apple had to delay the release of the next upgrade to the OS because of the need to shift engineers to the iPhone project.
Speed has been close to being considered the holy grail of doing business, yet too much speed can and will be detrimental to a business, as Apple has already found out. It's one thing to move quickly on one product, it's another to move quickly on two products, while maintaining the upgrades of another.
In other words, a company can spread itself too thin and cause all products to suffer and slow down.
While a good challenge is desired by great employees, yet a challenge that can't be kept up with or realistically met, can do the exact opposite of a motivating goal: be a negative and discouraging.
Speed in certain cases is indeed important, but too much speed - like when driving a car - can kill. There's a time when speed brings no returns, and actually slows down projects rather than move them ahead.
Business leaders and managers need to know the difference between the two if they want to effectively compete in new markets. Apple and Jobs are learning that experientially.
Other Steve Jobs Resources:
You've got to find what you love
Steve Jobs, Business Personality
Steve Jobs' Greatest Presentation
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