What I learned from Steve Jobs

The announcement of his death was less than 24 hours ago, and Apple haters are already bemoaning the recognition and praise being heaped on the man. They say he was not really a creative genius because he didn't invent anything. They say he just copied other people's ideas and made them better. They say their lives are just fine with Android instead of Apple products.

They stumble when asked to explain how design improvements are not inventions or how bringing products to the mass market is not creative. They don't have an answer when asked if they really think their Android products would be as useful today without Jobs over at Apple. Well, they have an answer but it is defensive and short-sighted.

While Jobs is being heralded as a creative genius today, I pondered the main thing I learned from his career--ups and downs. The main thing I takeaway is that being first to market is not always best. Being #2 is good. Jobs improved on what was available already. He didn't invent the mp3 player, he made it more useful to consumers. The same is true for computers and tablets.

In today's highly competitive marketplace, it is common to scrap an idea if someone beats you to it. Thinking like Jobs, however, one might decide to do it anyway, just do it better.  Don't fear being #2. Make #1 better and you just might overtake the position (a la Apple v. Sony in the portable music market). That's what I'm going to reflect on as an important takeaway from Steve Jobs.

Well, that and his whole thing about one's time being limited on this earth so have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. That's a good lesson too--one he began teaching in the 1980s.

Jack be Nimble, Jack be Quick

Nimble and quick are not words which often come to mind when describing many leaders. Jockeys, perhaps, but not leaders. In today's ever-changing business world, it is essential for leaders to be flexible and think creatively when managing projects, making decisions, and leading others.

One problem, causing stale and slow, seems to be reliance on traditional solutions and problem solving methods. Solving a project management time crunch issue, for example, can no longer be solved by adding people from another team to help in the short-term. First of all, there are fewer people on those teams already--if there even are other teams. Second, companies do not want to, or cannot, pay the additional expense of adding people. Third, clients are nimble and want to see action quicker than ever.

Leaders need to stimulate a creative culture to help managers who tend to rely too much on their experience. No one has experience with what we are all dealing with these days, so creativity is required.

Here are 5 ways to help create a creative environment:

1. Brainstorm for ideas. Hold weekly brainstorming meetings. Choose a topic, facilitate a professional session (email or call Kelly for some tips), and follow up. Great ideas build off other ideas, so give employees a chance to brainstorm.
2. Love ideas before you hate them. Don't judge ideas quickly. Let them fester in your mind, and the minds of others, a little while to see if something could become of them.
3. Release all assumptions. Ask, "What would we do/say in 2006?" then ask, "What might be possible in 2029?" Somewhere between there just might be the answer needed.
4. Play games with a purpose. Here's a link to Games That Stimulate Creativity: http://www.glencoe.com/sec/busadmin/entre/teacher/creative/stimulate/index.htm
5. Rearrange the office. Change a few things around the office to change the way people are functioning. People get in a rut, so change the pictures, layout, color, etc. Hold meetings outside or at an art gallery, museum, diner, park, or gym. Get people out of their usual surroundings.

Adaptability, initiative, and innovation are key success factors today. The leaders who are nimble and quick are those who will succeed through these changing times. They will succeed because they instill the same flexibility and creative thinking in those around them.

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, or Jack be looking for a job to pick!