Steve Jobs: The combination of Power and Sensitivity

Steve Jobs was an innovative system thinker that drawn people with his vision and charisma.

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What made Steve Jobs so unique?

As a young man, he had an unusual cross thinking, passion and unwavering perfectionism. He was extravagant and poorly understood by society. I believe this is one of the reasons for his public and corporate success, as well as growing distance from social connection. This distance fueled both his angry/tyrant behavior, but also confidence behind his enigmatic persona.

Where did the minimalistic trademark of Apple come from?

He is known for his interest in minimalistic aesthetics - possibly inspired from his experience with Buddhist monks - his raiment, calligraphy, animation and minimalistic electronics. The minimalistic approach, was his obsession, the outcome of his artistic creativity mixed with perfectionism and razor/sharp rigidity. The obtrusion of minimalistic aesthetics into electronics was his trademark.

Vision and Influence

He is known for imposing his ideas on others in the form of a relentless vision or, as many mention: a Reality Distortion Field. A persuasive power to convince and illude but also to push boundaries, impose perfection and justify tyranny. His passion towards the vision made it possible. A do-or-die mindset that pushed the electronics' physics and people's emotions to the limit.

Sensitivity and Hostility

His hostility and incredible taste are not mutually exclusive, they are rooted in his sensitivity and obsession over his vision. This is behind his persuasiveness and charisma, drawing people in with amazing fables, prophecies and extravagance. This raises a deeper investigation: what happens when you combine extraordinary power with extreme sensitivity, artistic taste and perfectionism. The same traits that allow someone to push beyond the conventional and create something extraordinary can be the same traits that push a person to destructive behavior and hostile expression. Understanding this tension could help draw the line between innovation and destruction.