It seems lately, (and by lately I mean what feels like months now) not a day passes without someone taking a swing at the Apple throne. In the last week alone, President Obama, in a commencement speech at Hampton University, spoke of information technology as a fundamental “distraction.” Satoru Iwata of Nintendo called Apple the “enemy of the future” and Nokia extended its patent infringement lawsuits to include the iPad and iPod.
Obama: “information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation. So all of this is not only putting pressure on you; it’s putting new pressure on our country and on our democracy.”
As a father of a young son, and someone who spent the first 17 years of their life without (yes without) a television, I can understand the growing sentiment of concern about the growing “ambient noise” of our day to day lives. It seems everyday there is a new app, or internet function that pulls us further and further from each other, or does it? I mean, is Apple really to blame for the information overload said to be plaguing our social fabric? Or are they simply an innovative company, that continues to innovate better methods than their competitors for customers to interact with the world?
In a recent TED talk video, author Simon Sinek recently discussed the enviable success of Apple. He argues (and I agree), Apple’s dominance is rooted in their clarity and commitment of message. Instead of explaining that they make great products, but they tell the consumer why they make their products. Hear more of Sinek’s explanation here below:
The bottom line is this: too much of anything can always be a detriment. But being too good at something is not. A commitment to innovation, is a commitment to excellence. Be excellent friends.
Great article Jay. We too found Obama’s comments to be near comical, in the sense that he was really the first President who employed social media (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) as one of his primary strategies for getting the word out. One wonders what would have happened had he not been using those technologies.
Fact is, the way information is delivered in today’s day and age has forever changed, and businesses must adapt to it, and clearly Apple has, and they are being rewarded because of it. Even evident the fact that may of their products command a premium (try buying any Apple Macbook for under $999)
From our perspective, the lesson for all of us entrepreneurs is simple really… focus on delivering unequaled, unparalleled value, and they will come… whether Obama likes it or not.
Being a “baby boomer” all my life, I have been exposed to the most dynamic progress ever made since the beginning of man. Just think about this, my family’s telephone number used to be four (4) digits. That was in 1950 something. What a wonderful world we live in now (actually the world around us needs some help and improvement, but they can’t all be Americans). It has always been and always be our world. Progress is just a word. Doing something with it is our choice. Change is a good, and it will never stop, no matter how opposed you might be.
Expect more out of the elitists. They are out to control us. Technology makes their goal harder. To dissagree with Obama is to be against social justice etc. It also is called racist. Why? It stops them from making everything equal. You might recongize this concept, Carl Marx spoke about it.
Very well said Jay. I couldn’t agree with you more! It is clear to see that CarbonCopy Pro works in the golden circle from the “inside out”, like Apple. Thank you for what you do Jay, and for the innovator that you are.
HOW BRILLIANT WAS THAT AND WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE THE TALL POPPY SYNDROME. PROBABLY IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR THOUGHTS OUTSIDE IN! THIS IS WHY I AM SO PROUD TO CALL J/K MY LEADER BECAUSE YOU GO THE EXTRA MILE OR K TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE BEST.
THANKYOU FROM OZ
I think that the idea about the WHY is very important, both for innovation in general, and for contributing to a positive development in the world. The WHAT and HOW is not unimportant though. The WHY can not work in a positive way, unless the WHAT and the HOW is consistent with it. If they are not, the WHY can deceive
Jay – Thank you for posting this and including the TED video.
As a society, we tend to ridicule or criticize those things that we don’t understand. And many companies only wish they enjoyed the same success as Apple. But they don’t truly understand it.
Do you think that in their competitive frustration they simply find it easier to throw stones than admit they might need to shift gears in their thinking?
If they indeed studied the WHY behind Apple’s continual success and took action to align their purpose with their marketing strategy… they too might achieve similar results.
This was a great article and a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing with us on an on going basis. Makes you rethink how you’re presenting something to another. Very inspiring. Thank you.
It seems lately, (and by lately I mean what feels like months now) not a day passes without someone taking a swing at the Apple throne. In the last week alone, President Obama, in a commencement speech at Hampton University, spoke of information technology as a fundamental “distraction.” Satoru Iwata of Nintendo called Apple the “enemy of the future” and Nokia extended its patent infringement lawsuits to include the iPad and iPod.
Couldn’t agree more. Never understood why individuals and companies attack Apple.
Great clip! Worth the 18 minutes. Really puts a new perspective on how we should be marketing our businesses.
Great article Jay. We too found Obama’s comments to be near comical, in the sense that he was really the first President who employed social media (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) as one of his primary strategies for getting the word out. One wonders what would have happened had he not been using those technologies.
Fact is, the way information is delivered in today’s day and age has forever changed, and businesses must adapt to it, and clearly Apple has, and they are being rewarded because of it. Even evident the fact that may of their products command a premium (try buying any Apple Macbook for under $999)
From our perspective, the lesson for all of us entrepreneurs is simple really… focus on delivering unequaled, unparalleled value, and they will come… whether Obama likes it or not.
To Your Ultimate Success,
Chris & Julie
Being a “baby boomer” all my life, I have been exposed to the most dynamic progress ever made since the beginning of man. Just think about this, my family’s telephone number used to be four (4) digits. That was in 1950 something. What a wonderful world we live in now (actually the world around us needs some help and improvement, but they can’t all be Americans). It has always been and always be our world. Progress is just a word. Doing something with it is our choice. Change is a good, and it will never stop, no matter how opposed you might be.
Expect more out of the elitists. They are out to control us. Technology makes their goal harder. To dissagree with Obama is to be against social justice etc. It also is called racist. Why? It stops them from making everything equal. You might recongize this concept, Carl Marx spoke about it.
Very well said Jay. I couldn’t agree with you more! It is clear to see that CarbonCopy Pro works in the golden circle from the “inside out”, like Apple. Thank you for what you do Jay, and for the innovator that you are.
HOW BRILLIANT WAS THAT AND WHY DO PEOPLE HAVE THE TALL POPPY SYNDROME. PROBABLY IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR THOUGHTS OUTSIDE IN! THIS IS WHY I AM SO PROUD TO CALL J/K MY LEADER BECAUSE YOU GO THE EXTRA MILE OR K TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE BEST.
THANKYOU FROM OZ
Excellent information Jay. Thanks so much for sharing this innovative message, and modeling that exact inspiring Leadership.
I think that the idea about the WHY is very important, both for innovation in general, and for contributing to a positive development in the world. The WHAT and HOW is not unimportant though. The WHY can not work in a positive way, unless the WHAT and the HOW is consistent with it. If they are not, the WHY can deceive
Thank you for sharing this video. It is truly “A whack on the side of the head”.
It’s why you, Jay, are such a tremendous leader!
David Doerr
Thanks for sharing this video. An awesome inspiration and to realize “why” we do things instead of “what” we sell, to lead and not only be a “leader”.
Jay – Thank you for posting this and including the TED video.
As a society, we tend to ridicule or criticize those things that we don’t understand. And many companies only wish they enjoyed the same success as Apple. But they don’t truly understand it.
Do you think that in their competitive frustration they simply find it easier to throw stones than admit they might need to shift gears in their thinking?
If they indeed studied the WHY behind Apple’s continual success and took action to align their purpose with their marketing strategy… they too might achieve similar results.
Thank you for sending this letter and video. Very good!
Have I nice day, Jay.
So congruent with what we learn at CarbonCopyPro everyday ! Thanks for sharing this clip.
Simply Great and nothing else….
Very inspiring and perspective changing as well.
This was a great article and a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing with us on an on going basis. Makes you rethink how you’re presenting something to another. Very inspiring. Thank you.
Love the video…