Stacy Jackson
Much to the chagrin of some of our IT staff, I am a Mac fanatic. Love, love, love Apple products. I had one of the first generation iPods and a first generation iPod Touch. I have a first generation iPad. I’ve been through an iBook, a PowerBook, and now on a MacBook Pro (one for work and one at home). I just can’t imagine life without Apple products. Thank you, Steve Jobs, for your innovative products that have enriched lives and improved the way people work (although I am sure I would get some argument from my Windows friends on the “improving work” part).
Although not unexpected, I was still saddened at the news of Steve Jobs’ death. Other than simply being in awe of the legacy of innovation he leaves, I am in awe of him as a figure. He seemed to doggedly pursue his vision for his products despite anything the naysayers threw at him, and he was a master artisan at sharing the product story with consumers. I highly recommend this presentation from Carmine Gallo, Columnist for BusinessWeek, that outlines Jobs’ story-telling approach. It’s a really great read for those interested in creating a compelling story that your customers and prospects will care about.
Companies like Answers Systems, a division of AFS Technologies, can thank Steve Jobs for pushing the envelope. Through his revolutionary products, solution providers have new opportunities to deliver mobile software to sales people—making their job easier, making their reaction time quicker and more efficient. We can also thank him for his example to stick to your guns when you're pursuing excellence in product development.