A Jobs Well Done

With all the news related to Steve Jobs' resignation as the CEO of Apple, I had some thoughts.

It is the brand that makes the people or the people that make the brand?  Further, is it people or a person that makes a brand?

Could it be that the most valuable company in the Nation has been made by a single person?  Or was it more?

I once thought it was more, but recently I have changed my mind.  I think a brand without visible leadership is a name.  I compare Apple to American Airlines.  A clear leader versus what I consider to be a blur of lots of people making things happen.

Yes, Apple has lots of people too, but when I think of product, innovation, quality I think of Jobs and not the guy at the local Apple Store.

TECHNOLOGY

Steve Jobs Reshaped Industries

By DAVID POGUE

It's hard to imagine that we'll ever see another 15 years of blockbuster, culture-changing hits like the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad - from Apple or anyone else.

Somehow Apple was able to almost reincarnate Jobs' in each and every one of its employees.  An amazing feat if you think about it.  Each and every person I have interacted with at an Apple store seems to me to be a person that doesn't exist any where else in retail sales.  It's almost like Apple flew this massive group of aliens to Earth to serve mere consumers. 

Everyone one of them little Steve Jobs' clones walking around being Apple.  Not one of two of them - every one of them.

With all the debate about Apple's future success or failure without Jobs at the helm, if the new guy is able to embrace and fill the shoes of a very bold and cocky visionary who accepted nothing less than "follow this leader" the company will soar.

On the other hand if the company falls into the stale mold of a typical corporate structure of a constantly blurred vision governed by committee management Apple will eventually die a horrible death at the hands of another company with a strong, determined and focused leader.

So the conclusion I have made here?

Go out there and be passionate you.  Create a unique and different brand - starting with you and extending to many others.  Dump all the conventional wisdom and traditional thinking and kick it right out of current game into a new one!

Use Steve Jobs' legacy as an example, not as an exception. 

The best news is that it pays off in many ways and most importantly, it usually results in the creation of a more purposeful life.

And as for how this relates to reFreshing residential real estate?  We'll talk about that later.

Much More than Just a "Jobs"

I could not let one day go by without making mention of the departure of Steve Jobs from Apple.

It seems like only yesterday when a dark haired, energetic young man stood next to a cloaked box and then in a flash of fanfare revealed the NeXT computer.  Not as an Apple legend, but as a fired employee of Apple starting something new.

Then fast forward to yesterday's news and today's stories in the news.  In this case, in the New York Times.

TOP NEWS

Jobs Steps Down at Apple, Saying He Can't Meet Duties

By DAVID STREITFELD

Steven P. Jobs, who has cancer, made Apple one of the world's most valuable companies. Timothy D. Cook will take over as chief executive.

Steve Jobs the iconic leader of Apple without even so much as one mention of the failed NeXT venture.

I cannot recall a more incredible story of one man building a dream that was shared by so many and has literally changed so many ways we think and do things.  From taking the PC to the era of MAC, from the amazing Walkman to the astonishing iPod, from the Motorola flip phone to the incredible iPhone, and from the understanding of the value of portable technology evolved the game-changing iPad.

One man, many dreams and one determined focus.  He made dreams come true.  He produced what we all wanted.  He had little care for what others thought about him or his ideas.  He only imagined what the consumer would want, doubled that vision in terms of functionality and flexibility and simply delivered it.

More than all the devices, more than the value of the Apple company and more than the all fame and fortune I have to think this guy is simply extremely pleased with all he has accomplished thus far in his life.

Something I think we all could learn from in business - and in our lives.

You might have stepped down because you didn't believe you could meet your duties Steve but in my book - and in the rest of the world's book - you have far exceeded your duties and you are more than deserving of some time off.

Making More Waves

It seems everyday I read and hear more and more noise about the success or failure of RPR and other NAR-associated business ventures.

Here is the most recent comment submitted by Marilyn at the WAV Group.

http://waves.wavgroup.com/2011/08/22/rpr-the-solution-isnt-difficult/

When is NAR and the MLS industry going to get it?  It's not about whether or not the MLS is willing to measure and accept these offerings it is only about whether the broker will.

In the end and all compiled database noise aside, it is the broker's data and it is only the broker that should be considered in any value proposition or compensation for the data.

And oh yes, one more thing.  Despite the outdated structure and practices of the MLS's implied opt-out for everything, the broker needs to opt-in - not opt-out- of any data moving from the MLS database to a free enterprise venture.

That includes those ventures that are owned and operated by the NAR,  In fact, on second thought, that especially includes those entities.

If the NAR was more focused on being a true non-profit professional association rather than a profit-focused cash machine usually at the expense of the brokers, then much of this wouldn't be rich content for blogs such as this one.

Wait,  I have an idea. 

Why doesn't RPR pay for the enhanced showcase listing ads for the brokers on REALTOR.com in return for the right to use the broker's listing and sold data?  Then at least the consumer would be able to associate the NAR and all REALTORs with more than the need for the consumer to use the telephone to connect with a REALTOR on REALTOR.com.

Hey, it's a start.  At least the brokers would get something for the use of their data.  After all, I know of no MLS who is suggesting that a share of the revenue be made to the broker.

Overall, for the NAR / RPR to continue to make offers to compensate the MLS industry for assets they do not own is simply ludicrous.

As for the optimal fix for the problem.  Get out of the business of real estate NAR - its not really serving you well.

Move closed today at $1.41while Zillow held strong at $24.48.  There's a loud and clear message from Wall Street to be learned from here.

Is anyone really listening out there?

Revenge Can Be Sweet - But Painful.

TOP NEWS

U.S. Inquiry Eyes S.&P. Ratings of Mortgages

By LOUISE STORY

The Justice Department is investigating whether Standard & Poor's rated mortgage securities improperly leading up to the financial crisis.

_____________________________________________________

Really.

What a surprise.

The U. S. Government has protected so many of the past indiscretions of S&P that it’s hard to count them all.  Until of course S&P recently took on the federal government and appropriately downgraded its credit rating.

Oops!

It’s not nice to fool with the U. S. Government!

Take a look on YouTube at the documentary called Inside Job.  It’s all explained very clearly there.

It’s a shame that it took an act of pure revenge on the part of the Obama administration to surface the obvious wrong-doings of a credit rating agency that ultimately caused a major part of the economic meltdown in this Country five years ago.

Better late than never?  To tell you the truth, I really don’t know any more.

See it. Be it. Share it.

TECHNOLOGY

Briefly, Apple Reigns as the Most Valuable Company

By NICK BILTON

Apple surpassed Exxon Mobil as the stock markets' most valuable company, although Exxon finished the day in the lead.

____________________________________

Innovation, imagination, simplicity, leadership, a bit of craziness = immense success.  Even in times of a very troubled world economy and everything else that could be bad – and is.

When I worked directly with John Sculley in the late ‘90’s he often commented privately to me on what he thought of Steve Jobs.  He greatly admired his leadership style and his ability to help others see his vision for the future of Apple.  That caused immense creative execution in the production of Apple products and its people and that was utlimately translated into high-voltage electricity that was aimed directly at the end consumer.

Ironically, it was Apple CEO Sculley that desinged and produced the Newton while at Apple – essentially the first tablet / smart device – in the ‘80’s – that miserably failed. 

 

What was lacking? 

He said not “something created before its time”, he said what the Newton lacked was product leadership – a strong vision and the realization of a dream that Jobs possessed as the former CEO and most of all he possessed as an end consumer.  And Sculley – admittedly - did not have that juice.

Something to learn from here.

No.  A lot to learn from here.

See it. Be it.  Share it. 

This is my new motto in business and in all things new and especially in all things product development.