[IP] More on Jobs'commencement address: The deleted fourth story
Begin forwarded message:
From: Tim O'Reilly <tim@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: June 18, 2005 5:36:43 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] More on Jobs'commencement address: The deleted
fourth story
On Jun 17, 2005, at 6:55 AM, David Farber wrote:
Fortunately, there is a great deal written about the history of the
Macintosh and, as has been noted, Jobs' "Stanford Commencement"
version is clearly a gross fabrication.
I'd recommend Jef Raskin's recollections . . .
http://mxmora.best.vwh.net/JefRaskin.html
As well as "Dream Machine" by Waldrop for a more "balanced" account
of these events . . .
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670899763/
ref=pd_sxp_f/102-2684377-4146550?v=glance&s=books
Actually, no discredit to Jef, who did some great work -- but when we
worked with Andy Hertzfeld on his "folklore" project (http://
www.folklore.org), an oral history of the Macintosh, which became the
book Revolution in the Valley (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/
0596007191), Jef was quite critical of many other people's the
stories, but I heard from many other old timers, such as Andy and
Bill Atkinson, that they felt Jef had a bit of an axe to grind, and
was telling his own version of events. So I certainly don't think
Jef's version is "balanced."
In any event, I have to say I'm quite put off by all the negativity
about Jobs' speech. As Kurt Vonnegut said in Mother Night, "You are
what you pretend to be, so you'd better watch what you pretend." He
was talking about someone who was good "inside" but pretending to be
bad, but the advice also applies to the reverse. We all have feet of
clay, but it's important for us to speak out for what we aspire to,
and perhaps, one day, we will become what we pretend to be. Or
perhaps, if not us, someone inspired by the fairy tale.
Jobs' commencement speech was moving and inspiring. It was the kind
of speech I'd want my own children to hear, one that sets forth
guidelines on how to follow your vision and make something of
yourself. It's hard to see what's gained by tearing it down.
You may not like Steve Jobs (I don't know him personally, so I can't
speak to his character) but you have to admit that he has in fact
done great things, with a unique style and panache. He founded
Apple, reinvented it with the Mac (sure, with a lot of help), founded
Pixar, and then reinvented Apple again. Name another industry CEO
with such a history of serial achievement.
As to others deserving credit -- any leader knows that he is a
figurehead, who gets credit for the work that is done by others. But
a great leader also does have a gift for getting the most out of
people. And Steve clearly has that gift.
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