But he was such a success
I wrote in my most recent newsletter that Steve Jobs was a horrible man. I acknowledge that he was a complex person with what were surely likeable qualities, and there were people who worked with him and for him who sincerely loved him, not the least because he forced them to "think different." Being a veritable bundle of contradictions seems par for the course for a lot of geniuses. It's not required, but when you know you're something special and you run with that to the exclusion of all else, your failings and inconsistencies are going to be glaringly identifiable.
But I contend Jobs was a horrible, character-less person. Walter Isaacson's biography details some of his horribleness, while showcasing the obvious stratospheric talents and leadership that gave the world such original, ingenious gifts.
My comment offended someone who angrily wrote me that the flaws of which I wrote were "gossip" and that I was mean-spirited. Okay. Whatever. But here's the thing: we worship success in this culture. We think that being genius-level innovative, creative, and visionary cancels out the need for any attention to the deeper human issues, or that being the kind of leader who gets things done (whether or not people like the things that are done) should demand that we disregard that person is one who would walk away from a drowning victim without calling the police, treat women like sex toys, and help a relative avoid a rape conviction (yeah, that would be Ted Kennedy). Once they're dead, they're feted as though no one else on the planet was as smart, as astonishing, as valuable to humanity as they. Yes, this is true of countless numbers of people—again, I get that humans are complex. Horrible people can do marvelous things. I hear John Gotti was a wonderful family man.
But we act like no one else would ever have come up with the ideas or plans these men and women accomplished. I fully agree they're one of a kind, fascinating (sometimes morbidly), complicated. Perhaps in some cases, I'll be tempted to join in singing their praises in spite of their dearth of integrity, but I hope not. There are plenty of gifted, astonishingly brilliant people who know how to treat others, who exhibit an adherence to moral and ethical principles and the values of kindness and generosity.
In 1940, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, no slouch in the visionary and genius department, wrote: "The world will allow itself to be subdued only by success. It is not ideas or opinions which decide, but deeds. Success alone justifies wrongs done . . . With a frankness and off-handedness which no other earthly power could permit itself, history appeals in its own cause to the dictum that the end justifies the means." Bonhoeffer, who was executed for his role in the plot to kill Hitler, followed a deep, personal belief that the road to the ends will most certainly be judged by the means. In fact, the ends may mean nothing at all because of the means by which they were accomplished.
So I stand by my remarks in my newsletter. I don't want to work for people like Steve Jobs. If I have a choice, I want to avoid men and women who behave as he did. I'm sure there's an app that will help me do that.
But I contend Jobs was a horrible, character-less person. Walter Isaacson's biography details some of his horribleness, while showcasing the obvious stratospheric talents and leadership that gave the world such original, ingenious gifts.
My comment offended someone who angrily wrote me that the flaws of which I wrote were "gossip" and that I was mean-spirited. Okay. Whatever. But here's the thing: we worship success in this culture. We think that being genius-level innovative, creative, and visionary cancels out the need for any attention to the deeper human issues, or that being the kind of leader who gets things done (whether or not people like the things that are done) should demand that we disregard that person is one who would walk away from a drowning victim without calling the police, treat women like sex toys, and help a relative avoid a rape conviction (yeah, that would be Ted Kennedy). Once they're dead, they're feted as though no one else on the planet was as smart, as astonishing, as valuable to humanity as they. Yes, this is true of countless numbers of people—again, I get that humans are complex. Horrible people can do marvelous things. I hear John Gotti was a wonderful family man.
But we act like no one else would ever have come up with the ideas or plans these men and women accomplished. I fully agree they're one of a kind, fascinating (sometimes morbidly), complicated. Perhaps in some cases, I'll be tempted to join in singing their praises in spite of their dearth of integrity, but I hope not. There are plenty of gifted, astonishingly brilliant people who know how to treat others, who exhibit an adherence to moral and ethical principles and the values of kindness and generosity.
In 1940, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, no slouch in the visionary and genius department, wrote: "The world will allow itself to be subdued only by success. It is not ideas or opinions which decide, but deeds. Success alone justifies wrongs done . . . With a frankness and off-handedness which no other earthly power could permit itself, history appeals in its own cause to the dictum that the end justifies the means." Bonhoeffer, who was executed for his role in the plot to kill Hitler, followed a deep, personal belief that the road to the ends will most certainly be judged by the means. In fact, the ends may mean nothing at all because of the means by which they were accomplished.
So I stand by my remarks in my newsletter. I don't want to work for people like Steve Jobs. If I have a choice, I want to avoid men and women who behave as he did. I'm sure there's an app that will help me do that.
Posted by Etiquette Dog at 11/2/2011 2:07 PM 
Categories: strengths, character, integrity, business, values, behavior, talents, morals
Tags: Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson Dietrich Bonhoeffer Eric Metaxas Ted Kennedy
Categories: strengths, character, integrity, business, values, behavior, talents, morals
Tags: Steve Jobs Walter Isaacson Dietrich Bonhoeffer Eric Metaxas Ted Kennedy
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