Magicians

The Economist cover this week resonated for me, as they used a word to describe Steve Jobs that I also use, to give due credit to those I've worked with that have done extraordinary things. "Magician". In my life, I've come across a number of individuals who are uncommonly capable and seem to have achieved some incredible things. I joined Expedia to work with the magicians there, and when they left (that's another story) the magic in the place left. Steve Jobs fits my own personal definition of magician too, and for that I'll personally miss watching him as he uncannily created those things that have become essential for me. Without guidance and all the while breaking new ground.

Before you tune out and stop reading what's starting as yet another effusive love poem to the late Mr. Jobs, I will warrant that this isn't that. There's enough of that floating around - in some ways almost too much as my friend Donal points out. I'm not here to create St. Steve, as like any of us, he was a person with flaws, and challenges, and notwithstanding that he gave the world some incredible gifts, at the end of his day he was just one of us.

There's an irony to the public mourning taking place about Apple's founder, insofar that while protest covers the western world financial centres about executives that bilk the common person in the guise of corporate greed, this billionaire CEO was loved it seemed. One can deduce that the key is the kind of contribution one makes then - if we can enrich people's lives through personal conveniences as well as our own wallets, then its ok to be "the man". This is a facetious statement to be sure, but there's an uncomfortable kernel of truth in it. Steve himself would be quite unsettled with it I'm sure, with his hippie roots.

The magician aspect though is what fascinates me. Specifically it's the motivation to be a magician every day. The title is earned surely not by doing something great once, but through an ability to accurately predict where markets are moving and make plans to be there ahead of that pace. It's the business equivalent of the Wayne Gretzky quote: "skate to where to the puck will be, not where it is". The problem with magicians is that there isn't enough of them, and they are rarely given due credit for the magic they impart. They are often replaced with non-magic normal people, who while capable do not share that ability to guide towards success when the path isn't yet laid down. It's the drive to continue to push a direction through, when there is no support and prudence says do something else. I admire it, I'm impressed by it and we are all awed by the results. Sure sometimes there's a 'newton' in the outcome, but as another of my favourite phrases to live by goes...you aren't trying hard enough if you don't fail 20% of the time.

The 'show that was Steve Jobs' will be missed.