Pirates of the Silicon Valley...

1. What are the factors that contributed to the success and failure of Steve Jobs as a technopreneur?

Steven Paul Jobs or best known as Steve Jobs is an American entrepreneur, marketer, and inventor. He was the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the infamous Apple Inc. He, through Apple, was known for his enigmatic appeal as a pioneer in personal computer revolution. His influence in the field of computer and electronics has transformed one industry after another and brought about innovative inventions from smart phones and computers and to music and to movies. Steve Jobs also co-founded Pixar Animation Studios and also became its CEO, and became a member of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company.

While watching the film, Pirates of the Silicon Valley, I can’t help myself but to be amazed and at the same time a bit disappointed on how the characters achieved what they had accomplished now. We can’t deny the fact that their technological revolution made our lives much easier and, until now, is still continuing their legacy but this movie somehow spilled their dark and trick little magics. Like any other individuals, I suppose originality is important to ensure one’s success but with this eye-opener I guess someone just have to be an effective speaker to get what he/she wants. It’s kind of about the Game of minds where the wisest of should I say the trickiest thought will win it all. The conflict between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates is stunning in a negative but awesome way. In this movie there is neither a protagonist nor an antagonist. The two main characters have flaws and imperfections. They we’re kind of funny because they kept each other’s secrets in order for their secrets not to be spilled. They both knew they we’re thieves, idea thieves, con artists if I may.

Steve Jobs is a very successful man indeed and if we point out the factors that made him successful and what made his failures it is that he did not succeed in spite of his failures, he succeeded BECAUSE of his failures. His work epitomized perfection. But it wasn't always like that. The path of success was speckled with failure. And it was out of the ashes of epic failure that Steve Jobs' life took a turn toward bring a legend. When it comes to Steve Jobs’ success, there are a lot of contributing factors that made him achieve what he had accomplished. He experienced ups and downs in his life from a company that did not start well, to losing his job, and then back again to a company that did not sell very well until his time came. Despite of his success, he encountered these failures and faced his supreme ordeal. Failing twice, thrice, who in the world would not lose confidence after that? But then again an event occurred that offered him redemption and his failures only made him stronger.

There were a lot of factors that contributed in his success as a technopreneur. One of it was because he was Steve Jobs, err I mean because of his innovative and logical mind. Unlike most technological company employees, Steve Jobs did not study engineering nor had any business training but his thinking capacity was superb and very well crafted. He made simple stuffs into more amazing and useful tools and made complicated stuffs simpler but sleeker. Steve Jobs has a bright and great mind.  He is a great inventor. Every little thing he saw, he transforms it into a bigger and much better one. Steve Jobs had a lot of new, great, and innovative ideas that can produce or create new technological innovations and all that somehow were turned to reality. All of the ideas that roams around his mind, he puts them to the physical world. In other words he most of time, if not always, turns his dreams to reality. His great and bright mind is persistently working. After putting his new ideas into the physical and material world, he would persistently think of new and awesome ideas and would not stop at anything, even if there is a great barrier blocking him, making ways to make his inventions successful and known all throughout. His strategic plans and techniques in his life and in business made him wore the crown and became an admired inventor in the entire world. He believed that a good artist copies but the great artist steals. (I don’t know whether that factor contributes to his success or to his failure but then again maybe both) Other than that his innovations were probably the one that contributes to most of the success he achieved. As I mentioned earlier on the paragraph he has a broad thinking capacity and he has great ideas which were most of the time game makers against his competitors. Back then, Steve Jobs was a small time computer entrepreneur and would not stop at nothing to invent something fresh even though he would always fail. In my point of view, I know that he knew that one of these days he would become a successful technopreneur and his inventions will be known to the entire world. He also has a strong and very high self-confidence because he believed that he can do everything and anything and that and he can make a lot of innovations to the whole world. That was why he became a successful technopreneur. He believed in his self and that he can do everything at almost perfection and was not afraid to commit mistakes because mistakes are just lessons and with that he was not afraid to take the risks. (Well that one, referring to taking risks, also contributed to his failures as a technopreneur) His passion towards the technological revolution was boiling. If he did not have passion back then, I bet my bacon that Apple Inc. would not be seen anywhere or known to the world. Steve Jobs was a competent man. One of his greatest competitors was IBM. With his success, he became well-known and popular personality in the whole world. Jobs have this passion on making Apple Inc. the best. He aimed to bring down IBM because he hated it at some point. He was strong-willed and was always persistent in everything he did. Jobs never thought of quitting, like that time when he tried to sell his first computer, the Apple I, made by Woz to the businessmen. He was always turned down by the companies because of his shaggy look. Just when he realized that the businessmen didn’t like beard, he decided to shave it. Wearing corporate attire, a venture capitalist went in their garage/office offering them quarter of a million dollars for initial funding for Apple II. You could see the great passion of Jobs when he totally shaved off his beard and wore a suit in the Computer Fair just to be presentable to his few expected guests but amazed when the doors opened and saw a bunch of people racing just to see their computer. It is clear that Woz is the genius in making computers and Jobs is the genius in dealing and convincing people to buy their stuff. Success is easy for Jobs because he puts his full attention in everything he does. He plans everything carefully before doing it. He takes everything a venture, a key to success; he never misses a chance to attain success. He always aimed for success and perfection.

Along with his success is his failure. Some of the contributing factors that made him successful were also the factors that contribute to his failure as a technopreneur. He overestimated everything too much which resulted to a saddening failure. Being too full of ourselves is not good and will often, if not always, result into failure. His bright mind, for me also contributed to his failures. He always focused on his hew ideas and new innovations even though he knew that there are huge risks and had always pushed through things even knowing that. He focused more on his new inventions that made him forget the original use of what he innovated of. Even though he is a very known and smart inventor and as a technopreneur, he failed and got kicked-out in his own company because of his pride and attitude. He also became overconfident that lead him to the path of failure. Steve Jobs made a way for his company to fight on its own and compete with one another. He divided his own company that made it to compete with each other. Because of this his friends and employees no longer trusted him and led him to get kicked out of it. He was very confident that he thought no one and nothing can compete against him and beat him. Lastly, one of the factors that contribute to his failure is his temper.  He often blows a fuse to his manager throughout his life. And once the employees commit mistakes even if it is for a very small reason he will automatically fire them out and I can say that his mercilessness made him both successful and a failure. And this is one of the hundred reasons why he lost some of the business partners.

2. How do you see yourself as a technopreneur? 

 “A technopreneur is an entrepreneur who is technology savvy, creative, innovative, dynamic, dares to be different and take the unexplored path, and very passionate about their work. They take challenges and strive to lead their life with greater success. They don't fear to fail. They take failure as a learning experience, a stimulator to look things differently and stride for next challenge. Technopreneurs continuously go through an organic process of continual improvement and always try to redefine the dynamic digital economy.” – Rajesh Shakya.

As I was reading the question “How do you see yourself as a technopreneur?” well to be really honest, I find this question really hard to answer. To tell you the truth I really can’t see myself as a technopreneur in the near future or at least in my current state of mind now. Knowing myself, if ever goint to take the path of technopreneurship, I think I am the type who will not make a good technopreneur, first, because I don’t know how to socialize and social meet ups and activities drains a whole of my energy. Just thinking about it makes me tired and sleepy. Even now, I’m still having a hard time making new friends and it’s mostly due to my shy and a bit hesitant type of personality. I am also the type who can’t communicate effectively (but I’m not saying I’m not good at talking it’s just that..) I don’t know how to properly talk and convince the people that my idea is worth their precious time. I also had a hard time relaying what really is on my mind so yeah. I also can’t think of new innovative ideas because somehow all my ideas are all cliché and somehow magical ;). My ideas are way too unoriginal and others were very much impossible.

From the author Rajesh Shakya from which he defines the key essence of technopreneurship:

The key essence in such technopreneurship programmes is creativity. Creativity is breaking the conventional mental blocks and playing with imagination and possibilities, leading to new and meaningful connections and outcomes while interacting with ideas, people and the environment. However creativity alone, without technoprenuer skills and competencies, is not viable to sustain a business in a digital, knowledge-based economy. You need an integrated collaborative approach in turning an idea into a viable sustainable business in a digital economy.

An approach that encompasses the 5Cs strategy:

Culture: The need to nurture a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity.
Concept: Incubation concept of role-modeling, research and development, IP creation and Knowledge Acquisition.

Capability: Build capability through training and awareness programs, industrial attachment and provision of financial and support.
Collaboration: Foster multi-prong collaborations with local and international industry partners, tertiary institutions and other ICT technoprenuers and start-ups.
Connection: Build association with strategic Multi-National Corporations in ICT areas in order to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to local technoprenuers, and support structures.

I lack creativity. I am an artist that lacks creativity, oh the irony. And with the statement stated above I don’t think I am up to the challenge of becoming a technopreneur. But looking at myself becoming one, I really can’t imagine all but I think I could become at least a decent one I suppose. I have this kind of attitude that what life will give and gave to me; I’m already satisfied and contented with it and would not thirst for more. I do not like breaking walls just to achieve what’s not truly in my heart and being a  tecnopreneur is one. I am already satisfied in my little own on ways like making simple programs or making a small systems that may or may not even benefit the public as long as I am enjoying what I do. I don’t think outside the box, that’s for sure, and I will most probably gratify the box if it would think outside for me. Still though will never what’s to come so we better envision everything and then decide after whether it is going to be good or not.

If ever, in the near future, I will become a technopreneur, I would firstly change my current state of mind. I always think of the standards and if it happens I think outside the box the idea is cliché and well that idea may just have been an escapee of the box which I caught and put back to the prison it belongs. Second, I will practice and attempt to handle and take charge of a bigger and greater responsibility. I’m actually doing this right now with no luck. Still as lazy as ever well at least I’m trying. Third, I would improve and enhance my skills, especially in the field of technopreneurship (duh!), which are to be more creative and have a strategic way of thinking which is also innovative so that I can come up with better and unique ideas. Lastly, I would raise my self-confidence even higher, to highest, (which is a bit impossible if I should say) in order for me to discover and innovate something new and amazing which I think would be useful to everyone and become well-known and also never forget to have a passion in my work so that I can do my job very well. If ever I can achieve all of this, maybe soon I will be the top employer not only in Davao but the entire Philippines or much better in the whole Asian Region (dream on!). I hope someday that I can do all this and has determination to build my own business and become well known as an employer and as a technopreneur someday. I think being a technopreneur is difficult yet exciting job, difficult because you have to think of new innovations for your product to click, your product must have an essential purpose, a purpose that could simplify life (hayahay!). Anyway, if given a chance to be one would be great, creating new innovations to help people make their lives easier and handy. I want to picture myself as a very successful and happy technopreneur. I want to be a technopreneur that would not easily give up to the problems and challenges that will arise. I want to see myself as an effective leader as a top employer. I will treat my employees with care and see them as a family but of course just like how a parent scold their children when committing mistakes I’ll do the the same with my employees. Maybe I will be a bit of a tyrant technopreneur and I will share what I know to the vastest of my knowledge to my employees to be able to help them learn and grow. Maybe I will be a bit hard on them and pressure them but still I will make sure that I have a basis on why I am doing it them for them to do their works efficiently. I want to be set as a good example of a hardworking and creative technopreneur. I want to be an effective technopreneur. I know that it is not easy to be a technopreneur, you should be a business minded person like Steve Jobs. For me there are requirements to be a technopreneur. You should be a person that don’t easily quit because putting up a business is a gamble. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose. Business is like that and not all the time luck will be on your side. To be a technopreneur you should be an innovator with great mind that thinks for an alternative solution to a problem and also you should be patient (low fuse please). I don’t want to be like Steve Jobs who’s bossy. Well I’m quite bossy in my imagination myself but well I have this attitude where I don’t like asking people stuffs so that’s really a no no for me). I want to be a technopreneur that listens to the suggestion of other people. If you have become successful in life I know that it is hard to manage your time especially making time to bonding in your family. If I will become a technoprener someday, even though I am so busy I will make sure to have some time meeting with my family and friends. If there are arguments and misunderstandings in the company I will solve it, but it can only be done together with the cooperation of my employees, so that it won’t affect the business. I want my business to be known not just in the Philippines but also to the whole world. I want my company to be the good example in putting up a business just like Apple and Micosoft. I’ll start a new era of technology. I want to develop technology that is useful in the country. I will start a new revolution. (This essay is rate SPG, all of it was produced through the dreams of your dear author so laugh all you want LOL).

After watching the movie Pirates of Silicon Valley, I realized that nothing is impossible if only you believe in yourself that you could do it so my dream might come true then? Nope? Oh well.

3. Would you take the same career path that Steve Jobs took? Why or why not? 

As I’ve said earlier in my first answer to the first question…

…Steven Paul Jobs or best known as Steve Jobs is an American entrepreneur, marketer, and inventor. He was the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the infamous Apple Inc. He, through Apple, was known for his enigmatic appeal as a pioneer in personal computer revolution. His influence in the field of computer and electronics has transformed one industry after another and brought about innovative inventions from smart phones and computers and to music and to movies. Steve Jobs also co-founded Pixar Animation Studios and also became its CEO, and became a member of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company.

The question might look simple at first glance but then again seeing how Steve Jobs did it to become successful makes you think otherwise. If the question is simply “Would you like to become just like Steve Jobs?” then I would probably just say with enthusiasm a big YES! Who wouldn’t want to be like him? Successful, bright, smart, wise, rich, anything. He’s like the very epitome of perfection (not quite but yeah you get the point). I want to be just like him! But no, that’s not the question and it’s not an option either. It is very east to say but deep inside it’s very hard to be like him, it’s hard to follow his step or his path career and it’s hard to attain success. If ever I would be like him, I would learn more first on how to become an innovative person because I think this is one of the factors that contributes Steve Jobs success. Would I take the path Steve Jobs took? Now that’s hard, a very strong one!  I don’t know to be honest. I want to be successful, I want to be rich, known, but is the path he took really is the right way for me? I mean I don’t have his bright mind, his passion boils unlike me who’s just getting warmer. He was competent and just comparing the two of us is… well I’m not going to say it; I’m just going to let you guess. So I’m just going to leave my answer like this… I will carve my own path, not replicate what someone else did.

One thing that I admired and liked most about Steve Jobs is that he was really determined, his dedication and passion towards what he was doing was going ablaze. These characteristics of his made him successful in the career path he walked through. Even though there were times that he was experiencing a lot of failures, it only made him stronger and worked harder in order not to repeat the same mistakes again – a true characteristic of technoprenuer. I also want to have these kinds of characteristics so that one day (in my dreams) I will be the next Steve Jobs standing in front of you. I want to be like him, to be a remarkable man in IT industry in my own little ways with cheap but tricky ideas. We are not perfect and of course we encountered failures in life once but thing is that only made us stronger and made us strive harder to correct the mistakes we did. Steve Jobs’ failures made him a better man and with that he was able to wear his crown. He had a clear vision because of his goals – change the world and change the lives of people. And I believe that due to his failures, he was able to stand up and prove to the world that failures is not a hindrance to success rather it’s because of failures we achieve success.

I also envy his innovative and vast mind. Steve Jobs has a great and bright mind that he can think of a lot of ways in order for a small thing to turn into a big one. Magic? No. It’s because he was Steve Jobs. Because of this, Steve Jobs became more clever that he could create and develop of new things out of his imagination and passion that can be useful and helpful to us. Steve Jobs did not stop learning and his mind continually working to develop more new things. Like him I would also like to learn continuously about all the things that surrounds me.

As we all know Steve Jobs has a lot of bright ideas and innovative inventions in his life. Because of this, I would also be like him inventing new extraordinary things and that one day I can make history like what Steve Jobs had done so that people will recognize me as a great inventor. I also like the trait of him which is he made all his ideas into reality and that is really something even if it means it would lead to failure he made but then again it was maybe also due to his pride and arrogance.

Steve Jobs is a person full of eagerness. I also want to think of new innovative ideas just what he did. I will think of many or much greater ways to attain and achieve my goals and make my vision a reality in the near future. I have to do all things and work hard for it to craft out the things in my own ways and out of my imagination. I want to be passionate enough to do all things I want to so that I will come up with a better product.

Steve Jobs has a great role in the advancement of technological development today and counting. Taking  the path that Steve Jobs took would be great and something to be really proud of but is not a choice rather will be an inspiration to all of us who’s aiming to become just like him (I said earlier that I would say yes if I would become just like him but I think that’s just a typo cause I really don’t want to). What if I have the idea and contribute new gadgets to make life comfortable, the one who sees things with great value, the one who thinks everything is essential. If only I have the strong determination just like what Steve Jobs has, why not? Steve Jobs was a great man with a bright mind. Assuming I have that kind of knowledge Steve Jobs had, following Steve jobs footstep is a great pathway to drive or walk through but if I we’re to take the same career path as Steve Jobs took I will guarantee that it’s my own and not someone else’s. The quote, “Good artists copy, Great artists steals” puzzled me. I’m not saying that Steve Jobs is not worthy of the praise he gets up until today even after his death because Steve Jobs is without a doubt a bright person but stealing is kind of hard for me to imagine even if it’s only ideas not material things. Being original and unique is something you can brag about and be proud of but I also believe that no one in the business industry is reasonable so it would also help to do dirty but strategic tactics sometimes. Also there are actually no unique ideas in these world just ideas that got improved to the point it looked like original but yeah you get my point right? Yes I know you got it. And I would choose to whom I will give my trust to because it might be my greatest flaw. Steve Jobs’ greatest downfall was when he couldn't do anything to sue Bill Gates for stealing his computer because Bill Gates knew that he also stole the idea from Xerox. The quote, “Bring your friends close but your enemies closer” really is quite scary, one would become a paranoid with this quote but this quote sets as a warning for everyone to know your true and loyal friends and companions are. I’m not that kind of person who trusts people too easily because I always get to know that person very well first and whenever a person I trusted betrays or lies to me it will be very difficult for me to forgive him or her because I just don’t give my trust to anyone. And with that trust is a fragile word; once broken, it can no longer be fixed and that is also one of the many reasons why I don’t give my trust anyone. I would be very careful in everything I do if I would to follow Steve Jobs in the future.

I am still carving my own path as of now. I don’t know where I’ll end up to with these footsteps of mine but rest assured I will carve my way of success. And if failure comes and storm my way, then this is the reason why erasers exist right? I will erase my existence, my shameful existence. Joke LOL I’ll erase those mistakes and start a new journey towards the heavenly call of success.