Comments on Steve Jobs Article

1. Connecting the dots:

a. Myself:

Most of the decisions in early stages of my life were taken without my involvement. I did Engineering as all my friends were aspiring to do it. I joined an IT organization after completing my engineering degree not out of interest but because I was getting a job. From past couple of years, I was thinking of going ahead and doing something which I liked, something I really wanted to do. Helping others and taking up social causes always excited me. I started in a very small way by enrolling myself as a volunteer in a program in my previous organization. Charter of this initiative is to lend a helping hand to fellow colleagues who are stressed out and are facing emotional issues, by providing counseling services. My enrollment into this program didn’t make sense to my colleagues or to my management. But, nevertheless, I was happy to get the opportunity to genuinely help others. I got admission in IIMC and again some of my friends and immediate managers questioned my motive. I went ahead. I wish to become an entrepreneur one day driven by social cause. I wish to be a Social Entrepreneur. I am sure that my ideas and decisions will be ridiculed upon, but I know in the deep of my heart that this is what I wanted to do.

I am aware that my Journey is long but am not complaining. In fact, I am enjoying it.

b. Organization:

There should be a paradigm shift in the thinking pattern. Management should be more pro-active in taking risks. They should take quick decisions and be able to act swiftly in face of increasing competition. Organization should take up a long-term view rather than short-term gains. It is tempting for the senior management to take up steps which increase profits in the short-term. Decisions which enable the organization to move up the value chain should be considered. This may require considerable investment and the company has to even take hit on short-term benefits. For example, my organization has to invest in strategy and IT consulting to position itself to move up the value chain.

2. Love and Loss

a. Myself:

I shall not be bogged down by intermittent failures. There is something good in all bad things that happen. I should ensure that I don’t lose focus of what I believed in the most. Every Failure is a stepping stone to success. I had heard of this saying a number of times before, but should take steps to truly follow this in letter and spirit. I am sure of a number of obstacles coming my way in my journey of becoming a Social Entrepreneur. I shall not lose focus and work persistently to achieve my goal. I shall not lose faith and not settle till I find my happiness.

b. Organization:

Organization should not get carried away with small failures. Organization should not penalize its teams for taking informed and well-calculated risks. Instead, it should foster a risk taking culture among its employees and support them in case of failures for risks taken in the interests of their organization.

3. Death

a. Myself:

I understand and appreciate that time is very much limited. I need to identify my priorities and start working in activities that I believe in, rather than working for pleasing others. Listen to my inner voice, reflect upon myself and be bold enough to follow my intuition. Further, appreciate the value of change and adapt myself accordingly. I shall actively pursue my objective of launching “Social Entrepreneurship” venture in near future.

b. Organization:

Organization should not lose focus of its core objectives. It should work towards achieving long term objectives rather than short-term gains. It should be open to change and handle it pro-actively rather than reacting to a developments in the market.