Now, if you want to talk about how Jobs sort of “Walt Disneys” the contributions of a lot of people at Apple, that might be another valid point.

Anyway Eric writes:

His story is interesting, but some of the coverage of him is getting uncomfortably close to deifying territory. The technology he innovated is great for personal consumer empowerment, especially in wealthier societies, but I don’t see a big impact on the core technologies that have advanced human infrastructure. (Us big infrastructure computing guys always feel a little miffed at the attention Apple gets )

Anyway, I agree with the inspiration/perspiration saw. Most businesses fail and more often than not it is due to some kind of owner failure.

How many times have we enjoyed a new restaurant, only to return a few months later to find the service and quality deteriorated to the point of epic fail. This is different from the creativity of a Einstein, Mozart or Jobs.

A person can create a successful business or turn themselves into a journeyman writer or musician by their blood, sweat and tears, but they will never reach the stars without born creativity.

The more one’s success depends on blood, sweat and tears, the more a term (4 years seems to work well) of higher education or military service,or apprenticeship, seems helpful.

In business, I worked hard and did well. I probably could have worked harder and done better.

If my father had been Sam Walton, I might have become the CEO of Walmart, but unlike Jobs, I would never have built the better mousetrap.

I am not selling myself short. I think I would make a Dandy Czar or King, surrounded by creative advisers.

The Carl’s Junior restaurant down my block used to have a little framed story of the founder. It showed him with his first business: a little wheeled hot dog cart. (The story is online here.) Stories like this are legion. I see hot dog stands like that around here and wonder sometimes where the guy running it is going to wind up.

I think it was Edison who said “genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” We make all sorts of excuses to ourselves why we can’t do what these people do. Telling ourselves that they’re just “natural geniuses” or have “born creativity” might be another one.

Trade School?….mmm…easily 10,000.00 and up.

If there was any political motivation for the post it went over my head (maybe I am not as smart as I think )

I am not familiar with the linked website’s political bent. Maybe that is a give away that I don’t appreciate.

Nothing in the article stirred my blood.

I am reminded of what I learned in my first year at the University of Alabama. College, for the future entrepreneur, is not for learning anything worthwhile. It is for maturing, establishing a network, satisfying the “degree requirement” and more or less polishing social skills.

I think a 4 year military stint accomplishes much the same with some differences, depending on the individual.

Jobs succeeded because he was creatively gifted.

Lots of people are smart and educated but there are only so many Beethovens and there are only so many Jobs.

Hell, I am smart, but I am damn near devoid of creativity. I think you are born with it and it can’t be taught.

But does this mean our “cacophony of harmonics” exchange on the thread below is over?

I was really getting into it.