Then, unexpectedly, he phoned me late on the afternoon of…
““Then, unexpectedly, he phoned me late on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve 2009. He was at home in Palo Alto with only his sister, the writer Mona Simpson. His wife and their three children had taken a quick trip to go skiing, but he was not healthy enough to join them. He was in a reflective mood, and we talked for more than an hour. He began by recalling that he had wanted to build a frequency counter when he was twelve, and he was able to look up Bill Hewlett, the founder of HP, in the phone book and call him to get parts. Jobs said that the past twelve years of his life, since his return to Apple, had been his most productive in terms of creating new products. But his more important goal, he said, was to do what Hewlett and his friend David Packard had done, which was create a company that was so imbued with innovative creativity that it would outlive them.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Jobs reflects on his desire to build a lasting, innovative company, inspired by Hewlett and Packard, emphasizing creative culture over personal legacy.
In simple terms: He wants a company whose creativity outlives its founders.
Key Takeaway
Focus on building a culture of innovation.
Themes
innovation
legacy
leadership
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- company building
- product development
- team building
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
entrepreneurship
creative culture
vision
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you embed lasting creativity in your organization?
- What practices keep innovation alive over decades?
A Different Perspective
Sustaining innovation requires continuous investment in people, not just ideas.