--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Steve Jobs was famous for what observers…" description: "\"“Steve Jobs was famous for what observers called his “reality distortion field.” Part motivational tactic, part sheer drive and ambition, this field ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/ryan-holiday-514_big-things_steve-jobs-was-famous-for-what-observers_916316.jpg" --- # Steve Jobs was famous for what observers called his… ![“Steve Jobs was famous for what observers called his “reality distortion field.” Part motivational tactic, part sheer drive and ambition, this field made him notoriously dismissive of phrases such as “It can’t be done” or “We need more time.” Having learned early in life that reality was falsely…” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/ryan-holiday-514_big-things_steve-jobs-was-famous-for-what-observers_916316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/ryan-holiday-514_big-things_steve-jobs-was-famous-for-what-observers_916316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/ryan-holiday-514_big-things_steve-jobs-was-famous-for-what-observers_916316.jpg) > ““Steve Jobs was famous for what observers called his “reality distortion field.” Part motivational tactic, part sheer drive and ambition, this field made him notoriously dismissive of phrases such as “It can’t be done” or “We need more time.” Having learned early in life that reality was falsely hemmed in by rules and compromises that people had been taught as children, Jobs had a much more aggressive idea of what was or wasn’t possible. To him, when you factored in vision and work ethic, much of life was malleable. For instance, in the design stages for a new mouse for an early Apple product, Jobs had high expectations. He wanted it to move fluidly in any direction—a new development for any mouse at that time—but a lead engineer was told by one of his designers that this would be commercially impossible. What Jobs wanted wasn’t realistic and wouldn’t work. The next day, the lead engineer arrived at work to find that Steve Jobs had fired the employee who’d said that. When the replacement came in, his first words were: “I can build the mouse.” This was Jobs’s view of reality at work. Malleable, adamant, self-confident. Not in the delusional sense, but for the purposes of accomplishing something. He knew that to aim low meant to accept mediocre accomplishment. But a high aim could, if things went right, create something extraordinary. He was Napoleon shouting to his soldiers: “There shall be no Alps!” For most of us, such confidence does not come easy. It’s understandable. So many people in our lives have preached the need to be realistic or conservative or worse—to not rock the boat. This is an enormous disadvantage when it comes to trying big things. Because though our doubts (and self-doubts) feel real, they have very little bearing on what is and isn’t possible. Our”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jobs believed reality could be reshaped by vision and relentless effort, dismissing limits to achieve extraordinary results. **In simple terms:** Vision can bend perceived limits. Key Takeaway Aim high, act decisively. Themes ambition confidence innovation leadership Mood determined inspirational Type motivational leadership When to use this quote - product design - startup leadership - team motivation - overcoming skepticism Key Concepts reality distortion field mindset risk taking Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance bold vision with realistic assessment? - When should you push back on impossible claims? A Different Perspective Such confidence can ignore practical constraints, leading to failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) [High expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-expectations/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Next day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-day/) [People in our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-in-our-lives/) [Reality Distortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-distortion-1383273/) [Reality Falsely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-falsely-1383274/) [Reality Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-work-391435/) [Steve Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steve-job/) [Steve jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steve-jobs/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [View Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/view-reality-690472/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) ## Related quotes > [Our senses through ignorance of Reality, falsely tell us that what appears to be, is. 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At some level, it’s always the same thing: human beings operating under the influence of human brains whose design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/what-causes-all-the-hatred-at-some-level-it-s-always-the-same-thing/) [Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/) > [As Hoffman later lamented, “The reality distortion field can serve as a spur, but then reality itself hits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-hoffman/as-hoffman-later-lamented-the-reality-distortion-field-can-serve-as-a/) [Joanna Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-hoffman/) > [Steve has a reality distortion field.” When Hertzfeld looked puzzled, Tribble elaborated. “In his presence, reality is malleable. He can convince anyone of practically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/steve-has-a-reality-distortion-field-when-hertzfeld-looked-puzzled/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“veteran colleagues at Apple used to call his “reality distortion field.” Sometimes it was the inadvertent misfiring of memory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/veteran-colleagues-at-apple-used-to-call-his-reality-distortion-field/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Jobs’s obstinacy lasted for nine months after his October 2003 diagnosis. Part of it was the product of the dark side of his reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/jobs-s-obstinacy-lasted-for-nine-months-after-his-october-2003/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [Dreams without the reality of the work Is just unrealized dreams. If u want something then work for it. Never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/dreams-without-the-reality-of-the-work-is-just-unrealized-dreams-if-u/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [The reality is you have to do your work and maybe you don't know everything. Maybe I don't know what the hell I'm doing!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-mcmahon/the-reality-is-you-have-to-do-your-work-and-maybe-you-don-t-know/) [Julian McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-mcmahon/) > [The core tenant of what I teach is there are no facts inside the building. When we come up with a new idea, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/the-core-tenant-of-what-i-teach-is-there-are-no-facts-inside-the/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [We live within this reality we create, and we're quite unaware of how we create the reality. So the work is often a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-turrell/we-live-within-this-reality-we-create-and-we-re-quite-unaware-of-how/) [James Turrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-turrell/) > [The thing that transforms something from being an idea to being a physical reality is work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/the-thing-that-transforms-something-from-being-an-idea-to-being-a/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [I will be a man among men; and no longer a dreamer among shadows. Henceforth be mine a life of action and reality! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/i-will-be-a-man-among-men-and-no-longer-a-dreamer-among-shadows/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Virtual reality, all the A.I. work we do, all the robotics work we do - we're as close to realizing science fiction as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/virtual-reality-all-the-a-i-work-we-do-all-the-robotics-work-we-do-we/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [Reality is, you have to work harder the older you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hasselbeck/reality-is-you-have-to-work-harder-the-older-you-get/) [Matt Hasselbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hasselbeck/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. 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We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More Big things quotes > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) [Lawrence Dale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-dale-bell/) > [ITS FUNNY HOW YOU CAN MAKE SILENT HAPPINESS TO OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR NONE SENSE ACTIONS. BECAUSE SOMETHINGS IT MAYBE LITTLE AS WE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/its-funny-how-you-can-make-silent-happiness-to-other-people-out-of/) [NO VOICE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-voice/) > [The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose yourself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-little-things-i-can-obey-but-the-big-things-how-we-think-what-we/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [The little things are being early to meetings and lifts, stretching and warming up - doing all these things consistently, the walk-throughs that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/the-little-things-are-being-early-to-meetings-and-lifts-stretching/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [I promise you this: at the end of your days, you will discover that the things you now perceive to be the big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/i-promise-you-this-at-the-end-of-your-days-you-will-discover-that-the/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“When it comes to big things in life, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/when-it-comes-to-big-things-in-life-there-are-no-accidents-everything/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [There are experts in little things but there are no experts in big things. There are experts in this fact and that fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/there-are-experts-in-little-things-but-there-are-no-experts-in-big/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) [Browse all 748 Big things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Steve Jobs was famous for what observers called his “reality distortion field.” Part motivational tactic, part sheer drive and ambition, this field made him notoriously dismissive of phrases such as “It can’t be done” or “We need more time.” Having learned early in life that reality was falsely hemmed in by rules and compromises that people had been taught as children, Jobs had a much more aggressive idea of what was or wasn’t possible. To him, when you factored in vision and work ethic, much of life was malleable. For instance, in the design stages for a new mouse for an early Apple product, Jobs had high expectations. He wanted it to move fluidly in any direction—a new development for any mouse at that time—but a lead engineer was told by one of his designers that this would be commercially impossible. What Jobs wanted wasn’t realistic and wouldn’t work. The next day, the lead engineer arrived at work to find that Steve Jobs had fired the employee who’d said that. When the replacement came in, his first words were: “I can build the mouse.” This was Jobs’s view of reality at work. Malleable, adamant, self-confident. Not in the delusional sense, but for the purposes of accomplishing something. He knew that to aim low meant to accept mediocre accomplishment. But a high aim could, if things went right, create something extraordinary. He was Napoleon shouting to his soldiers: “There shall be no Alps!” For most of us, such confidence does not come easy. It’s understandable. So many people in our lives have preached the need to be realistic or conservative or worse—to not rock the boat. This is an enormous disadvantage when it comes to trying big things. Because though our doubts (and self-doubts) feel real, they have very little bearing on what is and isn’t possible. 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