In this blog post, I want to share the top 10 rules that were most crucial for the success of Steve Jobs in the business world. These are the guiding principles he used throughout his life and career, and I believe they will also be valuable to you. So, let’s dive in and explore these rules that shaped his journey and led him to accomplish amazing things and can potentially impact yours too.
#1 Thing You Must Do if You Want Success
Developing a growth mindset and confidence in your ability to control your destiny is the one thing you must do to live a successful life and not fall victim to your circumstances and become trapped in what other people have planned for you.
“When you grow up, you tend to get told that the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world; try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family life, have fun, save a little money. But that’s a very limited life; life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact, and that is everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you; and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use, and the minute that you understand that you can poke life, and actually something you know you push in, something will pop out the other side, you can change it you can mold it. That’s maybe the most important thing is to shake off this notion that life is there and you’re just gonna live in it. Versus, embrace it, change it, improve it make your mark upon it. I think that is very important, and however you learn that once you learn it, you’ll wanna change life and make it better cause it’s kinda messed up in a lot of ways; once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.” – Steve Jobs
10 Success Rules By Steve Jobs
1. Don’t live a limited life
2. Have a passion
3. Design for yourself
4. Don’t sell crap
5. Build a great team
6. Don’t do it for the money
7. Be proud of your products
8. Build around customers
9. Marketing is about Values
10. Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
1. Don’t Live a Limited Life
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
This is one of Jobs’ most famous quotes, reflecting a core belief that drove him throughout his life. You must have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, even if that means going against the status quo. By not allowing other people’s opinions or expectations to dictate your life, you can pursue your dreams and passions and ultimately achieve your true potential.
2. Have a Passion
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
I can’t emphasize the importance of passion in your life and work. It’s the driving force behind success and will keep you going when it gets tough. If you don’t have a passion for what you do, you won’t be able to push through the obstacles and setbacks that inevitably come your way. Find what you love, and let that fuel your journey toward success.
“People say you have to have a lot of passion for what you’re doing and it’s totally true. And the reason is because it’s so hard that if you don’t, any rational person would give up. It’s really hard. And you have to do it over a sustained period of time.” – Steve Jobs
3. Design for Yourself
“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs
When creating products or services, always strive to design for yourself first. Doing so will ensure your creations are true to your vision and resonate with your target audience. If you create something you genuinely love and believe in, others will too. Remember, you’re the best judge of what you want, and that’s the first step in creating products that truly make a difference.
4. Don’t Sell Crap
“You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.” – Steve Jobs
Always strive for excellence and never compromise on quality. Your products and services should meet and exceed your customers’ expectations. Don’t settle for mediocrity; push the boundaries and aim for the extraordinary. Your reputation is built on the quality of what you offer, so make sure it’s something you can be proud of.
5. Build a Great Team
“Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs
Surround yourself with talented, passionate, and dedicated individuals who share your vision and can help bring it to life. A strong team is essential to success, allowing you to leverage each member’s unique strengths and abilities. Encourage collaboration, foster a positive working environment, and invest in the growth and development of your team members.
6. Don’t Do It for the Money
“I was worth about over a million dollars when I was 23, and over 10 million dollars when I was 24, and over a hundred million dollars when I was 25, and it wasn’t that important. I never did it for the money.” – Steve Jobs
Money should never be your primary motivation for pursuing your dreams. While financial success can be a byproduct of your efforts, your focus should always be on creating value and making a difference. Be driven by your passion and purpose, and the rewards will follow. In most situations, working just for money is not the path to high performance, happiness, and outsized success.
7. Be Proud of Your Products
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.” – Steve Jobs
Be proud of the products you create and their impact on people’s lives. Strive for excellence in everything you do and aim to create products that solve problems and inspire and delight your customers. Remember, your products reflect you, so they embody your values and vision.
8. Build Around Customers
“You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology – not the other way around.” – Steve Jobs
Put your customers at the heart of everything you do. Listen to their needs, desires, and feedback, and use this information to create products and services that truly cater to them. Focusing on your customers will foster loyalty and drive innovation and growth in your business.
9. Marketing is about Values
“Marketing is about values. It’s a complicated and noisy world, and we’re not going to get the chance to get people to remember much about us. No company is. So we have to be really clear about what we want them to know about us.” – Steve Jobs
Create a strong brand identity that reflects your core values and beliefs, whether personally or for your business. Your marketing efforts should promote your products and communicate the essence of who you are and what you stand for. Be authentic, consistent, and genuine in your messaging, and you’ll create a lasting connection with your customers, coworkers, and bosses.
10. Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” – Steve Jobs
This famous quote from his 2005 Stanford commencement speech reminded him never to become complacent. Keep learning, growing, and pushing the boundaries of what you think is possible. Embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, and never be afraid to take risks. By staying hungry for knowledge and foolish enough to believe in the impossible, you’ll continue to innovate and evolve, ultimately achieving great success.
Key Takeaways
These ten rules guided Steve Jobs’s life and contributed to his success as an inventor, innovator, product designer, CEO, and investor. You can achieve great success by adopting these principles and applying them in your own life. Remember to follow your heart, have a passion for your work, and never compromise on quality. Surround yourself with a great team, focus on your customers, and stay hungry and foolish in your pursuit of greatness.
