The Art of Competition: Innovation, Identity & Steve Jobs

As a long-time Apple computer user I could reminisce all day long about how Apple products have helped shaped my experiences—not only with technology, but with life. My life has been changes by the tools we create. My first computer was a Power Mac 6100, and I ran it with a program called “Ram Doubler,” just so I could ratchet that ol’ workhorse up to a whole 16MB allotment… YES, MB not GB, and artificially of course (RAM was very expensive back then).

Anyway, what I want to talk about is competition through innovation. It’s clear that Steve Jobs had a large part in how technology has evolved, and how Apple has become a leading force in the tools they create: for expression, for entertainment, for communication—for whatever your needs may be. 

He was a man with a vision. Together with another Steve—Wozniak to be exact, they started Apple. The two quickly realized they had different visions. Steve W. wanted an “open architecture” approach, with openly shared programming and software distribution. And Steve J eventually took it in a different direction. A more “closed” approach with a strategic vision that was a bit more market savvy, creating the Apple we know today, through some pretty big risks along the way.

Apple continues to make incredibly well made, well-performing, elegantly designed devices that have changed how we experience technology, and what we expect while experiencing that technology. Their elegant simplicity has created an experience that we have come to expect from Apple. They control the creation of their products, after leaving the concept of other manufacturers building Macs (i.e. “Mac Clones”) behind after only about a year of trying that approach in the late 90s. 

And there has also been a competition brewing for years now. Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Linux—name your flavor… and we can focus on any of them, but I would say Microsoft and Apple are two of the big ones these days. Sometimes, as someone doing much work for Microsoft, I feel like I am right in the middle of it. Apple has hadt retail locations for years now. Microsoft has also grown from being a company known exclusively for making Windows, to a company creating bigger experiences that incorporate a wealth of products and services at their quickly expanding retail locations. It’s not about Windows, it’s about a diverse range of products and services that run the OS.

I have had to take a step back from the eternal question: “So which is better, Mac or PC?” I have had to take that step back to not become so intertwined in that conversation anymore—it’s just not worth it.

It’s bigger than that.

The short answer is: neither. We’re often asking the wrong question! As consumers, all options are relevant, and in this case the answer is more like: “Both are relevant, neither are better or worse, they’re just different.” And they tell different stories, they communicate different visions, and different experiences that the companies wish to share with their consumers. So the question could be: “Which of these devices better serves my needs?” and to answer that… “What set of experiences are important to me?”

Of course sometimes the answer is easier, because you’re asking the question: “How much money do I have for this computer?”

So many choices, so much to think about from price-points to technical specifications. There’s so much out there right now, and for one primary reason: 

Competition

We have choices to make, because it’s an “output” of the competitive process. We benefit from the innovation companies realize through the process of being the best. 

Go play with some techie toys!

Think about what the world would look like if there were only one company cranking out devices? No comparison, no contrast, probably not so many choices, and not as much desire to be ‘better than the other guy.’ Who knows what it would really look like!

Competition can make a huge impact on the world around us in so many ways—and not just the technology market. Think about that. Two primary outputs of the competitive process are innovation and identity.

Innovation: As already mentioned, being better than the other guy through things like tech specs or price point is a big driver for manufacturers.

Then, whether it starts along the way as an input, or as a resulting output… we realize who we are in the process, and what makes us unique… our identity emerges. COOL!

As an athlete, we need to know our left hook will save us in the ring against another fighter, as a job hunter, we need to leverage our unique skills, separating us from the pack (or stack) or resumés, And as a company we need to really be able to drill down and understand the services and/or products that make us unique… we can claim it’s what makes us better, but really—in the end—it’s about what makes us unique… our identity. Ok, we also need to make a living… and make some money.

I believe Steve Jobs had a vision from the beginning, and Bill Gates did too. Whether it’s clear then or later on, it may change along the way. That’s the fun part… engaging in the competitive process, and then learning and seeing how things change through…

Innovation and connection with our own unique Identity.

I hail you Steve Jobs, and the impact you have made on the world.

m

Remembering to breathe

Breathe to sing

Breathe to run

Breathe to slow down

Breathe… it’s begun.

Why do we often forget that the one thing we are doing—all day and into the night, is breathing.

It’s what we do. We’re human beings on a journey, and we never think about the assumption we make every day—that we will continue to breathe.

Touching base with the breath slows us down, and allows us to reconnect with why we’re here: to live and be human. Maybe it’s yoga or some form of exercise that does it for you, or dancing, movement or the rhythm of drumming or another musical instrument, but regardless… how our body processes oxygen and allows carbon dioxide to exit is truly our existence. I forget how much it is important to remember that this as a part of us.

I am thankful to know I reconnect with it every once in a while. I have experienced much, and have also experienced awakening thoughts that many others are not so fortunate. I recently experienced a long-time friend departing after surrendering to a battle with terminal cancer and I say: hoor the breath, and be thankful for it. It makes us who we are… human. And it’s beautiful. And we live.

m

The Art of Becoming: Syncing to the Cloud

It continues to be a while between posts…

Yes, I know, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing.

Oh I’ve been writing!

Funny… I’ve been writing A LOT… and mostly on mobile devices…

In Sedona, a mobile fire was lit…

From iPod to iPhone, and now to Windows Phone—I’ve been writing A LOT. Sometimes incoherent thoughts, other times poems, blog ideas, and even some lyrics with potential. Good stuff.

I’ve had a lot going on, and the fact that I need to write about changes—especially professional ones—probably means things are going well. They definitely are…

It has almost never felt like an easy road though.

That’s what leads me to these thoughts: how it’s felt along the way.

As an artist, I think I have always had my struggles with confidence. I think we all have, and I still do at times. We struggle to become something different, obtain a new skill, prove to the world we have what it takes to do something, start something new, or work in a new role professionally. We want to ‘become’ something more.

Feeling like you have something to prove is a rough road, let me tell ya! Years of work in the field of design, and I think I still find myself searching for validation at times. This search for validation can sneak up on you, and also hit you in personal places (family is a good example, but let’s not get off on another tangent).

Anyway, I feel that growing, learning and changing aren't 'better' or 'worse,' just different. They’re more exciting too, because you get to try new things, mix it up, and keep your viewpoint fresh. 

Although we often get frustrated because we aren't where we may want to be, the worst thing we can do is let negative feelings take over, and let ourselves feel bad. In the end, we have nothing to feel bad about, as we ultimately have nothing to prove to anyone but ourselves... I choose happiness during that process whenever possible… but it’s not always that simple!

As anyone pursues their own individual career paths, and navigates challenging economic times, it’s harder and harder to start from a place of “feeling good” about anything. But it’s kind of the road you need to take—to focus on the excitement of who you are NOW, and the excitement around what you’re becoming.

15 years ago, I would have never thought I would be a college teacher, training Microsoft employees, syncing to the cloud, putting the right hair on my Avatar, or instantly uploading/sharing photos from mountain tops—

But it has ALL happened.

And I am reminded of this very strange fact: that in some way, it’s who you have always been.

I was just messaging with a good friend who knew me 15 years ago. She knew me when I was fresh to the field of design… just a year out of design school… I’ll quote her here (apologies Becky, for not asking permission)… We were talking about my passions in infographics, information design and instructional design when she said:

“You see things differently, you always did. That’s what makes your design unique.” 

And then a little more… 

“You worked hard at your design. Its always more difficult to be the non-conformist in the group....”

For some reason, I had a hard time believing her at first (heck, maybe I still don’t believe her). She could see something about me that I really didn’t think anyone could see—especially since I didn’t see it, and only feel like I have ‘come into my own’ with this over the last few years (I keep feeling like a late bloomer).

So regardless of where you are, or where you’re going, you’re always “whole.” Wholeness is always there, and it’s always you. Chances are there’s something “at your core” that has always been there—and always will be. There’s things you can change, and things you can do, but maybe it’s more about changing your point of view about what’s at your core no?

We’re never really “lacking” anything, and certainly shouldn’t set out on a path of change that involves lack, or feeling bad, or that we are presently “less.”

It can be a good motivator at times, but regardless of what we want for ourselves, feeling good about the process is important. Maybe that’s why I have always been a bit of a dorky goofball—I make fun of myself, and try to take life lightly—but I still want to move forward. I finally feel like I am doing it the right way, and strangely, it’s who I’ve always been. I’m “syncing to the cloud,” and accessing data seamlessly across multiple devices—and the funny thing is, I’ve always been in sync—I just never really knew it till now.

Thanks for reading. I proudly proclaim that this post was started on a mobile device. Sorry, it DID need to be finished on a full-size keyboard though.

:)

m

Mark: happy 'becoming'...