Inside and Outside Apple
Although Adam Lashinsky adamantly stated at his book release party last Friday that he did not intend to portrat Apple in a negative light, I could not help feeling glad that I am outside Apple. In his book, Inside Apple: How America’s Most Admired – and Secretive – Company Really Works, Lashinsky takes us through a labyrinth of the inner-workings of Apple.
Lashinsky does a phenomenal job in describing why Apple is in a league of their own making. I was intrigued by the Start-up mentality and the level of serious secrecy Steve Jobs instilled in his employees. It will remain a mystery how Lashinsky managed to gather so much information from such a top secret, military -esque company, but feeling like you’re reading classified information makes for an enlightening and almost exciting experience.
It is interesting that the Silicon Valley is curious to see what will happen to Apple without Jobs because I believe his influence will remain through the next 15 some odd years. Even if Apple wanted to change the way it operates, we are creatures of habit, especially when our habits result in positive profitable margins, and I would venture to guess that Apple will continue implementing Steve Jobs’ rigid policies because they are obviously working.
Despite my argument for Apple not drastically changing, I cannot help but wonder if there has been a slight change in company culture since Tim Cook has become CEO. It must be incredible to be in a public place and see half of the population plugged into a device that your company created, but for me, I appreciate being able to talk openly about what I am working on, laugh out loud at work and allow my ambition and drive to move me up and expose me to new opportunities.