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Leading by Design - The Pursuit of Perfection

Guest post by: Dr. Maynard Brusman

Article Overview: What is the secret to creating successful businesses that marry passion, purpose and profits? Unleash peoples' passions by clearly communicating what you believe and why.

Leading by Design - The Pursuit of Perfection

The Why of Apple

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak teamed up in their 20s to challenge a computer industry designed for large corporations. Wozniak saw the personal computer as a way to provide tools to the "little guy"-to give everyone the ability to perform the same functions with similar resources.

Steve Jobs had originally sold surplus electronic parts, but he was much more than a salesman. Jobs wanted to make his mark on the world, and he envisioned building a company as the best way to start a revolution.

In Apple's first year, with only one product, Wozniak and Jobs brought in a million dollars in revenues. Year 2 produced $10 million in sales; year 4, $100 million. Within six years, Apple Computer was a billion-dollar company with more than 3,000 employees. The computer revolution was, indeed, established.

Jobs and Wozniak were not alone in their technological quest, nor were they the smartest or most experienced of the bunch. They actually had no leadership development training or executive coaches.

What made Apple remarkable was not its fast growth, nor its unique ideas about personal computers. Apple has repeated a pattern of success over and over again. Unlike any of its competitors, the company has challenged conventional thinking within numerous industries: computers, small electronics, music, mobile phones and broader entertainment categories.

Think about this:

1. Revolutionary products in several fields

2. Founders without any special powers or mystical influence over others

3. No corner on hiring the most brilliant people

The Pursuit of Perfection



With only a 6 percent market share in the United States and about 3 percent worldwide, Apple is not a leading manufacturer of home computers. But the company nonetheless leads the computer industry in innovation and technological advancements, while becoming a force to be reckoned with in other industries, as well.

Apple's success lies in its leaders' ability to inspire and be true to their core values: challenge the status quo and empower people.

Apple inspires because it starts with why, according to Sinek. Company leaders communicate the reasons Apple exists, as well as their heartfelt motivation for creating new products that give customers new levels of freedom and power.

Apple has access to the same talent pool shared by every other computer company. Its leaders hire those who can eloquently verbalize their desire to be great. Those selected to join the company can achieve this goal because their leaders communicate passion and their "why."

Are you working in a professional services firm or other organization where executive coaches provide leadership development to grow leaders who inspire others? Does your organization provide executive coaching to help leaders develop a more sustainable business? Enlightened leaders use their emotional intelligence and social intelligence skills to create purpose-driven workplace cultures.

One of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is "Do I inspire people to be true to their core values?" Emotionally intelligent and socially intelligent organizations provide executive coaching for collaborative leaders who are curious about creating enlightened businesses.

Working with a seasoned executive coach and leadership consultant trained in emotional intelligence and incorporating assessments such as the Bar-On EQ-I, CPI 260 and Denison Culture Survey can help you create a happy and prosperous business enterprise where everyone is fully engaged. You can become a leader who models emotional intelligence and social intelligence, and who inspires people to become fully engaged with the vision, mission and strategy of your company or law firm.

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Article Tags: inspiring leadership, leadership, leadership development, passion, profits



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