Steve Jobs
This Book Is for You If…
✔ You’re curious about the story of an often cruel yet unparalleled genius.
✔ You’re fascinated by innovation and the pursuit of best-in-class products.
✔ You’re inspired by bold visionaries.
Powerful lessons don’t always come wrapped in kindness.
Hard Truths, Lasting Wisdom
Book Review & Reflection by Lindsay Smith, LCSW
Steve Jobs
By Walter Isaacson
Mood of the Book:
Intense, Innovative, and Interesting
5 Gems to Fuel Growth…
Do it right, even when no one sees it.
The shift I needed: Integrity is revealed in the unseen details of our work and lives.
I love the lesson Steve Jobs learned from his father: even the backs of cabinets, parts no one else would see, deserved to be crafted with care. It’s a reminder that the hidden details reveal our true standard of excellence. When we cut corners on what’s unseen, we’re not just compromising the work—we’re compromising ourselves.
This has been on my mind as I build my new personal growth app. My developer suggested releasing the beta without certain features in place, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Even though early testers would understand, I want them to experience something that reflects the heart of what we’re creating—high quality with a huge impact from start to finish.
Excellence isn’t about perfection. It’s about integrity. It’s choosing to show up fully, whether or not anyone else notices. Because in the end, we notice. And that inner knowing shapes every part of who we are and what we create.
Empower others to rise higher.
The shift I needed: The “impossible” becomes possible when we refuse to accept limits.
One of the most powerful things about Steve Jobs was his refusal to accept limits. If something needed to happen, he simply decided it would. That belief, the infamous “reality distortion field,” pushed people to accomplish things they never thought possible. While I don’t admire the cruelty with which he often demanded results, I do admire the expectation he carried: you are capable of more than you realize.
I’ve always had high standards, both for myself and others. At my last company, though, I sometimes let those standards become a quiet disappointment instead of an active invitation. Looking back, I see how much more empowering it would have been to combine those high expectations with visible belief in my team’s abilities—and to cast a vision compelling enough to draw out their best.
That’s what I’m seeking to do now: lead in a way that inspires excellence, not just demands it, helping people discover their own capacity to do the “impossible.”
Excellence attracts excellence.
The shift I needed: Tolerating mediocrity drives away excellence.
Like attracts like—in leadership and in life. Steve Jobs observed that A players only want to work with other A players. When we tolerate mediocrity, we don’t just slow progress, we risk losing our best people, who thrive in environments where they’re challenged and inspired.
This hit home for me because I know I’ve sometimes made excuses for team members’ underperformance—out of compassion, or simply wanting to be liked. But in doing so, I wasn’t serving the team or the mission. Excellence isn’t harsh; it’s honoring. When we surround ourselves with people who bring their best, everyone rises together.
I know I’m at my best when I’m working alongside other high performers—creative, committed people who love bringing ideas to life. Going forward, I want to be the kind of leader who both attracts and protects that culture, ensuring that the standard of excellence isn’t diluted but multiplied.
Spontaneous connection creates magic.
The shift I needed: Innovation and creativity thrive on unplanned, face-to-face moments.
One of Steve Jobs’ beliefs was that creativity happens when people collide—in hallways, over coffee, in unplanned moments that spark new ideas. Face-to-face connection fuels a kind of magic that screens can’t replicate.
This struck me deeply because so much of our world is now virtual. While technology allows us to work from anywhere, it also strips away the chance encounters that can lead to breakthroughs. At my new company, most of our work will be remote. But this reminder has made me determined to design intentional opportunities for real-life connection. Not just structured meetings, but time to gather, talk, and cross-pollinate ideas in ways that don’t happen as well through email or Zoom.
The truth is, innovation lives in relationship. When we sit across from each other, sharing energy, laughter, and insights, we create something larger than ourselves. If we want teams that build extraordinary things, we need to keep finding ways to bring people face to face.
Focus creates greatness.
The shift I needed: True growth comes from eliminating distractions, not adding more.
Steve Jobs believed that focus was about intentionally choosing a few priorities and firmly saying no to everything else. He knew that true excellence required eliminating the noise: the distractions, side projects, and tempting opportunities that dilute energy and attention.
Looking back, I can see how this lesson played out in my own businesses. In the early years of my counseling centers, I stayed laser-focused on our core mission, and we thrived. But as we expanded too broadly, our attention became scattered. We could no longer give our full time and energy to what mattered most, and the quality of everything suffered.
Now, as I build my new venture, I’m determined to hold this lesson close. Focus is freedom. It means channeling my limited time and energy into what really matters, and having the discipline to let go of everything else. Because when we focus, our impact multiplies.
My 3 Core Ratings (1-5)
Steve Jobs’ sharp edges made it hard to admire him fully. Yet woven through his flaws was undeniable brilliance: a creative force who reshaped entire industries and pushed people to achieve more than they believed possible. The joy doesn’t come from who he was; it comes from the inspiration of what vision and determination can create.
This book stretched me. It was difficult to separate Jobs’ cruelty from his wisdom, yet the lessons are undeniable. His relentless focus, bold expectations, and pursuit of excellence have reshaped how I think about leadership, and they will influence the way I build and guide teams moving forward.
The wisdom here is actionable. Choosing focus, protecting excellence, and empowering others aren’t abstract ideals—they’re daily decisions. These lessons challenged me to notice where distractions creep in and to lead with higher standards. Applying them feels both practical and powerful.
Mic Drop Moment:
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
– Apple’s Think Different Campaign
Notes, Nudges & Nuggets:
✔ Intuition can be a more powerful guide than intellect—don’t dismiss the quiet knowing inside you.
✔ People really do judge a book by its cover: the way you package your work shapes how it’s received.
✔ Remembering our mortality can be clarifying: when we know time is limited, following the heart becomes the only way.
✔ Never be afraid to reinvent yourself or your work; lasting impact requires ongoing transformation.
If you’re thinking about picking up this book – or doing any Amazon shopping – clicking through my link helps support future reviews at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
Final Reflection:
The work that lasts is born from integrity, vision, and focus—not perfection.
When we choose to create with care, to believe in ourselves and others,
and to clear away distractions, we multiply the impact of our lives.
_________________________
What is one thing you can release to make more space for what matters most?
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