The true merit of Apple

Before Steve Jobs’s return to Apple, computers were a serious thing. Good for business. No emotions. Everybody who used a computer for private reasons had serious intentions: education, work, or achievement.

The ones who wanted fun purchased a video game. With his first iMac, Jobs brought fun back to computers. The first iMacs had worse performance and were more expensive than comparable computers. However, the point is that they were not only computers but devices that created emotion.

Macbook, iPod, iPhone, and iPad raised the emotional side to a wild crescendo. Virtually no one purchases an Apple device because of the technology. Almost everybody buys it because of emotions, fun, and experience because then even difficult tasks are easier to complete.

The triumphal procession of iPhone and iPad in the business world brought emotions back to the executive suite.

This is the real paradigm shift: IT can be fun! Who would have thought?

If you are a leader in an organization, then ask yourself how much fun you create for your employees and customers.

What do you do to connect serious tasks with positive emotions?

Let us hope that Apple generates many imitators in other industries. I am still waiting for the same revolution at banks, universities, and the mechanical engineering industry.

_________________________________________

This post is from our Friday noon memo #99. Interested in regular updates? Sign up here.
© Copyright by New Pace Consulting SA, 2011. All rights reserved.