Steve Jobs - businessman, inventor, artist

At a forum hosted by Nation Group, publisher of the Thai version of the authorised biography “Steve Jobs”,  Intouch executive chairman Somprasong Boonyachai, said Jobs had the right balance of businessman, inventor and artist in him, which distinguished him from other CEOs.
“He was always confident even though some times he was not as successful as he would have wanted to be. He saw that technology was a tool and he tried to make the tool suit people’s nature. One outstanding example is the invention of the graphic user interface [GUI]. He was the first person with the foresight that GUI would be the right technology and most suitable for human nature. Later, he opened a new platform of natural user interface or NUI,” said Somprasong.
As an inventor, Jobs was outstanding, said Somprasong, adding that almost all the products invented by his companies have changed the world and have impacted many industries. First of all, the iPod has changed the way people enjoy their music and that has changed the music industry totally. He was deeply involved with the designing and the products. iPod is not only an extension of Sony’s Walkman, which lets people carry music with them anywhere, but behind the success of iPod is iTunes.
iTunes has changed the way the music industry does business and also changed the way people get their favourite music. Jobs had the imagination to foresee what consumers want and how to help them get what they want.
Another game-changer move by Jobs is the launch of iPhone. General manager at AR Information & Publication, Pathom Indarodom, said that Jobs was a “no-compromise CEO” who wanted perfection in his company’s products. The iPhone is another example of his CEO style. Jobs did not compromise on his marketing strategy with mobile operators all over the world. All operators had to follow Jobs’ rule if they wanted to have iPhones for their customers. But all mobile operators accepted Jobs’ rule because they knew that the iPhone created a new business that is more mobile-data oriented rather than voice data, as in the past, and that would help them get new sources of revenue.
“Moreover, his personal characteristic of individualism made his products like iPod, iPhone and iPad very successful as people desire to own them. Jobs was successful in changing customers to become his devotees,” said Pathom.
HP Thailand country general manager of Imaging and Printing Group, Vatsun Thirapatarapong, said that Jobs blended a perfect balance of technology, design and marketing in his products with simplicity.
“He had the vision and sixth sense in business. He was engrossed in doing everything; he was especially engrossed in changing the world with his products, and he had the power to convince people to follow his way,” said Vatsun.
Vatsun added that Jobs dared to change and innovate. He dared to do things that nobody had ever done. iTunes is the perfect example of his daring. It is a game-changer.
His Apple products are mostly successful because of his artistic trait, said Somtow Sucharitkul, composer and author. Jobs’ artistic character differentiated him from other technology CEOs. His products are not only powerful with great features but they are also cool designs that have become the identity of Jobs’ products. Jobs dared to think differently. He was a distinguished technologist and inventor with an artistic style that differentiates his products from the others. He invented and developed technology products with artistic style. His products currently have been embedded in and soaked into people’s lives. He made people’s lives to be a part of the world he created, said Somtow.
Somtow is one of many Mac devotees. He said his he bought his first Mac in 1985 for US$3,000. He felt that Mac was not only an IT product but like a toy to awaken his child soul. Only Jobs could make products like this.
Thiruk Boonprecha of @sharkshows, a producer of “Beatai Hi-tech” IT television programmes, said that he had never been one of those standing in long queues waiting to buy a new IT product, but Jobs’ iPad2 changed him. He said Jobs’ products answered the needs of people. He knew and understood what consumers want and then he developed products that fit perfectly with people’s needs.
“iPhone is the product that made Jobs widely recognised by the masses around the world. Jobs wanted people to accept him through his products. And his authorised biography ‘Steve Jobs’ is the way he left for people to understand him more than ever,” said Thiruk.
Worawusit Pinyoyang, another Mac devotee and influential social network expert in Thailand, said that Jobs catalysed many developments in the industry. He invented an innovative business and products that changed the way people live. App store is the highlight of his development. It is a revolution.
Jobs was not perfect and was not successful in everything he did. But he dared to do and dared to fail and never gave up. He failed many times but he eventually became a success.