Saturday, December 31, 2011

Weeper

I haven't read the Steve Jobs biography. But Sharon Waxman has. And one of Mr. Jobs' multipe qualities leapt out at her ...

I knew Steve Jobs was a visionary. What I didn’t know was that he was such a cry-baby

It's one revelation of Walter Isaacson’s biography that hasn’t gotten much attention since the book hit the best-seller list a few weeks ago.

Along with the bullying, the angry outbursts, the moments of epiphany, the parking in the Handicapped spot – Jobs’s penchant for waterworks is striking.

Every time he experiences a setback or a bad outcome, he weeps. He cries over employees ditching. He cries over losing in a negotiation. He cries over his team missing deadlines. ...

I never laid eyes on Mr. Jobs. All I know about him is what I read ... and what different Pixar employees -- former and current -- have related. Since some of the tales aren't flattering, I won't relate them here. Let's just say that Steve Jobs was like a polished diamond -- a man with many facets.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

*gasp* Steve Jobs was HUMAN? *gasp*

The man accomplished more than any of us could dream. Why are we so surprised that he had human flaws?

Floyd Norman said...

Since we had so much to cover in my interview we never got around to talking about Steve Jobs. I could have told some stories about El Stevo that might surprise you.

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rufus said...

So, my question is, did Steve Jobs ever provide any funds for cancer research? I sincerely hope he did.
I dont really care if he was a weeper or not. And yes, Steve definetly was in a position of achieving more than most of us achieve in life. I'll definetly will pick up his bio. So many books to read, so little time!

rufus

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Anonymous said...

floyd--I doubt that very seriously. If you can, do so. But if you're going to make some vague comment about him based on the very little time you spent at Pixar doing minor busy work in a time when Jobs reportedly barely visited Pixar, then explain that, too.

Anonymous said...

i am currently around chapter 12 and love the book.

I drew comparisons immediately that the relationship between Jobs and Wozniak was very similar to Walt and Ub Iwerks. Woz cranked out the product, Jobs guided him along.

there is an interesting parallel here.

couldnt care less what he was like as a person, all entrepreneurs seem to challenge the status quo.

I've known a couple, people can't relate to their vision.

Floyd Norman said...

Exactly what is your problem, Anonymous? Do I have to defend everything I say because you don't agree with it?

Yes, I spent 1997 to 1999 at Pixar doing "minor work." I spoke with Steve on several occasions whether you believe it or not.

Why don't you go out and achieve something instead of not believing what I've done. Get a life - and a damn name.

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Anonymous said...

Wow, Floyd is responding to the haters! I'm impressed!

Go Floyd!!

Mark Mayerson said...

You tell 'em, Floyd!

I understand the need for somebody to remain anonymous on this blog if they are saying something that might jeopardize their employment. It's important for people to speak out without fear of repercussions.

However, when people choose to trash talk anonymously on subjects that have nothing to do with their employment, it just looks like cowardice to me.

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Steve Hulett said...

I've excised the Republican-Democrat back and forth. Off topic.

Anonymous said...

You missed the Romney one...

Steve Hulett said...

But if you're going to make some vague comment about him based on the very little time you spent at Pixar doing minor busy work in a time when Jobs reportedly barely visited Pixar, then explain that, too.

My understanding is that Floyd was at Pixar for extended periods of time.

If you're going to be snarky, please state your actual name. No need to be shy when you're bad-mouthing an industry veteran.

Steve Hulett said...

You missed the Romney one...

Went back and got it. Plenty of chances to beat one one another at "Red State" and "Talking Points Memo."

Anonymous said...

"...Steve Jobs...parking in the Handicapped spot..."


George Lucas did this at the old Kerner Blvd. campus of the old ILM. When he did it by UJ building, he'd also pull as close as possible to the door, which prevented the door from actually opening fully. As much as this was just flat-out in-your-face rude of him to do, it actually was also then a blocked fire exit. Thanks, George!

As luck would have it, that door on UJ swung outward. As his car bumper was well within striking distance of the the moving doorframe...well sir, liberties were taken to hammer his car as hard as could be done without breaking the glass in the door itself.

A little thing to be sure, but it did keep morale high.

Anonymous said...

Oh, for crying out loud, Steve. The thread is about crying out loud. Newt's tantrum is ENTIRELY relevant to the title of the friggin' thread - WEEPING. The title up there, on top. Remember?

Anonymous said...

...and it's now officially an election year. And this is officially a labor blog.

So everything having to do with blue vs. red is entirely relevant.

Steve Hulett said...

The thread is about crying out loud. Newt's tantrum is ENTIRELY relevant to the title of the friggin' thread - WEEPING.

Not to me. And I control the delete button.

Floyd Norman said...

At the risk of offending "Anonymous" who appears to know more about my career than I do, I'd like to mention that Steve Jobs spent a good deal of time at Pixar before returning to Apple as Interim CEO in 1998.

Even though he owned the company, Steve Jobs' office was no larger than most others. We often gathered for an informal brunch on Friday mornings with the entire Pixar crew, which was pretty small in those days. Steve had already matured quite a bit, and was no longer the ass hole he had been in earlier years. I really liked the guy.

Anonymous said...

Steve, honestly, is there a way to make this site registration-required, so that only animation guild members can comment? Leave the anonymous option, but make them register (like via Disqus or something equivalent) with a union email (@disneyanimation, @dreamworks, @nickelodeon, etc). I get the feeling it would slow the garbage comments on this site...and probably lessen the amount of Floyd hate...

Anonymous said...

^I agree.

Anonymous said...

^ as has been pointed out time and time again not every union member has a union job and union e-mail.

Anonymous said...

Certainly the union has contact emails for every union member. Just cross reference it with that list then

Either way, having joe schmo commenting on this blog has gotten SO OLD

Steve Hulett said...

Don't read the comments, if it bothers you.

We'll take the suggestions up as an agenda item for the executive board.

Anonymous said...

How about having a vote moderation system with a "flamebait threshold" when the a post falls past a certain value.

Don't like a post? Mod it down by a point, likewise if you think it's a good post you can mod a post up.

Once posts fall down to -3 or so it'll become automatically hidden, requiring a click to view it.

Other than that, I just skip the topic derailments and flame wars.

Anonymous said...

Don't read the comments, if it bothers you.

We'll take the suggestions up as an agenda item for the executive board.


Fair enough. I guess they are just silly comments after all.

Anonymous said...

Steve Job's emotions drove him. Having his heart and tears so close to his thinking made him a great creator and thinker. While some people may think of it as a weakness- crying is really a sign of human purity.

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