What We Can Learn From Apple

Apple was once again the center of the technology universe yesterday as it released its new Apple Watch, Apple Pay, IPhone 6 and IOS 8. Apple continues to out innovate its competitors. Its sales have grown from $65 billion in 2010 to $171 billion in 2013.

What can we learn from Apple and its relatively new CEO Tim Cook?

Cook took the reins of Apple in October 2011 after the death of the legendary Steve Jobs. Under tremendous scrutiny, Cook has continued to push Apple to the forefront of the industry. Some things at Apple have remained the same under Cook, while many things have changed.

Below are the learnings I have gleaned from Cook and Apple.

  1. Get it Right – Not first to the market and not even to the largest market (Android has a much larger user base than Apple). Apple had been considering a smart watch for years, and first looked into a larger IPhone four years ago. Instead of being first or biggest, Apple is routinely seen as the best at what it creates. They didn’t make the first MP3, smartphone or tablet – they simply set the standard in each of those categories. Apple expects to do the same with its new Apple Watch and Apple Pay system.
  2. Leaders Eat Last – Cook has been described by Silicon Valley futurist Paul Saffo as a “leader-servant” of the “show no chrome” school of business. Cook does not need to be at the center of the stage at all times like his predecessor. He often gives up the stage to others in the company as he did at the Worldwide Developers Conference last spring when vice president of engineering, Craig Federighi took the spotlight. Saffo compares Cook to a chef whose magic happens out of public view.
  3. Innovate, Innovate, Innovate – If you are not getting better daily, your competition will quickly pass you. This is true whether you are in technology, manufacturing or construction. That is the beauty and horror of capitalism. Someone out there is hungry for success and they are ready to outwork and out innovate you. Are you ready?
  4. Innovation Requires Failure – Most of us can get caught up in the Apple euphoria and begin to believe that every product or service they introduce is magically perfect. Unfortunately, innovation requires failure and Apple has failed plenty. Anybody remember the U2 Ipod, the Power Mac g4 Cube, the “Hockey Puck” mouse or the eMate? Probably not because Apple never stopped innovating despite the failures. They eventually came up with hit products that consumers gobbled up and we all forgot the failures.

I think these are lessons that we all must put in place to stay successful in this hypercompetitive world we live in.

What other lessons have you learned from watching Apple’s success?

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Image courtesy of http://thenextweb.com.

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