16 Feb 7 Things You Didn’t Know Steve Jobs Taught You About Ideation
There is no question that the late Steve Jobs lived a rich and unique life. He revolutionized not one, but several industries, including: computing, telecommunications, music and movies.
Jobs’ remarkable years illustrate some major life lessons from which we can all learn, particularly when it comes to ideation and social marketing strategy.
Here are 7 things you didn’t know Steve Jobs taught you about ideation:
1. Think Big
When Jobs came on the scene, computers were only the domain of small groups of hobbyists and the technical elite. However, Jobs saw the computer’s potential and he challenged the way things were.
It was his vision to put a computer in the hands of everyday people. He wanted to create a user-friendly product that anyone would feel comfortable using. Just look where we are today.
2. Trust Your Instincts & Take Risks
Throughout his career, Steve Jobs took chances. In a time when most brands were looking to diversify, Apple focused on relatively few areas. Jobs was always willing to steer Apple off the beat and path if he thought it would generate future success.
Jobs also often trusted in his gut feeling. He believed with complete certainty that if he really liked something, then everyone else would as well. He was almost always right.
To trust your instincts is important in the process of ideation. As Jobs once said, “Did Alexander Graham Bell do any market research before he invented the telephone?”
Remember that not every idea is going to be a big success. Learn from your mistakes, dust yourself off and try again!
3. Surround Yourself With Amazing People
Jobs understood that one person cannot do everything. There were others in the world with skills he did not possess. Jobs’ partnership with Apple co-founder and engineer Steve Wozniak perfectly illustrates this.
Building a team of amazing people means you get amazing output. Don’t be afraid to bounce you’re ideas off of others. Be sure to ask for guidance, assistance, advice and opinions when developing ideas and strategies.
4. Create Memorable Experiences
When Steve Jobs envisioned the Apple store, he didn’t want it to be about “just moving boxes”, instead the Apple Store would enrich lives and create an emotional connection between customer and brand.
Today, the Apple Store makes more money per square foot than most luxury brands. It’s also completely packed with customers from open to close.
Your social marketing ideas and strategies should always have the customer in mind. They should work to entertain, produce emotion and spark conversation.
5. Communication is Key
Job is known for his worn jeans, black sweater and Powerpoint presentations. He understood the importance of effectively communicating ideas. After all, you could have the greatest idea in the world, but if you can’t master the message, you have nothing.
Instead of simply presenting, people should be informed, educated, inspired and entertained. Ideas should be presented in a very visual way. This means few words. People are more likely to remember and respond to highly visual content.
6. Understand Your Customer
Most of Jobs’ success can be attributed to the fact that he really understood his customer and their values.Jobs and Apple truly owned the idea of “user-friendly”, ensuring ease and efficiency in the lives of their customers.
Your customers really don’t care about your product, but they do care about themselves and how your product can makes their life better. It’s all about me, remember?
7. Do what you love
You can’t come up with new, innovative ideas unless you’re truly inspired and really passionate about what you do. As Jobs once said, “People with passion can change the world for the better”.
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