Guy Kawasaki shares leadership lessons from Steve Jobs, the importance of learning how to sell, and being a chief evangelist. He reflects on his journey from private school to Stanford, meeting Mike Boich at Apple, and going on the TEDx stage with Jane Goodall. Embracing change, being remarkable, and expressing gratitude are key themes in the conversation.
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Quick takeaways
Learning how to sell is crucial in all aspects of life, emphasizing the importance of persuasion and negotiation skills.
Seizing unexpected opportunities and leveraging personal connections can lead to significant career advancements and success.
Deep dives
Learning to Sell Early in Your Career
Learning how to sell early in your career, as illustrated through Guy Kawasaki's experience working in the jewelry business in the 70s, emphasizes the importance of patience, negotiation skills, and the significance of being able to convince others effectively. Kawasaki points out that the key to success in business lies in either making or selling a product, highlighting the essential role of salesmanship in various aspects of life, from job interviews to everyday interactions. By stressing the value of being able to sell, even in unconventional situations like negotiating terms at a jewelry company, Kawasaki underlines the fundamental nature of sales skills in professional growth.
Seizing Opportunities and Making the Most of Them
Guy Kawasaki's journey to securing a job at Apple in 1983 showcases the significance of seizing opportunities and turning them into significant career advancements. Despite lacking the typical qualifications, Kawasaki's Stanford roommate's connection led to his hiring at Apple, underscoring the importance of personal relationships and being prepared to maximize opportunities when they arise. Kawasaki's refusal to be deterred by conventional hiring standards illustrates the principle that what truly matters in one's career is the impact made once the opportunity is obtained. By demonstrating that success can come from unexpected routes and that taking action is essential in leveraging opportunities, Kawasaki's experience serves as a powerful example of proactive career development.
The Value of Adaptability and Openness to Change
Guy Kawasaki's insight gleaned from Steve Jobs emphasizes the importance of leaders being willing to change their minds, illustrating that true intelligence lies in the ability to adapt and reverse decisions when necessary. Kawasaki's discussion reveals that effective leaders are not always right and that embracing humility by acknowledging mistakes and being open to change is crucial in driving impactful decision-making. By highlighting the intersection of mission-driven leadership with the willingness to admit fallibility, Kawasaki emphasizes the significance of prioritizing the overall mission over personal ego and pride, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within leadership roles.
Fostering a Growth Mindset through Personal Development
Guy Kawasaki's personal experiences in adopting new pursuits, such as playing hockey at 44 and surfing at 60, underscore the importance of a growth mindset in exploring new opportunities and continuously developing skills. Kawasaki's late entry into these sports serves as a testament to the belief that abilities are not fixed, but can be expanded through continuous learning and exploration. By embracing challenges and venturing into unfamiliar territories, Kawasaki exemplifies the benefits of maintaining a growth mindset, enabling individuals to adapt, learn, and grow throughout their lives. His dedication to personal growth reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and a willingness to step out of comfort zones to pursue new experiences and skills.
574: Guy Kawasaki - Leadership Lessons From Steve Jobs, Learning How To Sell, Becoming a Chief Evangelist, and The 'Think Different' Philosophy
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
In 1977, Guy enrolled in the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he earned an MBA. While there, Guy also worked at a jewelry company, Nova Stylings. He said, "The jewelry business is a very, very tough business, tougher than the computer business... I learned a very valuable lesson: how to sell."
It’s helpful to know that we are all in sales every day. Whether you think you’re in sales or not… You are. You’re selling yourself, your ideas, projects, products. It’s useful to learn how to sell.
Melanie Perkins, CEO of Canva (which is an amazing product and company)... "She’s Steve Jobs with heart and soul. They are on a relentless pursuit of perfection."
Guy's counting dots story… It started in 6th grade. A teacher pushed him to go to a private school. That led to him getting into Stanford. This is where he met Mike Boich, who ended up hiring him at Apple. Then getting asked to go on the TEDx stage with Jane Goodall… Guy has made the most of the good fortune in his life…
Steve Jobs/Change Your Mind: Guy launched his tech career at Apple as the company’s “chief evangelist,” marketing the original Macintosh computer.
When Jobs first introduced the iPhone in 2007, it was a closed system — no one outside of Apple could create an app for it. Software developers had to use a Safari plugin to make their app work on the phone, as they weren’t able to access the iPhone’s system directly in order to ensure the phone’s security. Just one year later, however, Jobs made a complete “180-degree reversal,” The founder opened the iPhone system to the public after realizing how much more the device could offer customers with apps written by anyone with a good idea. “I learned the very valuable lesson that when you’re doing something wrong when you’re doing something sub-optimally, it’s a sign of intelligence to change your mind.”
Throughout our conversation, Guy talks about being an evangelist, and the definition of that is to “bring the good news.”
Default to yes. Make yourself indispensable.
Learn to say, "I'm sorry," and "I don't know."
Guy shares a story about a disagreement he had with Steve Jobs and how that cost him millions of dollars… But he learned an important lesson from Steve that has impacted him ever since.
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