Three Traits That Made Steve Jobs Stand Out
Steve Jobs was one of those rare entrepreneurs who seemed to see the world differently. His genius lay in coming up with ideas that were bold yet surprisingly practical. He wasn’t just about building sleek gadgets—he was about creating experiences people didn’t even realize they needed.
Three traits made Jobs truly stand out as a game-changer in business: his ability to inspire others, his relentless drive to set the bar high, and his unshakable perseverance.
He Inspired Others
In his famous 2005 Stanford Commencement Address, Jobs reflected on the urgency of living with purpose:
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life… There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
For Jobs, awareness of mortality brought clarity. It freed him from fear of failure and external expectations, allowing him to focus only on what truly mattered. That conviction inspired others to seek their calling and prioritize meaning over distractions. As he told the graduates that day, “You’ve got to find what you love… Don’t settle.” His words continue to resonate with leaders and dreamers worldwide.
He Set the Bar High
Jobs never believed in making things easy for his team. In a 2008 Fortune interview, he famously said:
“My job is to not be easy on people. My job is to make them better.”
That philosophy shaped Apple’s culture of innovation. Rather than aiming for comfort, Jobs pushed his people to stretch beyond their limits. He believed excellence was born from pressure, high standards, and the courage to chase perfection. Leaders today can draw from that example: the goal isn’t to be liked, but to help people achieve more than they thought possible.
His Perseverance Was Relentless
Perhaps the most defining trait of Jobs was his perseverance. In a 1995 interview with Daniel Morrow, he put it plainly:
“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the nonsuccessful ones is pure perseverance.”
Jobs embodied this principle throughout his life. He endured public setbacks, including being ousted from Apple, yet turned failure into fuel for growth. Years later, he returned to lead the company to historic success. Even as he battled cancer, his determination never wavered. For Jobs, perseverance wasn’t just about working hard—it was about resilience, adaptability, and holding firm to one’s vision.
The Lesson
Steve Jobs’s story is a reminder that success is less about genius alone and more about the traits that sustain it. Inspiration, high standards, and perseverance—together, these qualities define great leaders. As Jobs himself taught, the journey isn’t easy, but staying the course can lead to extraordinary rewards.