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Steve Jobs in 1983: 'We can look back and say, God, we were part of that, it's great'
🇦🇷 Argentina /Technology

Steve Jobs in 1983: 'We can look back and say, God, we were part of that, it's great'

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Steve Jobs spoke about the future of computing and technology's societal impact at a 1983 conference.
  • He emphasized Apple's strategy of hiring exceptional individuals and fostering a creative environment.
  • Jobs reflected on human existence as a collective inheritance and the desire to contribute back to it.

In 1983, at the International Design Conference in Aspen, a 28-year-old Steve Jobs articulated his vision for the future of computing, design, and technology's role in society. He spoke with pride about Apple's contributions to technological advancement, stating, "We can look back and say 'God, we were part of that,' it's great."

We can look back and say 'God, we were part of that,' it's great.

— Steve JobsExpressing pride in Apple's technological achievements.

Jobs detailed Apple's core strategy: hiring uniquely talented individuals who could outperform larger groups of "pretty good" people. He described these team members as "artists" who made the work enjoyable. "We bet the company, and the reason these people came to Apple was because they knew what to do. We told them: 'Come to Apple and build this,'" he recounted.

Reflecting on human existence, Jobs described it as a continuous process of receiving from others' advancements and efforts. He noted that most people don't create their own clothes, food, or language, but rather utilize a collective inheritance. This realization, he felt, sparked a genuine desire in creators to reciprocate.

We believe there are people who are so good that they can outperform five people who are 'pretty good'.

— Steve JobsExplaining Apple's hiring strategy.

"The ability to put something back into that well of human experience is something extremely gratifying," Jobs stated. He believed Apple offered a direct path to enrich this shared knowledge base. The team foresaw a decade of opportunity to solidify cultural and technical transformations, driven by the lasting impact of the tools they were building.

The reason these people came to Apple was because they knew what to do. We told them: 'Come to Apple and build this.'

— Steve JobsDescribing the recruitment of exceptional talent.

Jobs also discussed the advantage of starting projects with nothing, which allows for complete freedom in innovation. "When you start with nothing, you can always aim for the moon; you have nothing to lose," he explained. Conversely, he suggested that accumulating wealth through a brand's success could potentially harm its "creative spirit."

The ability to put something back into that well of human experience is something extremely gratifying.

— Steve JobsReflecting on the satisfaction of contributing to shared knowledge.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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