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Steve Jobs was a master of focus, and his philosophy on product development provides a powerful lesson for businesses and individuals alike. By examining Apple's future roadmap, Jobs realized the importance of cutting out distractions to channel resources toward what truly mattered. His strategy? Do fewer things but do them better.
Photo: cnbc.com
The 30-70 Rule
Jobs identified a crucial imbalance in Apple’s projects: only 30% of the future product ideas were outstanding, while 70% were either "pretty good" or simply unnecessary. Instead of spreading Apple’s resources thin across a wide range of projects, he chose to eliminate the less impactful ones. This allowed the team to direct the same or even greater effort into fewer, high-priority products.
Quality Over Quantity
This bold decision reflected Jobs’ belief that excellence isn’t about doing everything—it’s about excelling at the right things. By narrowing the focus, Apple could innovate and perfect the remaining projects, ensuring their impact on the market was unmatched. This mindset played a key role in creating revolutionary products like the iPhone and iPad.
Why Simplicity Wins
Jobs’ approach is a reminder that simplicity often leads to greatness. The decision to eliminate certain products may have seemed counterintuitive at the time, but it laid the groundwork for Apple’s iconic status. For example, cutting unnecessary projects freed resources to refine and redefine the iPod, transforming it into the gold standard of portable music players.
A Lesson for Businesses and Beyond
Jobs’ focus-first philosophy isn’t just for tech giants. Startups, creatives, and even individuals can benefit from regularly assessing their commitments and eliminating what doesn’t align with their goals. As Jobs himself proved, when you focus on what truly matters, you create space for exceptional work.
His legacy teaches us to simplify, concentrate, and ultimately thrive by choosing the right “horses to ride.” Whether it’s designing a product or pursuing personal goals, clarity of focus will always pay off.
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