I read a chapter in a book about Jobs about him shopping for a washer. Apparently he drove everyone crazy because he hated all the designs, and kept talking about what a washer should be and how design changes could make them more efficient and easier to operate. IIRC, he wouldn’t buy any of them, and someone else finally bought one because they had to have one at the house. Been a while since I read it, but that was the gist. The book wasn’t particularly negative towards Jobs, but explored tendencies that I’ve noticed about his attention to detail.
I love the products, but I strongly suspect that in the world of ulcers, Jobs is a carrier. I couldn’t imagine living around someone that’s that much of a perfectionist.
I’ve had a theory for a while that most people who achieve great things would probably be diagnosed as having personality disorders. There’s something going on, like obsessive-compulsiveness or something that makes them want to shake things up in ways that most people wouldn’t do because it’s too much trouble.
You’ve studied him a lot more than me, your thoughts?
I think that anyone who can accomplish what Jobs has, has to be compelled beyond normal, obsessed with achieving his vision to the exclusion of all others, and I would never want to work with him... but would probably love the challenge if I did.