Leadership: a challenging lesson from Steve Jobs

Published: 2011-10-09 There are 8 comments ... please add yours below

You can lead for longer if you address the central deficit in your life

avoiding premature physical or mental decay

Steve Jobs will be revered for centuries. Warren Buffett, once gone, will perhaps be remembered for a while – mostly by his devoted fan club of investors. Bill Gates’ memory will endure a bit more because of his and Microsoft’s dominance of the PC environment in the late 20th century. However, the Mac, iPod, iPhone, iTunes/App stores and Pixar are likely to become permanent segments of the histories of not just technology but also of entertainment, consumer goods and much besides. I wrote recently asking what you want on your tombstone. This is a chance to revisit that but in a different way. Something provocative – but worth thinking about.

The New Age movement, like many fads, contained a lot of nonsense (much recycled from previous fads). But, it also produced (or reproduced) a few gems worth attention. One I found was a small book by Louise Hay titled “Heal your body”. Written 35 years ago, it was originally published as “What hurts”. The pages of my copy are dropping out. Why? Because the first thing I did when I read Steve Jobs died was to check what Hay says is the psychological driver behind pancreatic illness. On each page, in the left column, she lists problems (by body part or disease). In the next, their probable (psychological) cause. In the third, the new thought pattern the sufferer needs to adopt.

I first opened this book with scepticism. I am, after all, an engineer. However, I first checked the disease my father died from (nephritis) when I was young. Then illnesses either I or members of my family had suffered. My Doubting Thomas slowly had to step aside. So, what’s my point? It’s this.

We’re all going to die. But, sometimes people die earlier than necessary due to something eating at their mind in terms of their self-image or world view, which overtime may manifest as a physical illness that could possibly be avoided or reduced.

I know only the headlines of Steve Jobs’ business life but nothing of his personal life – and it’s none of my business. However, according to Hay, pancreatic problems suggest loss of “the sweetness of life” – citing “anger and frustration”, for example, due to “rejection”. Rubbish perhaps. But, he did lose a power struggle at Apple and was absent from the company for a decade (1985 to 1996).

For leaders, self-leadership is often the most difficult challenge. Being willing to look in the mirror – at what drives our default ways of operating. Learning how better to manage ourselves including both how we lead people and live our lives. By honing the best of our attributes and attitudes. But, amending or eradicating others. In some cases, just letting go of resentment. The core of what Hay has taught me is that any illness may be giving me a clue, a tap on the shoulder, which my mind is too proud to admit.

So, think about it: what’s eating away at you – possibly work frustration, financial stress or a family problem. Regardless of whether it could lead to illness, how is it damaging your effectiveness as a leader? What action do you need to take to restore sweetness to your life – and your leadership?

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" ... process is superb" Paul Sprokkreeff, CEO Web Profits Pty Ltd
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Dr. Timothy Pascoe AM
PhD (Cambridge), MBA (Harvard), BE & BEc (Adelaide)
Creator, V|E|C|T|O|R Leadership^®

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Comments (8)

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/10/12 06:59 am

An interesting additional piece of evidence.

Timothy

Paul Masi - date: 2011/10/12 06:57 am

Timothy,

I was fascinated by the link made by Louise Hay of an attitude to a specific illness. Note in this article Steve Jobs comment that temper tantrums is not the right word. I would get very, very frustrated though

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203633104576620972142056528.html?mod=WSJ_hp_us_mostpop_read

Regards,

Paul

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/10/10 11:23 am

Dear John,

Great point. And, one might add that good and bad luck can each play an unexpected part - uplifting or upsetting your plans and strategies!

That guy, Timothy Pascoe, sounds a bit worrying. He's now a lot older but, as this site attests, still enjoying himself.

Best,

Timothy

John Kitney - date: 2011/10/10 10:59 am

Accepting oneself and having the wisdom to know the difference between the things that one can change and those that cannot be changed gives a person a peace and harmony and a good end result. I first learnt that lesson from a young chief executive Timothy Pascoe in 1981.

We can all have goals and great strategies to achieve them but we must always be alert to other factors that are occurring at the same time which may impact on us. Some things we can change. Other things not. Being able to recognise the difference is key and then acceptance contributes to our personal harmony.

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/10/10 10:44 am

Dear Paul,

Thanks for your comment - and the reference.

There's an old saying that optimists aren't right more often than pessimists, they just lead happier lives. While that may be true, I tend to believe that your attitude becomes self-fulfiling. So, in matters of personal outcomes (rather than opinions on issues over which you have no control), then optimists may well get better results.

Best,

Timothy

Paul Masi - date: 2011/10/10 10:03 am

Timothy, the connection between "dis ease" and disease is well know in yogic philosphy. In modern science the placebo affect is well know but the "reverse" placebo can be equally strong and many studies have shown that a conscience level, belief can manifest itself in a physical reaction. It seems very logical to me that a sub conscience belief or "dis ease" can manifest into a physical condition.
A good book on why sweetness in life is crucial to performance is "The happiness advantage" by Shawn Achor. He is a harvard Pysc and links a lot of research to his assertion. I recommend this book to you and your readers.
Regarding Steve Jobs and his illness it is intersting that he was adopted. Rejection very early in life????
Thank you for your weekly comments, they are excellent.

regards

paul

Timothy Pascoe - date: 2011/10/10 09:33 am

Dear Peter,

Many thanks for your link. I agree, the 2005 Stanford speech is amazing. I forwarded copies to my children and others. But, perhaps, even more important for those like me, who are old. A reminder to never give up on what you believe in and what you have to offer.

I love the title of your composition: Mars warming. A synthesis of the coldness of space with the heat of affection.

Timothy

Peter Cook - date: 2011/10/10 09:26 am

Timothy - another thoughtful post - even in adversity, there is room for sweetness. Here is my personal review of Steve Job's Innovation contribution http://humandynamics.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/rock%E2%80%99n%E2%80%99roll-innovators-%E2%80%93-steve-jobs-1955-2011/

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