A635.5.3.RB - Video Debrief of Team MA

For this task, I was asked to watch the video of Steve Jobs brainstorming with his NeXT team. After watching the video and reviewing my Management Assessment results I believe I would fit well within the culture of the NeXT startup team. I am goal-oriented and have the desire to change the world much like Steve Jobs and the NeXT team members.

Steve Jobs and NeXT team were determined to get their new product launched within 18 months. They set their goal and were highly motivated by the challenge and desire to reach that goal. Throughout the video you can sense of passion and commitment throughout the team. In fact, the narrator mentions that some of the members had left Apple to follow Jobs in this new venture because they really care about higher educational process and making a difference in the way the learning experience happens (2012). Their goal was to transform the learning process. Similarly, my Management Analysis profile showed that I am highly motivated by challenges and have a strong desire to meet and exceed my goals. For example, throughout high school and college I set out to learn as much as I could and achieve good grades. I have many awards and accolades proving that I have very much exceeded that goal. Also, when coming into the Air Force I was told repeatedly that I 'was not good enough' and was even medically disqualified twice before joining. However, I did not let the stop me. I fought and overcame. This internal drive carried on throughout my career as my first duty station I was assigned as the first and only female in a aircraft maintenance section and male-dominated career field. I was told 'you can't do it', which just motivated even more to prove others wrong and overcome the challenges. Jobs was so passionate about his vision that he committed $7M of own money to overcome the limited budget and achieve his goal (2012).

While Steve Jobs was a builder and motivator, he was also focused (2012). I believe that was pivotal to his success. In fact, Jobs states that you must have a keeper and reiterator of the vision. He goes on to say he believes his team was concentrating on too much smaller battles – not focusing on war, the “big picture” called survival (Jobs, 2012). The video states that he would continuously focus the lens of his vision on his priorities (2012). This continued focus would keep the NeXT teams' feet on the ground and motivated while achieving their ambitious goals.

When people know they make a difference, they find it easier to be motivated and satisfied with their job" (Stark, 2018). Steve Jobs made a difference, he was a true leader. People confuse power, fame and wealth with leadership ability. Authentic leaders are looking to make a difference. Once we shift our thinking and understand what a true leader is, we will see that they are all around us making differences every day. I would like to think that I am making a difference. Although I am goal-oriented at work and home, I am also motivated to solve problems and create change. Steve Jobs and his NeXT team planted the seeds of a new corporate culture that was built from the heart and it all started with just an idea (2012). This video renewed my desire to make a difference while reminding me that it is possible to change the world. "That’s an incredible feeling; that you can plant something in the world and it will grow and change the world" (Jobs, 2012).

Brown, D. R. (2011). An Experimental Approach to Organizational Development (8 ed.). Upper Saddle River, Pearson Education, Inc.
Stark, P. B. (2018, June 14). 6 Reasons to Involve Employees in Decision Making. Retrieved from https://peterstark.com/key-to-engagement/#Steve Jobs Brainstorms with NeXT Team. (2012, January 19). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loQhufxiorM