REFLECTION (PIRATES OF THE SILICON VALLEY)

1.) What are the factors that contributed to the success and failure of Steve Jobs as a Technoprenuer?

As I can see in the movie, Steve Jobs is very determined to succeed in any way he can. He never lets his eyes out of the trophy. He has this great drive on pursuing what he wanted. He even went on establishment up to another establishment to sell computers. He never cares of what other people might think about him, as long as his following his own path. His motivations were great that he gets whatever he wants using his charms.
We all know that from the movie Pirates of the Silicon Valley that Steve Jobs was one of the founders of Apple Inc. He was one of the successful men in his generation and proved to everyone that anything is possible when you really want to be successful. Of course there were factors that contribute to Steve Jobs’ success and to his failure. Let us start with those factors that contribute to his success. For me, failure is when you’re not happy with something, you’re not satisfied, condition or a fact of not achieving the desired end or ends. Failing is normal. You won’t feel the success if you didn’t get the taste of failing a million times. First, Steve Jobs has a dream, a dream of having an own computer company in the future and not just an ordinary computer company but the most famous computer company in the future. Secondly, Steve Jobs is smart, he knows what he is doing and he is always confident enough that he is doing the right thing. He has all the knowledge on the things that he wants to do and he wants to achieve.  It is still a common factor on the failure of some famous personalities. They tend to forget where they came from, how they started and to pay credits to people who helped him become famous. It became a huge boom to Steve Jobs life that he even lost the person who created the thing that he is selling. One great lesson is to look back. With all those little resources they have he always finds a way so that they can finish what they have started. Another good point of Steve Jobs was he never gave up and he was brave. Yes, if you are going to be a technopreneur you should be brave enough to face head-on some challenges. These challenges might be the reason for you to give up but for Steve Jobs he only saw it as a challenge to overcome for him to reach his dream. Indeed after facing these challenges there he is at the top. He became well known to everyone and everyone wanted to be around him. As for his issues with his colleagues and co-workers, he did not mind them. Instead, he continued to push through the information and communication technology industry and yes, he became successful. Ideally, Steve Jobs is a good role model when it comes to his good points. It is because he possesses the ideal qualities that a technopreneur must have. In reality, Steve Jobs was brave and he did not have any second thoughts. He only pursued for excellence and becoming part of the technological revolution. Steve Jobs was not afraid to fail or something, he always looked ahead without looking back. If he was to fail at something, he did not let his self be depressed about it. Instead, he never gave up and faced it again. He used his failures as an experience and learned from them so that he could create a new innovation and tried again.Next is that Steve Jobs knows how to find a way on getting other resources. He meets with other people that he thinks that can help them in their product and take note Steve Jobs is not fun of dressing up properly. Steve Jobs wants to be the employer not the employee. This is one of the important mindset a techno-preneur should possess. One should forget the “I go to school to get a good job” mindset and change it to “I go to school and make my own company, then give jobs to the unemployed”. There is a big difference between the two. Steve Jobs carries that mindset. He created a company and hired people to work for the company. He controls everything. Unlike the other people who want to have a very good first impression to their client by wearing a formal attire, Steve Jobs dress like he is just meeting up with his friends but eventually at the end of the day he can make the client convince to invest in their product because he is good in talking to other people and convincing them that their product is very good which was true. This Steve Jobs here got lots of crazy ideas in his mind. But out of those crazy ideas, he was able to put up Apple. Would you believe it? What amazes me is how he never runs out of ideas. He thinks fast and anything just pops out into his mind. He is really smart in a way that anything falls into his will. He is not into programming or any mathematical nerdy stuff, but he is more successful that the ones who programmed hiss computers. He even thought of pirating the “windows concept” of the Xerox Company.  They also joined some computer fare so that he can exposed more their product and eventually from that day they started to build their very first Apple Inc. building and promised to Steve Jobs himself that he will bring the IBM down. But with all those success that he was experiencing at that time he did not realize that he is slowly building factors that will contribute to his failure.  There is this certain scene in the movie that I cared a lot the most. This was Steve Jobs had a baby with his girlfriend, but he refused to accept the child. He doubted if the child was really his own. He abandoned his girlfriend but returned when the baby was born. Although he didn’t accept the baby, he was the still the one who gave the name which was Lisa. After that he named one of their computers Lisa. The thing that confuses me is that why does he bothers to give the baby a name when he didn’t even accepted her as his own blood.
The other thing is that he doesn’t want any help with any companies; he wants to do it on his own, to succeed alone. He wanted to raise Apple without linking it other big companies. One thing that makes him fail is that he sees everyone as a threat, although we should be vigilant, but not look at others as enemies. Even the ones who wanted to help him.
Having a high pride is also one of the factors why there are people who are in a chaotic situation at this very moment. But after, he still ended up having business with Bill Gates whom he had had a little misunderstanding with. First factor that contribute to his failure is that he became rude to his employees and even to his friends. He became impatient; when his employees of programmer made a small mistake he scolds them as if his employees are robot and was made and brought to this world as a perfect person. As Steve Jobs’ Apple Company grew bigger, he wasn’t able to administer his people. Even some are stabbing him at the back without him noticing. It is very common in a person especially when he/she is in the heights of his/her career, they will forget everything. They become numb of what’s happening underneath them and deaf of what the world is telling them. Next is that he became greedy, whenever he knows that some company is releasing a new product and can make Steve Jobs’ product more popular and in demand he will try to steal those product to that company and make it as if they made those product and not recognizing where they got those ideas. I thought that Steve Jobs was a man who was a self-centered man who only thinks for his self but in his commencement address I learned more about Steve Jobs life and dedication in life in more of his being just the way he is, doing what he love. I always thought that the apple’s CEO was a man who always thought of his every move, the one who cleverly thinks of his decision every time he makes things that only he can thought of. But in this commencement address he made me think of a different Steve Jobs.Then Karma strikes back to Steve Jobs, he got fired from his own company by the people whom he called his friends and eventually got betrayed by Bill Gates who also stole their program and made Microsoft. Not all human beings have the charms, but as I observed in the movie, Steve Jobs got loads of charms. And he was able to use these charms in a productive way. Alongside with his charms, he is a smart-talker too. He can change your mind in just a number of words. It is like he could hypnotize other people. He can sell a computer in just one-seating and then it’s sold. Actually, having charisma is not a primary requirement on succeeding, but it would be an advantage if you have it. 

2.) How do you see yourself as a Technopreneur?

I could say that I will be just the same as any other technopreneur, living a normal life and worry less. After watching the movie I was able to reflect on what kind of technopreneur I would be. Am I aggressive, or just love to blend in? Since I am still a beginner, I do not know how the technopreneur world revolves. Although I have friends who are technopreneurs, it is still a question to me on how they make money out of they work which is IT-related.
Actually I don’t see myself as the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates someday. I don’t have this attitude of being creative and having a passion for business. Yes I love making programs but I think I can’t do some complicated programs by myself. I am not that type of person who has a great knowledge on a certain things but I know inside me that I can learn easily if I am just willing to do so. I easily give up on the things that I do. When I think that I can’t do it anymore I just quit. I think when you are a businessman or you are still starting out on your business you should be patient enough in doing the things that you want to achieve and be patient enough to convince other people to trust their product. Being a technopreneur also means that having a creative idea. I can think creatively but not to the extent that I can think of those awesome products and unique products that what other people needs now. I can create but I can’t create uniquely, I just copies ideas from other people and eventual do my best to make that piece of art be more beautiful than the one I copied and call the attention of other people that my project is better than the others. But I think that is also business from what I have learned from Steve Jobs in the movie. Also I don’t have the passion for business; even in our own family we do not have any business that can build a little business passion inside me.
Steve Jobs is a great man. However, there are still things that he lacks. These things that he lack is what Bill Gates has; I am not saying that Bill Gates is greater than Steve Jobs. But this is the sad reality Steve Jobs never opened his doors to cooperating with other people. He finds it hard to trust someone. He tends to buy everything out so that he can ensure that he is the person who owns it.Then as a technopreneur, I don’t think that I’ll be able to do a product that will be helpful or even known to others. I have a passion of being an Information Technology student and I love being an IT student, I love it and get excited when I make my own applications and learn new things about my course, but there is a big hindrance that will not make me a successful technopreneur or even just a simple technopreneur someday. That is being smart enough in the things that I am doing and knowledgeable enough in the things that will make a product successful or known. Yes I can copy other’s work but I am not confident enough that everyone will love my work and besides it is not an application or program that I can copy better but a simple projects not related to IT. But this subject made me realize that anyone can be a successful technopreneur. Maybe not like as successful as Steve Jobs or Bill Gates but little by little when I can start to have this willingness inside me that I will start my own business alone or even with the help of my own circle of friends maybe just me I or we will be successful in the career that we choose just by being an employee but an employer and with the help of the Almighty God we will be successful if we start our own business. To start off, I would first define what technopreneurship is. Technopreneurship came from the words “technology” and “entrepreneurship”. When we talk about “technology”, obviously it’s all about the latest gadgets, electronics and stuff. “Entrepreneurship” is business. Generally, it is the business involving technology. So “technopreneur” is a person that is doing business using technology. When I hear the word “technopreneur”, I keep asking myself if I could consider myself as one. If we break down all Steve Jobs’ characteristics as a technopreneur, I do not think I could fit in. First is being charismatic, in selling, you should be good-mouthed, often use flowery words to encourage the consumers to buy. I don’t think I have charisma. I am not good at talking or creating good conversation. I am not charming in a way that people would buy everything that I offer. Some friends even told me that I many people are scared of me because I look tough and a snob. I hate flowery words and I go straight to the point. Next is self confidence, again in business, having self confidence is must. You must be able to convince the consumers that you are reliable and not just blabbering. Now to talk about self confidence, that is also one of my weaknesses. I am really shy. I have low self-esteem and I easily get discouraged when I see works that are way better than mine. It is kind of an immature attitude but it is really hard especially now that starting to widen my mind on what the real world truly is. Next thing is the ability to manage and lead, since in you make your own business or company in technopreneurship, you should have a good management and leadership skills to be able to run your business properly. And again, I am not good at managing or administering. I have been to a lot of leadership trainings and I have been a leader before but it is different. This is the real thing. Like in a certain part of my life like my time as I may say. I find it hard to follow any daily plan because I easily get distracted, I easily get tired and then I tend to ruin my schedule. I don’t know why. But I am really trying my best in becoming an organized person, especially now that we are in 3rd year college, projects
Next is skills, if we talk about business, the first thing that pops out into my mind is selling; the first question that pops out into my mind is “what am I going to sell?” I do not have anything to offer to any consumers. I have some of my friends as graphic designers, web designers, bloggers and article writers. They earn money and I mean dollars just sitting and staring like hell on the computer. They have great minds, they are smart and open-minded, but me? I don’t think so. Although I am into photo editing, I don’t think that is enough. Like, I still need to dig deeper.I pity Steve Jobs because his own asset caused his downfall. But, who cares the man is still rich right? But let us look into another different perspective; Steve Job’s asset was his brilliance. After watching the movie, I noticed that Steve Jobs was really a smart man. He was fit to be a technopreneur. At first, I also noticed that he was not the type that would settle for what he has got. Actually in the movie, he had a bit of difficulty starting up his company but this never gave him the reason to give up. He even pushed himself to become one of the best. This is one of Steve Jobs greatest asset his brilliance. Steve Jobs’ brilliance was one of kind because he made the biggest contribution in the information and communication technology industry. Alongside with patience is perseverance, as what I have stated above, you do not just wait, but you also make your move. Although I am impatient, I am by the way persevered in way that I am really willing to learn and enhance the things I that capable of doing as of now. Like when I have vacant time, I look for tutorials that really help me in improving my graphic-designing skills (it’s what they say). I also do blogging, to be able publish sensible posts, I read on how to create productive articles and especially study about grammars and widen my vocabulary. It really important since people around the world might be able to read what you wrote and could get something out of it. I don’t think that I’ll be able to do a product that will be helpful or even known to others. I have a passion of being an Information Technology student and I love being an IT student, I love it and get excited when I make my own applications and learn new things about my course, but there is a big hindrance that will not make me a successful technopreneur or even just a simple technopreneur someday. I hope to be a successful technopreneur someday.

3.) Would you take the same career path as Steve Jobs took? Why or Why not?

Of course yes, Steve Jobs is a very successful man in his generation and everyone envies him in his success. There is no reason that you will not follow his footsteps as one of the very successful business man. Smart, very knowledgeable, patient, resourceful and very determine to pursue his dreams. But of course, following Steve Jobs’ career path does not mean following his attitude also. The attitude that made him failed in his own business and betrayed by his own friends. Like Steve Jobs, as much as possible I want to change how people live their lives and not only to those people around me but for the whole world. Very ambitious to hear but this is how Steve Jobs live and thinks about his future while achieving his dreams and future plans in life little by little. But as what I have learned from Steve Jobs experience trust people but never give them your full trust or else they will just betrayed you and out-smart you in the future. Trust you friends who were there from the start and not those people who were there when you have all the fame and money because they will just deceive you and betray you when they will know your weakness. Steve Jobs is smart but he never learned that this is not only the key for being successful all throughout the years he will be living in this world. I want to follow Steve Jobs’ career path but never follow his failure. Being wise all the time is a great help. In business, there is no spot for idiocy; technoprenuers should be very wise and smart enough not to be fooled by any other person. Like what I saw in Steve Jobs, although he is not a logic-brained human, he was able to sell his products well, and look at him now. As for myself, I should be vigilant. I should have a wide range of awareness in the techno world. Ignorance is a big no no. It is not necessary that you have all the latest gadgets and electronic stuffs, but at least you have a background of it. I will be persevered. Having brains and great skills are not going to be enough if you do not work for it. We Filipinos are popular because of our great perseverance. We are known to other countries as to be hard working and well disciplined. I should practice and practice to create great graphics and be able to sell it; I could construct great programs for big companies and then I would be very contented with my works. I will not say that I am perfect but as what I can see and learn from the movie Pirates of Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs got over confident in his achievements and never learned to stay his feet on the ground. As a student now, I will slowly develop my skills and try to unleash all the possible factors that can contribute to my success in the future. Learn to be humble and to give importance to other people especially to your friends. Learn to think outside the box and start to trust your ideas and think positive. At this state of my life I will start by just plainly learn by my own, as what our teacher told us, we will never learn from our teachers in school but we will learn if we will just give an effort on the things that we want to learn. Learn from others and absorb the things that you think what is right and of course do not forget to be open-minded. Next is keeping a positive outlook in life. Since business world is very chaotic, tons of competitions scattered everywhere and because people nowadays are desperate on making money, it is really difficult now for new technopreneurs in starting their own business. Big technopreneurs are taking advantage of them. So we newbies should be wise and vigilant on what is going on around us. As for me, I will put aside all the worries and try to live a positive life. With this kind of attitude, everything would be easy for me, no pressure and worries, and no STRESS. I am not going to think about negative things because they are going to help me, it just going to pull me down. Instead, I will think of the things that inspire me, I will think of positive things and try to live happily. In return, my clients will feel light too and I could make good business out of it.Learn to fight and defend what you think is right and never regret any decisions you made. Be confident enough to show the world that you deserve to known by who you are and become a treat to other companies because of your knowledge and skills and not because you can steal their programs. Yes Steve Jobs is right great artist copies but sometime karma is just around the corner and I do not want my career of success will be a failure one because I cheated on the things that I worked hard from the start. I will keep an open mind for new ideas to come; for new improvements to be applied on what I have right now. These improvements are very important in ever aspects of life, especially in our career as a technopreneur, where as we have said involves technology, and technology evolves so fast that we find it hard to catch up. So as fir me, keeping my mind open for ideas and great thoughts and is must in running my own career. Just like Steve Jobs, he is always thinking about what else he can add up to his products to sell more. We cannot judge the greatness of a person by his success stories; we cannot also judge the foolishness of a person by his downfalls. In my own opinion, Steve Jobs just see things differently from each of us. He is the ideal technopreneur; it is just that he just lacks the heart to take care his workers. He did not realize until then he was driving his worker crazy because of his demands. Despite that, his success is nothing if he did not experience a failure in his journey to become the best. Maybe Steve Jobs took a different approach so that he is assured that he is one of the best. In my own opinion, Steve Jobs used his failures as a stepping stone and turn it into success. Steve Jobs is really an admirable person. If one is aiming to become a technopreneur like Steve Jobs, then he should possess some positive factors that Jobs has. Being a technopreneur means that you should not give up on your first failure, let us set Steve Jobs as an example, he never gave up even if he has encountered some problems and failures. If we analyze the journey of Steve Jobs on his way to success, we will see that not all of his experiences and decisions are on the positive side. There are both positive and negative things that contributed to his success. I was able to know those factors because of watching the movie. I have learned a lot from Steve Jobs, especially, he showed us different kinds of attitude or outlook that we have to possess when we are engaging in the technopreneurship world; the way he deals with the every uncertain encounter in his life and how he handles and manages his growing business. So if I am going to be asked of I would take Steve Jobs’ path, I would preferably say no. Why? Simple, I want to have my own experiences and I want to decide on my own without being influenced by other people. I want to see how I am going to deal with my own problems, uncertainties and sudden sacrifices. My parents are really working so hard for me to finish college and I do not want to waste them away because of desperation on being the same as Steve Jobs. I want to earn a degree and see on what I can do from it. I know it is really risky, but I feel like I am going to miss half of my life if I would not do it. Although I am not going to follow Jobs, I will still set him as someone to look up to, someone that whenever I think about him, it would give me the courage to fight, go on with everything and succeed. I will get something from what I see from him and try to apply it in my own life. First is to be determined in every way. Like no matter what the world throws upon me, I will never ever take my eyes away from the prize. I would think of something that would really make me strive harder and would motivate me to do great and succeed. Having this attitude is very important, especially that I am now dealing with the real thing. No more games and childish thoughts. Like in school, every student should have determination on getting high grades and graduate on time. Although having cool brains and skills are an advantage, having a bit of determination would really lift you up among the average ones.