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Why Apple Fired Steve Jobs (And Why It Made Him Unstoppable)
Episode 38 • 17th April 2025 • The Mammoth in the Room • Nicolas Pokorny, PhD, MBA
00:00:00 00:09:17

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As leaders, we're fascinated by Steve Jobs' legendary impact, but what really made him one of history's most iconic business figures? In today’s episode, we explore the depths of Jobs' leadership genius and flaws to reveal the evolutionary psychology behind his extraordinary yet controversial success.



From his theatrical product launches to his infamous fish tank demonstration, we examine why Jobs' leadership style worked—and where it went terribly wrong. You'll discover why vision without execution fails, how demanding excellence can either inspire or destroy, and why simplicity is the ultimate sophistication in business.



Don't let your leadership potential go unrealized. Tune in now and learn three lessons from Jobs' career that you can implement immediately. And if you want to dive deeper, grab my book, The Mammoth in the Room, for a practical roadmap on how great leaders embrace evolutionary truths for outstanding business results.



In this episode:

- Introduction to Steve Jobs' leadership style

- The visionary leader: Jobs' bold dreams and downfall

- The cost of excellence: Fear vs. inspiration

- Brand innovation: Execution over ideas

- Leadership lessons from Steve Jobs



Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Isaacson, Walter. Steve Jobs. Simon & Schuster, 2011: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Steve-Jobs/Walter-Isaacson/9781982176860


Gallo, Carmine. The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs. McGraw-Hill Education, 2010: https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9780071748759


Gallo, Carmine. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs. McGraw-Hill Education, 2009: https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9780071636087


Isaacson, Walter. Steve Jobs. Simon & Schuster, 2011: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Steve-Jobs/Walter-Isaacson/9781982176860


Hogan, R., & Kaiser, R. B. (2005). What we know about Leadership. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 169-180: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232604395_What_We_Know_About_Leadership


Vugt, M. van, & Ronay, R. (2014). The evolutionary psychology of leadership: Theory, review, and roadmap. Organizational Psychology Review, 4(1), 74-95: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274471020_The_evolutionary_psychology_of_leadership_Theory_review_and_roadmap



Get in Touch: 

Website: https://www.mammothleadershipsciences.com    

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaspokorny 

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MammothLeadershipSciences

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