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Steve Jobs didn’t accept excuses and was known for his unpredictable reactions. When his secretary arrived late because her car broke down, he could have fired her on the spot – but he did exactly the opposite. That same day, he handed over the keys to a brand new Jaguar and said, “Here, don’t ever be late again.” A gesture that proves that with Jobs, anything could happen.
If there was one thing Steve Jobs couldn't stand, it was lame excuses. He was the type of guy who demanded the maximum and wanted his team to perform at the highest level. It didn't matter if the reason for the delay was a broken car or an apocalypse, the expectation was that employees would find a way to fix it.
At Apple, everything revolved around excellence. Jobs was not your average boss who would take “I didn’t have time” or “my car broke down” for an answer. Wasn’t it your problem? Then fix it. And quickly. But on this occasion, he did something no one expected.
The day a secretary got a new car
It was a normal day at Apple, until Steve Jobs' secretary arrived late. The reason? Her car decided not to cooperate and simply wouldn't start. Now, imagine how nervous she was when she walked into the office and had to explain this to a boss who had fired people for much less.
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Jobs listened to her explanation, looked at her, and without saying anything, went back to work. His secretary must have breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had gotten away with it this time. But a few hours later, he reappears, throws a bunch of keys on the desk, and says:
“Here, never be late again.”
It was a brand new Jaguar.
Anyone who was there watching the scene was shocked. Jobs could very well have done what everyone expected and fired the secretary on the spot. But instead, he nippled the problem at its root. Now, with a luxury car, there was no reason to be late anymore.
Steve Jobs' Motivation Method
Working for Steve Jobs was a unique – and intense – experience. The guy could either put you against the wall and make you question your own existence or he could give you a luxury car out of the blue. It all depended on the moment and what he thought would make you perform better.
This episode of Jaguar makes his leadership style clear: there were no half measures. He demanded total dedication and, when he thought someone was worth it, he made sure nothing got in their way. It was his – somewhat radical – way of keeping the team focused.
Was it motivation? Yes. But it was also a way of showing that, at Apple, everything had to run perfectly. If something got in the way, he simply resolved it in the most direct way possible.
This shows how poor he was. His secretary didn't earn enough to buy a new car.
Maybe she had her priorities wrong.
Minimum wage, the effort will also be minimal. 🤣🤣