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Randy Wigginton, Apple's 6th employee, recalls the time he worked up to 100 hours a week developing software for the Macintosh, alongside Steve Wozniak and other pioneers.
When Apple it was just beginning, Randy Wigginton, Apple's 6th employee, experienced a routine that few could endure. Working tirelessly, clocking 100 hours a week, he directly contributed to the development of the Macintosh, especially with the creation of iconic applications such as MacWrite and Full Impact.
This period of Wigginton's life was a true rollercoaster, marked by missed opportunities, exhausting journeys and proximity to visionaries who shaped the future of technology.
Key role in Apple's early years
Randy Wigginton, a name that doesn't appear so much Like Steve Jobs or Steve Wozniak, he played a fundamental role in Apple's early years. As Apple's 6th employee, he was in the eye of the storm, actively participating in the development of the Macintosh, one of the company's most ambitious projects. According to him, the routine was intense, and the work culture at that time was unforgiving. Wigginton and his colleagues worked between 90 and 100 hours a week in a superhuman effort to complete tasks before launches. “Yes and no” was his answer when asked about the insane workload, explaining that the hours also included short breaks for meals.
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The price of being a pioneer
In addition to the surreal workload, Apple's 6th employee saw up close how the company's initial share capital was distributed and how some opportunities were lost due to decisions made prematurely. Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Mike Markkula each owned 33,33% of the company. Wozniak began selling his shares to investors before the company went public in 1980. Ron Wayne, co-founder of Apple, sold his 10% for just US$2.300 twelve days after the company's listing, an amount that would have made Wayne a millionaire if he had waited.
Wigginton defends Wayne, stating that, at that time, no one really knew that Apple would achieve the resounding success it did, except perhaps Mike Markkula, the true visionary who injected $250 into the company and became Apple's second CEO.
Working with Wozniak
Wigginton's relationship with Steve Wozniak, whom he considers his mentor and best friend, was one of the highlights of his career. Wozniak, he said, was the most intelligent and creative person he ever knew, a playful genius who loved to play pranks. Working with Woz was a mix of technical learning and moments of relaxation, something that Wigginton values to this day. They collaborated closely on the circuit design and ROM software for the Apple II, one of the products that paved the way for the Macintosh's success.
Paypal, Ebay, Google and Square
After four intense years at Apple, Wigginton continued his career at other technology giants. He worked at Paypal, Ebay, Google and Square, before settling at Block, a small financial services company in Oakland, California, where he currently works. Wigginton's journey as Apple's 6th employee shows not only the resilience needed to survive the rollercoaster of a startup in its early years, but also the importance of being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. And, of course, with a lot of dedication.
This is the story of Apple's 6th employee, Randy Wigginton, one of the pioneers who helped shape the Macintosh and, consequently, the future of personal computing, even at the cost of exhausting journeys and a life of sacrifice.
