Face Problems Head-on or Ignore Them Completely
They’re two extremes, but in Jobs’ mind, they’re the only ways to deal with issues that get in your way. By facing problems head-on, you’re able to adapt quickly and avoid spending time and effort on too much back-and-forth. On the other hand, inaction ultimately puts you in the position of power. It’s bullish, but it’s also an easy way to get things to go in your favor, especially if you’re the only one with the final say.
One story goes that Jobs wanted a mouse that could move in all directions. When the engineer told him it wasn’t possible, Jobs hired a new engineer for that role the next day. This positioned Jobs as a bully, yet he knew he had to be headstrong and push the envelope if Apple wanted to continue innovating. His polarized stance on problems ultimately helped Apple become the dominating force in the smartphone, tablet, and computer industries.