Who is Art Levinson?
Well, if you enjoy using and playing with apps on your iPhone or iPad, he’s the guy who convinced jobs that externally developed mobile applications might be a good idea. If not for Levinson, your iPhone might look like this:
Walter Isaacson’s bio on Jobs reveals that Jobs, the master of all things Apple, originally resisted outside developed apps because of fears they would introduce viruses or hurt the iPhone’s functionality.
Isaacson quotes Levinson who recalls, “I called (Jobs) a half dozen times to lobby for the potential of the apps. I couldn’t imagine that we would create something as powerful as the iPhone and not empower developers to make lots of apps. I knew customers would love them.”
On behalf of iPhone developers everywhere, thank you, Art Levinson.
And thank you, Steve Jobs, for having strong people around you with the ability to influence Apple’s key decisions. When we think of Jobs, the image of a single-minded megalomaniac comes to mind – the guy who called all the shots.
And in fact, there are many businesses that run with a not-very-benevolent dictator on top of the flow chart who always knows better than anyone else. And those organizations often suffer because no one has all the answers or a patent on the ability to predict what will be successful 100% of the time. Despite his control-freak reputation, Jobs obviously had solid lieutenants, capable of making their case and changing his mind. It also reinforces the notion that Apple will most certainly be in good shape moving forward, following the sad loss their enigmatic leader.
If you’re a manager, owner, or CEO, do you have a strong #2 or a team of caring pros who can help steer your company or brand? Even Steve Jobs didn’t have all the answers. In spite of his brilliance and vision, he was supported by a team of pros, from Tim Cook to Levinson, who were able to influence his decision-making.
What about you?
Thanks to Ralph Cipolla for the inspiration for this post and the nifty iPhone graphic.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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