My reflection on the film, Pirates of the Silicon VAlley

-----These are my answers in the given questions:-----

1.] What are the factors that contributed to the success and failure of Steve Jobs as a technopreneur?

2. ] How do you see yourself as a technopreneur?

3. ] Would you take the same career path that Steve Jobs took? Why or why not?

For no. 1.....

Pirates of the Silicon Valley, from the book of Fire in the Valley, was a film that showed how hardworking and determined people turned to be remarkable and true to be giants in the community even in the whole world. This film wanted to share things to everyone on how to compete with the right competitors in the field of business and how to handle the challenges and problems that anyone will be facing as a person and an entrepreneur/technoprenuer.

Indeed, the said film was made to bring out the real story behind the failure and success of the two of the most prominent people in the technology and in business world --- Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Here we’ve seen hoe Bill Gates got his power, from being a typical student of the Harvard University and as he quits in his schooling till he become the wealthiest man in the world that time. We’ve discovered how Steve Jobs carried his roller coaster life, from being a poetic, artist and serious type of person, until he became one of the founder and president of one of the biggest IT Company, the Apple Company.

In my observation, the film deeply touched the life story of Steve Jobs. It made me realize that before achieving one’s goal and desires in life, you should first know yourself hat well. This will help you to be aware of the factors that will contribute to your success and failures. Like Jobs, who taste the sweetness and bitterness of life as he deals with the people around him, his business/company, and even dealing with his own self --- his attitudes.

First, let us point out the reason of his success. It cannot be denied that Steve Jobs is really a determined person. He seemed to be very serious when it comes to achieving his plans. He wanted to finish all his works as soon as possible even there were disturbances. Because of this, it showed that his also disciplined type and goal-oriented one. He is also very hardworking man. Like when they were starting to build their business with Steve Wozniak. He never quit doing their computer even it is just manually built-in their small office in the garage of their house. He showed enthusiasm in his work which helped him in governing his people in his company. He is demonstrated initiative on where and how he will get their funds. Jobs is a risk taker type. He knows when to take risks for his business and life. He would risk his personal likes just to make sure he could achieve his goals. He knows when to take risks for his business and life. He risks his personal likes just to make sure that he could achieve his goals like shaving his beard and leaving his girlfriend. He was also committed to his work that he would do anything just to prove that he is deserving of the recognitions and acknowledgements for his efforts in his business. He was very confident in his works and he did not lose hope like when they had their 1^st computer exhibit which opens the door of success for him. He sees the future that if he had a good start with his decisions, it will have a good result in the future. He also has his high standards in business as well as in choosing the people who will work for him because he valued trust, loyalty, and true effort that much. And because he had set standards, he gave strong and wise strategy and innovated good ideas in inventing computers that would fit for the need of their customers. He was so good in doing business talks that he catches the attention of his audience, he got the “yes” of John Sculley, a cola company president to be part of his business and he got the agreement between him and the Xerox Company. Steve Jobs also believed in the saying “Good artists copy, Great artists steal” and he did it in a well manner.

Even though Jobs is a business minded person, he still had negative characteristics that contributed to the failure of his career. For instance, he very determined to reach his goals even to the point of stepping others dignity. He didn’t care of what will happen to anyone just to be sure that his business would not be disturbed. Just when he abandoned his girlfriend as she got pregnant. He denied that he was the father of the child for he doesn’t want to be disturbed. He believed that there is no family to be called at all as he was been abandoned by his real parents too. He doesn’t know how to show love for the people around him. He was too strict in handling his employees. He was too abusive in them that he wanted them to work like 24 hours a day. He was so inconsiderate that he doesn’t want to see and discover any imperfections in the work of his people. He doesn’t know how to handle, love, and appreciates his workers which resulted of the quarrels of his own men in the company. Just like what happened in the beach as he introduced the Macintosh personal computer. These things happened for the fact that Jobs is a very ill tempered type of person and he gets irritable that fast. It also caused him to say negative and really bad words that hurt people. Like the poor applicant who got busted by his words when this guy applied in his company.

Indeed, these factors, positive and negative attitude that were been showed by Steve Jobs really contributed to his success and failures. Definitely, being business minded, open minded, goal oriented and hardworking were the best things to be inspired of. But, an individual should learn to show his love, passion, care, and appreciations to his people, friends, and family to continue the sweetness of the success of one’s career.

For No. 2.....

This film that I’ve seen is totally an inspiring one which made and helped me realize the dos and don’ts in dealing with life and business challenges. It gave me ideas on how to be successful in business. I was inspired and touched as I discovered the roller coaster life of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. It just proved me that there are many things, characteristics and consequences that need to be considered when you decided to build your own business. It’s because business is part of your life that should be well cared and acknowledged. With the help of this film, I was enlightened about what I want in the future and on how o handle if given a chance and opportunity. Because, spiritually speaking, God is the only one who plans and gives the right direction in your life. But as I’ve said, if I will be an entrepreneur/technopreneur someday, I should know my self first and foremost.

As I see myself as a technopreneur, I can say that I will be a well organize person. It is to be reflected to what I presently do that I want to keep things in tact and in plan as possible as it could. I think it will really help me in pursuing he things that I had been decided. I will be determined enough to reach my goals and in achieving the profit I want to gain. Because business is a very difficult game in life, I will make sure that I will have strong and consistent strategies especially when troubles come. I am willing to seek help from the trusted people around me -- my workers, family and friends who will surely contribute to the success of any strategy made. I know that being strict in duties will be a great help for me, but I am assuring everyone that I will be considerate in things that need to be acknowledged, faults that been made if there are, and in people who are the responsible of any thing that might destruct my business. I will see to it that any damaged made must be taken cared well so that lapses can be avoided. I am known as a frank/vocal type of person and I will definitely use this attitude in my people because I believe hat you can correct things when you say things directly. But of course, I know my limitations and boundaries so I will point things objectively.

I am a listener and it will help my employees to be heard fair and just. I am willing to get suggestions from them for us to be united in my company. I will be friendly to them and I will express my appreciations to the right things they did, show my love and trust to them so that I will be respected and also be loved by the people I work with. In this term, I can gain loyalty and happy people in my surroundings. It will help us to be alive and cheerful as we face the stressful days of work. I will establish leadership but I will let them know who the real boss of the company is. For instance, I will assign the right things to them, let them work on it then at the end of the day, I will still be the one who will decide and approve what thing should be implemented. I am fund of doing things into details so in business term, I will be hands-on and specific on the things that are happening in my company. Based on an idiomatic expression, I will have a bird’s eye view in my company wherein all the moves are well plan, control, and are in proper places. I will set standards in choosing which worker has the right capability, ability and potentials to be leaders too so that I gain, and they gain too.

Of course it is not easy o do all these plans and thoughts of mine, but to have a business mind I know I can achieve my goals. I believe I am a hard working type and once inspired and completely stable in mind, emotion, financial and spiritual, I can conquer my problems and fears that a technopreneur has. Because I admit that I am not really into risk taking decision especially when someone has to be hurt by that risk. And due to it, I feel slightly scared to try risking and somehow failing. But I know sooner or later I will have to take away that fear for the betterment of my business. Being persistent in things and principles that should be fought, I can cope with my doubts and uncertainties. I am also sure that once I’m into business, I will be committed to it and reliable enough that will show my integrity.

Seeking help, guidance, and grace from God above is the thing that I will never ever forget to do. It’s because He is the one who gives light to everyone. He gives hope and teaches me for the right things to do and the path I should choose. I know He will be with me if I will be in the business and technology world.

So if given a chance, I want to establish business in line with the technology which enhance the communication of people. I also want to design and give solution on problems in sites. I also want to establish IT Company in my hometown that will base to there needs and problems which will also assures them their betterment. I will make sure that my business will be an inspiring business that will make people participate and building their own business too.

For NO. 3....

It’s really amazing how Steve Jobs, with the help of his friends, founded and established reliable and renowned IT Company in the world. Inspiring how they used and mixed their abilities, potentials and curiosities as one to bring out a very useful material which turned the sleeping world into a high tech globe. It was because of the intelligence, determination and dedication which brought them to the top of their success.

Certainly, Jobs is a real genius in achieving his goals and plans and in playing the game of business. But there was something in Steve Jobs to be addressed. There were somehow lapses shown in his personalities as a person and a technopreneur that caused him to fail. He did remarkable things that made his people and friends proud, and things that also took his success. I observed that he chose to stick with who he really are --- too strict, tight and serious --- so he could gain respect that he needed. But it is not only the intelligence and the very strict business attitudes that an individual should have in order to put up a business. What was shown by Jobs made me decide that I don’t want to take career path that Steve Jobs took.

For me it is not the enough to achieve business goals with just money and brains. It needs to have a true heart from the leader for the people who work for him and the love on what he does. Because how will you build a business without employees? This is what happened to Jobs. Somehow he forgot to extend his heartfelt gratitude to the people around him so in returned, quitters and betrayals from the workers where been experienced by the giant man of the Apple Company. It is a sad reality that he became rich and popular without experiencing the real happiness that a man is supposed to feel. He doesn’t listen and once he wants something, he would do anything to get it even to the point of stepping others dignity. A sad reality that without his friends, he will be empty and alone for he scares his men in his own company. I strongly believe that key of the success is on how you handle and deals with the people around you. Because from these, you can gain real respect, power, leadership, loyalty, trust and love from your clients down to your workers, friends and family. It will depends on how face your mortal enemy --- yourself. It is when you just cannot decide in your own that fast and consistent so you need to listen to the suggestions of your employees. Do not abuse them like what Jobs did. Let’s not forget that these workers are people too that needs also to be respected. We have to give them consideration and fair time to present their works. It is good to appreciate the people for the job well done and somewhat frank discussions with them when faults and destructions/disturbances arise in the business.

Technopreneurship aims to create jobs and so with it, business aims to have good and quality employees. In this point of view, it is not hard to have a business careers that needs to undergo large difficulties with regards to the people around it. It is a matter of wise decisions in playing the business game, strategies and techniques that will make the business success in a long period of time and having the love in dealing with the people.

If I am to choose between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates’ career path, I would rather choose Bill Gates’. Because Gates has simple but amazing strategies and personalities which helped him to be recognized as the wealthiest man in the world. He knows his self well, even the right people to be called as his friends or as his enemies. He was so calm and not ill-tempered / irritable unlike Steve Jobs which enables him to gain friends and trustworthy people in his back. He talks so smooth and never yells to anyone even to Steve Jobs while giving off his insights and ideas about a certain thing. And the things he used to think are critical thoughts of his mind. Like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates also believed in the saying that “Good artists copy, Great artists steal” which he used to unite it with his principle – “Business is like a mafia game. You let your friends close to you but your enemies closer.” ------ I simply like this principle and I just hope that Steve Jobs also had it.-----