FastCompany ran an interesting post last week about Steve Jobs. Because Jobs announced that he’s stepping down from his post at Apple, there have been a flurry of posts on Jobs’ impact on Apple, technology, design and even the world. I thought FastCompany’s take was perfect, people reflecting on their first meeting with this iconic figure. You can see their article here.
In reading through the article and comments (they continue to grow) I was struck by how many people had very different memories of their first interactions with him: his attention to detail, his late night phone calls, his fear-inducing questions…on and on. Clearly he is larger than life and the driver behind Apple’s success.
That series of reflections caused me to wonder about “first meetings.” I’m not thinking about the people you and I meet for the first-time, but what people take away from their first meetings with us.
I admire Steve Jobs for the way he led Apple but I wouldn’t have wanted to work for him. I’m not even sure I would have liked him in person. But he did make an impression!
So what do you want people to take away from a “first meeting” with you? What do you want other people’s first impressions to be? And don’t beat yourself up, don’t worry about the fact that you probably don’t make the kind of first impression you want to make, but what’s your ideal?
I love hearing what you think.
Steve Thomas
Partner, Oneicity
(photo credit: leolambertini)
