Comparing Adam Smith, Steve Jobs, and Herb Chambers (2)

Patrick Walsh wrote:

Adam Smith, Steve Jobs, and Herb Chambers have proven to be revolutionaries of their time through their drive, persistence, and by striving for nothing less than their own respective ideas of "perfection."  It is made clear through each article that each self-made-man achieved their status and fame through this idea that perfection is the only acceptable result.  Adam Smith believed that “the driving force of individual self-help and self-improvement…would win through, whatever the obstacles.”  Smith stood strongly for his progressive principles because he believed that wealth derives from “the uniform, constant, and uninterrupted effort of every man to better his conditions.”  Although Smith lived two centuries ago, and it is difficult to understand the common ideas and beliefs of society at that time, it is clear that Smith faced an uphill battle to set his principles into motion.  However, as we look back on Smith’s ideas, it is hard to imagine a world where the common man does not try to put himself in optimal opportunities to better himself.  Therefore, Smith’s basic principles: free trade, putting consumers before producers, and encouraging competition were all radical, but vital principles that now make up the building blocks of the world that we live in today.

Steve Jobs - co-founder, chairman, and former chief executive of Apple Inc. – achieved his success in a similar fashion to that of Adam Smith, although slightly more radical.  By striving for nothing short of perfection, Jobs’ Apple Inc. is the second most valuable company in the world, behind only ExxonMobil.  The perfection that Jobs craved demanded a lot of risk-taking, and as a result, Jobs became known for his risky behavior.  Early on in his career, Jobs became known as a great visionary and promoter, but was not respected as a businessman.  This was unacceptable to Jobs.  Instead of just giving into the pressure that he faced, Jobs embraced the criticism and continued to make very risky decisions.  For example, after releasing the iPod, the iPhone came along years later.  However, by releasing the iPhone, he effectively “cannibalized” the iPod, as the capabilities of the iPod were all available on the iPhone.  Furthermore, Jobs also created iTunes, despite being told by skeptics that it would generate very little profit.  Going with his gut instinct, Jobs received all potential income related to all Apple products, because the “apps” that were the focal point for the iPhone were all sold through iTunes.  Therefore, after the sale of the product itself, Jobs was not simply done with the consumer; but rather, the consumer had only begun purchases with Apple, as everything that went into the product was only sold on iTunes.  These critical decisions that Jobs made show that he will strive for nothing short of perfection, and he will always go the extra step in order to ensure that he is achieving perfection.

Finally, Herb Chambers, the poster-boy for rags-to-riches success, generated all of his wealth by going the extra step, and trying to be perfect in every aspect of his life.  Chambers states, “I’m not happy unless it’s perfect.”  This particular scene, from when Chambers was only thirteen years old, shows his mentality: To pay his rent when he was thirteen, he collected shopping carts in the Stop & Shop parking lot.  He said, “It was almost a game with me, to see how few carriages I could have sitting out in the parking lot.  The ultimate goal: no carriages out there that somebody didn’t have their hands on.”  Both Chambers and Jobs alike, seem to be known for their endless drive for perfection, and their close friends and family believe that although being a positive for business, it eats away at their health and mental stability in their own personal lives.  By seeking flawlessness and success in literally every situation, Chambers has found himself in the position he is in today.  Another scene that is highlighted in the article is one in which Chambers entered a building to sell his copy machine supplies to a hard-nosed businessman, who initially kicks Chambers’ briefcase down the stairs and essentially tells him to get lost.  Chambers described his thought process, “This is a moment I have to win,” he said to himself, “You don’t give in.”  Chambers then proceeded to march back up the stairs and convinced the same man to buy his supplies.  Ironically, the man offered Chambers and job, which he declined.  Clearly, the success of Chambers, Jobs, and Smith came from a focus on the small details and an unending strive for perfection that essentially forces each of them to not stop until they have achieved such perfection.