Steve Jobs on Apple's Teamwork: Candid Moments at Apple
What Jobs talks about
In this ABC News interview footage, Jobs speaks warmly about the people around him at Apple and credits teamwork over individual heroics. He says great products come from long effort and a shared commitment that makes the work worthwhile.
He also describes his view of management through the Beatles, using them as a model for how strong people can amplify one another’s best qualities. That idea frames his praise for the Apple team and the sacrifices behind the iPhone.
The footage offers a more personal, less guarded side of Jobs, including a light explanation for his ripped jeans. It matters because it shows how he thought about leadership, collaboration, and the emotional cost of building products that change the world.
Chris Connolly narrates, with Jobs heard in excerpts from Apple footage.
In his words
“The greatest thing is when you when you do put your heart and soul into something over an extended period of time, and it is worth it.”
“My theory of of management is is the Beatles.”
“Together, they they helped amplify each other's really good tendencies, and that's true of any team.”
“And we got a really great team here at Apple.”
“I think everybody who's worked on iPhone and made those sacrifices is gonna feel that it's been worth it.”
Key points
- Putting your heart and soul into something can make the effort worth it.
- Apple’s success depends on a strong team, not just one person.
- Good management is about people amplifying each other’s best tendencies.
- The sacrifices behind the iPhone were worth it to the people who built it.
- Jobs could be candid and even playful in private company moments.
- He shows appreciation for Apple retail employees and the broader Apple staff.
Full transcript
Apple cofounder Steve Jobs is back in the headlines on the fourth anniversary of his death. ABC News has exclusively obtained video of Jobs never before seen by the public showing a softer side of the CEO as two new movies are more critical of him and are about to hit theaters. ABC's Chris Connolly has our story. Is it It's Steve Jobs as you've never seen him in frank conversations with his colleagues at Apple. The greatest thing is when you when you do put your heart and soul into something over an extended period of time, and it is worth it. An inspirational visionary who undeniably changed our world, Jobs continues to fascinate even after his 2011 death at the age of 56. Demanding, creative, touched with genius, the man who helped bring the world the Macintosh personal computer, the iPod, and the iPhone can now be seen on screen in two films, the documentary Steve Jobs, the man and the machine.
He was paid 7,000. He told me we were paid 700, and he wrote me a check for $3.50. And that hurts because we were friends. And is played by Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs, a chronicle of his life and career. You didn't have seconds. You had three weeks. The universe was created in the third of that time. Apple execs have criticized both films, though. On the fourth anniversary of Jobs passing Monday, Apple showed employees this rare footage obtained exclusively by ABC News. I want you all to go into one of our retail stores in the next eight, ten weeks and just give one of the Apple retail store employees a hug. A candid Steve Jobs. My theory of of management is is the Beatles.
Deflecting credit for Apple's success by citing his favorite band. Together, they they helped amplify each other's really good tendencies, and that's true of any team. And we got a really great team here at Apple. Thanking them for their work on the iPhone the day before its release. And I think everybody who's worked on iPhone and made those sacrifices is gonna feel that it's been worth it. And even addressing an employee's inquiry about the history behind those ripped jeans. There's no history. They're just old like me, but I'm very comfortable in them. And there's no excuse.
Good Morning America. Chris Connolly, ABC News Los Angeles. So interesting to see another side of Steve Jobs. Thanks, Chris.
Transcribed from the audio by speech recognition (Deepgram). Timestamps link to the video above. Errors are possible.