Steve Jobs on the Next Big Thing
What Jobs talks about
In this brief TV appearance, Steve Jobs is asked how he sees himself and his achievements. His answer is simple: if you do something that turns out well, you should move on and do something else wonderful.
The segment frames him as an innovator tied to Apple’s newest Manhattan flagship store, but Jobs keeps the focus on what comes next rather than dwelling on past success. That mindset captures a core part of his approach to product and life.
An NBC News anchor/narrator frames the segment and asks the questions; Jobs answers briefly.
In his words
“I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful and not dwell on it for too long.”
“Just figure out what's next.”
“Computer icon Steve Jobs, the innovator of so many of the computer icons that we use today.”
Key points
- Don’t dwell on success for too long.
- If something turns out pretty good, move on to the next thing.
- Keep your attention on what’s next.
- Innovation is about continual making, not resting on past achievements.
Full transcript
There's a new tourist mecca in Midtown Manhattan tonight. It is a sparkling piece of architecture and it just happens to be a store. It is the new flagship store for Apple, the company that brought the world the iPod and the personal computer. Today, its chief and co-founder Steve Jobs was on hand as lines waited outside for the opening. Jobs is known for his love of the next big thing, and as we learned, he isn't big on figuring out what he has meant to American life. Where do you fit in the American family of thinkers and inventors? How do you view yourself and your achievements? I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful and not dwell on it for too long.
Just figure out what's next. Computer icon Steve Jobs, the innovator of so many of the computer icons that we use today. Next week here, we'll hear more about his latest work.
Transcribed from the audio with OpenAI Whisper. Timestamps link to the video above. Errors are possible.