Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was known for being a tough but inspiring leader. One day, something surprising happened that showed his unique personality.
Ron Givens, who worked at Apple from 1981 to 1986, shared a story in a 2011 interview. He recalled a time when a secretary came to work late. Steve Jobs asked her why she was late, and she said her car had broken down.
Later that same afternoon, Jobs walked into her office, tossed her a set of car keys, and said, “Here, don’t be late anymore.” It was the key to a brand-new Jaguar car! At that time, the car cost around $35,000 (which would be about $123,000 today).
Givens called Jobs a “paradox” — someone who could be both intimidating and inspiring. Jobs, who was only 26 at the time, would often walk through the office asking detailed questions. One moment he could be tough, and the next he could surprise someone with a generous gift.
Givens also remembered another unusual moment — Jobs once gave him a fancy glass apple worth $1,000, without any explanation.
Jobs was serious about hiring only the best people. He believed Apple needed “only A players,” and even said firing less talented employees was painful but necessary.
Pete Docter, a famous Pixar filmmaker, shared another story. He said Jobs used to call people at any time — even 3 AM — to talk about work. It didn’t matter if someone was on vacation or sleeping; if Jobs wanted to talk, he would call.
Docter admitted that he now sends late-night emails himself, but joked that his wife is trying to make him stop.
