“One of the surest tests [of the superiority or inferiority of a poet] is the way in which a poet borrows. Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different. The good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different than that from which it is torn; the bad poet throws it into something which has no cohesion. A good poet will usually borrow from authors remote in time, or alien in language, or diverse in interest.” — Eliot, T.S., “Philip Massinger,” The Sacred Wood, New York: Bartleby.com, 2000.
Good Artists Copy, Great Artist Steal -
This quote has made the rounds but its origin will surprise you. The actual context in which Steve Jobs used it may even be more surprising - or make more sense, depends on which team you are playing for.
Death and Taxes
Pundits still don't understand Apple's success -
The only way pundits can justify the amazing success of the iPhone 4S is to call its buyers zealots. Sad.
Now the Apple has officially announced the iPhone 4S and the tech world is officially let down (again) I’d like to discuss how Apple handled the expectations for this event. First, I don’t think they did enough. There were a couple planned leaks to their normal crew at the WSJ but it obviously didn’t have as much of an impact as the cases being thrown around by Chinese case manufacturers.
Apple, as usual, officially said very little about the new iPhone. It was a single line phrase a week before the event stating, “Let’s talk iPhone”.
The problem is the Apple didn’t shoot down or at least drown out the case leaks. Most of the reviewers were expecting an iPhone 5 and they received an iPhone 4.5 (see what I did there? The 4S looks like 4.5… never mind).
The 4S looks great. I really like the iPhone 4. It is really beautiful. It is the best smartphone I’ve ever seen. The 4S is even better not only with better hardware but also with exclusive new software (Siri) as well.
I don’t think the tech press is ever blown away by Apple events immediately. It always takes time, hands on reviews, and quarter after quarter of seeing Apple sell phones faster than they can ship them. However, I do think Apple PR didn’t level expectations for this event as they should.
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“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” — Steve Jobs (2005 commencement address at Stanford)
What to tell customers when dealing with a crisis.