Sunday, February 16, 2025

How Steve Jobs’ Tough Love Inspired Canva’s Guy Kawasaki to Embrace Remarkability

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At the prestigious Inc. 5000 Conference, Guy Kawasaki, the chief evangelist of Canva, elucidated the profound insights imparted by the late Apple visionary Steve Jobs, along with other illustrious business magnates, regarding the imperative of enhancing the world.

Over the years, Kawasaki has meticulously scrutinized the leadership paradigms and business methodologies exemplified by renowned CEOs and the so-called “assholes” of Silicon Valley. These experiences, he asserts, have crystallized what it means to effectuate genuine change and to attain the status of the truly “remarkable.” Kawasaki is now on a mission to disseminate these invaluable lessons, emphasizing the significance of entrepreneurship in fostering societal betterment.

Kawasaki’s odyssey began in Honolulu, Hawaii, where the encouragement of his sixth-grade educator propelled his parents to invest in a private education, ultimately paving his path to Stanford University and, subsequently, to an esteemed position at Apple.

The author of 16 published works and host of the Remarkable People podcast—which features luminaries such as Jane Goodall and Steve Wozniak—Kawasaki has synthesized insights from these discussions into pivotal teachings on leadership.

Embrace Strategic Disruption

Kawasaki recalls that under Jobs’ tutelage, he learned the critical lesson that transformative impact arises not from incremental enhancements, but rather from profound paradigm shifts. Using the evolution of the ice-making industry as an allegory, he illustrates how pioneering advancements, such as the refrigerator, revolutionized societal norms by transcending mere improvement.

Cultivate a Mission-Driven Ethos

Kawasaki acknowledges Jobs’ complex personality, distinguishing between egocentric leaders and those who are “mission-driven.” He asserts that the latter, while potentially abrasive, are integral to fostering meaningful progress and inclusivity based on shared objectives rather than superficial traits.

Cultivate a Growth Mindset and Grit

Referencing research by Carol Dweck, Kawasaki promotes the “growth mindset”—the belief in one’s capacity for acquisition of new skills and ventures—while emphasizing the necessity of resilience, which entails embracing vulnerability and learning from failure.

Transition to Grace

Ultimately, Kawasaki posits that true impact arises from a shift towards grace, which necessitates redefining one’s metrics of success beyond material gain to encompass societal contributions. His aspiration is succinctly encapsulated: he hopes that his legacy will be one of empowerment and inspiration.


Vocabulary List:

  1. Illustrious /ɪˈlʌs.tri.əs/ (adjective): Well-known respected and admired for past achievements.
  2. Evangelist /ɪˈvæn.dʒə.lɪst/ (noun): A person who seeks to convert others to a particular doctrine or set of beliefs.
  3. Discern /dɪˈsɜrn/ (verb): To perceive or recognize something.
  4. Grit /ɡrɪt/ (noun): Courage and resolve; strength of character.
  5. Paradigm /ˈpær.ə.daɪm/ (noun): A typical example or pattern of something; a model.
  6. Empowerment /ɪmˈpaʊər.mənt/ (noun): The process of becoming stronger and more confident in one’s own rights.

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