Bookmark: Steve Jobs adopted a no ‘bozos’ policy and said the best managers are those who never wanted the job—here are his 3 best management tips
Steve Jobs imparted crucial management wisdom through three key pieces of advice, pivotal in shaping effective business leadership. At the forefront was his unapologetic imposition of a ’no bozos’ policy, emphasizing the hiring of only exceptionally talented individuals who align with the organization’s innovative goals. Jobs underscored that the most effective managers were often those who neither sought nor aspired to the managerial role. Instead, they were driven by a profound passion for their work and an intrinsic motivation to excel, which naturally positioned them as leaders. His managerial philosophy extended beyond conventional ambition, advocating for leaders who prioritize product and team excellence over personal advancement. Furthermore, Jobs’ philosophy revolved around assembling not just a team but a ‘community of excellence’ that could innovate collaboratively. This community-centric leadership approach sparked an environment of trust and creativity, hallmarks of Jobs’ managerial legacy that profoundly transformed Apple’s culture. By leveraging these core principles, Jobs demonstrated that leadership extends beyond traditional roles, focusing on nurturing talent and fostering environments conducive to groundbreaking innovations. His management strategies remain influential, stressing that talent, passion-driven leadership, and a commitment to excellence are indispensable in driving organizational success in any tech-forward era.
Featured writing
Why customer tools are organized wrong
This article reveals a fundamental flaw in how customer support tools are designed—organizing by interaction type instead of by customer—and explains why this fragmentation wastes time and obscures the full picture you need to help users effectively.
Infrastructure shapes thought
The tools you build determine what kinds of thinking become possible. On infrastructure, friction, and building deliberately for thought rather than just throughput.
Server-Side Dashboard Architecture: Why Moving Data Fetching Off the Browser Changes Everything
How choosing server-side rendering solved security, CORS, and credential management problems I didn't know I had.
Books
The Work of Being (in progress)
A book on AI, judgment, and staying human at work.
The Practice of Work (in progress)
Practical essays on how work actually gets done.
Recent writing
We always panic about new tools (and we're always wrong)
Every time a new tool emerges for making or manipulating symbols, we panic. The pattern is so consistent it's almost embarrassing. Here's what happened each time.
Dev reflection - February 03, 2026
I've been thinking about constraints today. Not the kind that block you—the kind that clarify. There's a difference, and most people miss it.
When execution becomes cheap, ideas become expensive
This article reveals a fundamental shift in how organizations operate: as AI makes execution nearly instantaneous, the bottleneck has moved from implementation to decision-making. Understanding this transition is critical for anyone leading teams or making strategic choices in an AI-enabled world.
Notes and related thinking
Bookmark: Nearly all bosses are ‘accidental’ with no formal training—and research shows it’s leading 1 in 3 workers to quit
Untrained managers drive one in three employees to quit. Discover how effective leadership training can boost retention and workplace satisfaction.
Santander’s New Office Mandate: Shifting from Flexible WFH to Structured Office Attendance
Santander shifts from flexible work-from-home to mandatory in-office attendance, emphasizing development and productivity for early-career staff.
Article analysis: ‘Every job is going to change pretty radically,’ many in the next year, thanks to AI, says Indeed’s CEO
Discover how AI will radically transform jobs in the coming year, as Indeed's CEO shares insights on hiring, skills, and the future of work.