Steve Jobs on Consulting vs Product-Based Business

The Key to Innovation and Success

Steve Jobs, the co-founder and former CEO of Apple, had a clear preference for owning a product-based business rather than a consulting-based one. He believed that consulting businesses were inherently limited in their potential for growth and innovation, as they relied on selling expertise and services rather than tangible products.

Jobs saw product-based businesses as having more potential for disruptive innovation, as they were able to create entirely new markets and change the way people lived and worked. He believed that creating innovative products was the key to building a successful business, and that the focus should be on delivering exceptional customer experiences rather than simply selling products.

While Jobs was critical of consulting as a business, he did see the value in consulting as a tool for improving product development and customer experiences. He believed that consultants could play a valuable role in providing insights and feedback that could help companies create better products and experiences for their customers.

Overall, Jobs saw owning a product-based business as a more effective way to drive innovation and growth, as it allowed companies to create tangible products that could have a profound impact on people's lives. While he saw value in consulting as a tool for improving product development, he believed that ultimately, owning a product-based business was the key to creating lasting success and impact.