“We think the Mac will sell zillions, but we didn’t build the Mac for anybody else. We built it for ourselves. We were the group of people who were going to judge whether it was great or not. We weren’t going to go out and do market research. We just wanted to build the best thing we could build.”
- February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
- American
- Entrepreneur, businessman, industrial designer
- He brought to the world revolutionary products that combined technology and design at a high level, such as the personal computer Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad, and also revolutionized the music industry with the iPod, iTunes, and iTunes Store.
Quote
“We think the Mac will sell zillions, but we didn’t build the Mac for anybody else. We built it for ourselves. We were the group of people who were going to judge whether it was great or not. We weren’t going to go out and do market research. We just wanted to build the best thing we could build.”
Explanation
In this quote, Steve Jobs explains the foundational approach that Apple took in developing the Macintosh—not by following market research or catering to the masses, but by building a product they themselves would want to use. Jobs and his team were focused on creating something great based on their own vision and instincts, trusting that if they built the best product possible, others would appreciate it too. This mindset of prioritizing quality and innovation over market trends or external opinions was central to Apple’s success and its ability to consistently produce revolutionary products.
Jobs believed that focusing too much on market research could limit creativity and lead to safe, predictable products. Instead, he encouraged his team to trust their own intuition and passion for creating something that would stand out. This approach led to the Macintosh being more than just a computer; it became a statement of design, user experience, and functionality that defined the future of personal computing.
Today, this quote continues to resonate in the world of product development and innovation. It reminds us that sometimes the best way to create something truly disruptive is to focus on building what you believe is great, rather than being overly influenced by what others expect or want. This principle continues to drive Apple’s success, as the company maintains its focus on visionary innovation rather than simply following trends.
