Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
Summary: Adam Lashinsky shares an anecdote about the "productive narcissist" in his new book, Inside Apple. And it's classic Steve Jobs.
Well, it's that time of the year again.
Girl Scouts are out in force and it seems like I can't walk past a post office, grocery store or office building without seeing the girls peddling their sinfully addictive cookies. If I hated them it wouldn't be a problem, but I've got a bit of thing for Caramel deLites (and, ok Thin Mints too) so it's a bit of an issue.
So, "what does this have to do with Apple?" I can hear you asking... Admittedly not much, except that every time I see a Girl Scout hawking cookies I'm reminded of a passage from Adam Lashinsky's wonderful new book: Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired--and Secretive--Company Really Works:
Known for being alternatively bullying and charming at work, Jobs showed his neighbors the same combo package. Evelyn Richards, who lived around the block from Jobs, once sent her Girl Scout daughter to the Jobs household to sell cookies. "Jobs answered the door himself," Richards recalled. "But he told her he wouldn't buy any because cookies are sugary and bad for you."
Classic Jobs from a great book.
Photo: YouThinkYouCanBlog
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Talkback
ONce again some more he was correct....
Pagan jim
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
As a diabetic (2) I totally agree Jim, the problem is that sugar appears in everything as it's most people's (and manufacturer's) drug of choice. Funny to think it's really only been around for 2 centuries or so and the rise of diabetes mirrors the rise in our consumption of sugar.
The anecdote rasies my opinion of SJ, but it was starting from a really low base ;-)
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
If this article was supposed to be some put down of Steve jobs it fell flat. Although I can see Linux Geek Advocate jumping in with some hominy about how those cookies were open source and by not buying them SJ was killing FOSS... LOL
LOL
<i>...those cookies were open source and by not buying them SJ was killing FOSS...</i>
I actually laughed out loud in my cubicle at that one! I'm sure my coworkers are dying to get in on the joke. Thanks!
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
RE: Steve Jobs' stance on cookies
In any event ... I'm not one to make group's change their traditions just to be PC (politically correct, not personal computer) ... but I don't think it would hurt if the Girl Scouts did ANOTHER fund raiser during the year, in which they promoted something healthy ... maybe walking/hiking/running/biking. They could get people to sponsor them for every mile and use a chunk of the money raised to do something charitable, like pay down the national debt, or buy congress a clue.
Ok ... cheap political shot ... but they really could do some kind of a fundraiser based on effort, not sales (especially of fattening foods). Maybe troops could pitch in to help Habitat for Humanity? or revitalize an aging school in their district? or read to the elderly? or clean up a state or city park? rebuild a playground?
Let's face it: these days, the parents do most of the selling anyway (since the kids are discouraged from canvasing neighborhoods door-to-door, like they used to). So it's really no big deal if heavy lifting and power tools are involved, because the parents will be involved anyway. And that's not a bad thing. Gets everyone participating in good deeds.
Heck, they could even just hang out at grocery stores on a Saturday and help people (especially the elderly, physically challenged or pregnant women) put their groceries in their car.
Lots of benevolent acts that they could undertake that don't involve people stuffing their faces. But I'm all for keeping the cookies ... don't be messing with my Thin Mint supply.