4 things about Apple iOS 6 that will help you change jobs

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Minutes after Apple released the new iOS 6 I learned its maps were not good. Terrible, in fact. So bad that if you use them you risk not finding your uncle’s house or –  even worse – seeing the satellite view ‘a bit ropey‘. Nigam Arora on Forbes says Steve Jobs would have never released iOS 6 like this.

That’s a funny thing to say considering Steve Jobs was the one who green-lighted an antenna that blocked the signal when the phone was held normally and a messaging system that could not read/receive MMS’s when it was standard on all other phones. To prove it Ewan Spence – still on Forbes – says that Steve Jobs would have released iOS 6 the way it is. Worse, he would have demanded it.

I don’t know what Steve would have done. What I know is, Apple launched a product with a crappy feature. Fact. Now Apple must face the terrible consequences of such a bad move. Here they are:

1. Apple share price went up to $700 on the day of iOS6 release (Sep. 19).
2. In the first 2 days from its release, Apple users adopted iOS 6 122% faster than iOS 5.

Uhm. Ok, it seems Apple became even more successful. In all honesty, I knew they would because iOS 6 is a great product. With crappy maps. 

In any case, what alternative did Apple have? Not launching a great new product? Waiting until the only feature that wasn’t good reached perfection? Who knows when it would happen. No, sometimes waiting to be perfect is not an option. Sometimes it’s just an excuse. Success depends more on being ready than on being perfect. 

Interestingly, I found this to be true also when people want to change jobs.

Being ready VS. being perfect  

Apple put out there a product that is not perfect and still delighted millions of customers. That’s the same as you going to interviews when you don’t fit the job description and still getting the job. The problem is, when people don’t fit the job description they don’t even apply. Just because they’re not perfect. 

If there is one thing you should learn from Apple is this: ready comes before perfect. Especially when you want to change jobs.

How do you know you’re ready for a job you like? Here’s the rule of thumb. If you picture yourself in that job you’re ready. Everything else – like thinking you don’t have enough experience – just means you’re not perfect. But being perfect doesn’t make you ready anyway so you shouldn’t care.

Here are 4 things about the iOS 6 launch that you should always keep in mind when you’re thinking to change jobs:

1. Be ready, not perfect. Apple’s maps weren’t perfect. But iOS 6 was ready. Apple will fix the maps at some point. In the meantime, millions of customers around the world can enjoy the amazing new iOS 6 with crappy maps. If you’re ready recruiters will say things like: ‘This guy is hungry and will go the extra mile. He doesn’t have 5 years experience but he’ll be great anyway’.
2. Fight your lizard brain. I bet Tim Cook spent several late nights wondering whether they should deliver the new iOS 6 the way it was or wait and have some more work done on the maps. He had to fight his lizard brain going: ‘Don’t do it, the stock price might go down’, or ‘Your customers will hate you’. You should do the same. Fight that part of your brain that goes: ’You’re not as good as the other guy’, or ‘You don’t have enough experience’.
3. Offer something new. Apple was successful because they offered a great product with over 200 new features. Yes, one of them – the maps – was not good. Still, given how fast iOS 6 was adopted, it seems that people cared more about having the latest new, rather than the old perfect. At your next interview, show you are the latest new. What’s new in your field?
4. Always remember: some won’t care. Let’s be honest. Some people don’t care about having maps on their phone in the first place. For those people, the new iOS 6 is ready and perfect. Every time you apply for a job you’ll have shortcomings. Maybe you don’t have an MBA or 5 years experience. Some recruiters care. Some don’t. Those who don’t think you’re ready and perfect. 

A bit of homework for you now. Pin down a couple of jobs you really like, find out the name of the hiring managers and write them an email. Show them you’re ready. Forget perfect.

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