By now we’ve all heard the news that Steve Jobs has stepped down from Apple. I hope it’s not because of his health, but it probably is. Too bad for Steve. And, too bad for us.

Steve Jobs has accomplished more in his life to delight consumers of digital electronics than anyone else. Given the craziness of our industry and the fickleness of our market, to string together killer products over such a long time span is indeed impressive. He is one of the greatest product guys to have ever lived. Truly gifted in this regard. In spite of his negative attributes.

In fact, I wonder if it is even possible to produce greatness in product design without being labeled a crazy, maniacal overlord. It may not be. I can’t find any counter-examples in recent history; examples of when a truly killer product was led to market by a “nice guy” (at least not on purpose). This effect may indeed be the cost of admission into the annals of history. If so, that’s a shame.

I discuss Apple and Steve Jobs in some detail in my book, What Not to Do in Businesss. Apple is used often in the book as an example of a company that creates great, killer products that delight customers, that spawns and captures markets, and that makes investors tremendously successful. Steve Jobs is cited in the book as an example of how someone can practice “What Not do Do” often, and yet still be tremendously successful. Steve has a great track record, but I don’t think anyone could ever duplicate his unique form of “success”.

Steve is a “wild point”. A truly unique example of someone who is successful despite what others say. He personifies what is great about our country and our marketplace in a way which will probably become storied and even exaggerated more and more as the years go by. But I doubt anyone will ever be able to truly emulate him.

If you want to read more about my personal take on Apple and Steve Jobs, as well as my take on product design in general, check out the chapter “Create feature-rich products that suck” in the book. I also mention Steve in the chapter entitled “Lead by having tantrums“. I think you’ll find them both very interesting!

What Not to Do in Business, the leadership and management survival guide, is now available at Lulu.com.