When
Steve Wozniak was asked what he would have done differently if he had been
Apple's CEO instead of Steve Jobs, he said he would have been "a lot nicer to
people," but also noted that under his leadership, the Macintosh might never
have been released. Jobs was known for being tough, demanding, and often harsh.
His relentless pursuit of perfection and pressure to deliver products early
created significant stress within the organization. Many found his management
style unbearable, which likely led to the loss of valuable talent. However,
this approach also played a key role in building one of the world's most iconic
and successful companies.
For
small business owners, such extreme tactics aren't necessary. However, many
tolerate too much from employees, vendors, clients, and others.
Tony
Soprano from The Sopranos was admired because he represented strength
and confidence. Tony didn't tolerate nonsense and took decisive actions. While
his methods were extreme and not to be emulated, the core lesson is clear:
standing up for oneself and not being overly concerned with criticism can lead
to becoming a more respected and assertive leader.
This
principle directly applies to the security of your business. If you fail to
take a firm stand and establish clear boundaries to protect your organization,
you will be exploited. Cybercriminals and others with their own agendas will
not care about your well-being. They aim to exploit your hard work, steal your
profits, infiltrate your network, and access your data, jeopardizing everything
you've built.
