Focus and Innovation: Insights from Steve Jobs and Pixar's Systems Team

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

Steve Jobs

Having worked at Pixar in Systems, I know that Steve practiced what he preached. My boss reported directly to Steve, so he communicated with Jobs at least two to three times a month. Erik would occasionally call me into his office with a scowl on his face. I would usually mutter, "Hey Erik, what's up?" In what seemed like a temporary tantrum, he spun his computer screen at me and said in a fit, "James it took me months to develop this idea, three days to write and finally send Steve the email. Look at his damned reply," he barked. I saw two words and a period. Quotes added by me.

“No.

Steve”

Steve was pointing to a reality many of us find ourselves in if we aren’t careful. Yup, overwhelm. You know that feeling when your to-do list is a mile long, and you're drowning in a sea of tasks? It's like trying to eat an entire pizza by yourself – overwhelming and kind of scary. But guess what? You don't have to do this alone. If you ask for help, you might be surprised at the willingness of others to help.

I recall during my time working for Pixar, that my boss and I had lunch every Friday at the Pixar cafe. It was located next to the giant atrium that divides the main building into two separate areas. On one of those Fridays, I asked my boss about the design of the building and was particularly interested in the football field-sized atrium. He said, “Oh the atrium was Steve’s idea.” I came to understand later that since Steve wasn’t a part of the filmmaking process, he made it a point to take charge of the design of the Emeryville campus.

Having worked for both of his companies, I can say this with confidence. There were two areas in which Steve Jobs was brilliant. He picked the best humans for the task at hand and surrounded himself with them, and he believed that when talent meets collaboration the result is beyond anything mere mortals can imagine. The atrium was there to make this possible. Almost every day I would randomly bump into a fellow employee from another department and we would swap stories about what we were working on and the triumphs and challenges faced. Almost assuredly out of that exchange solutions were shared and something magical occurred. The particular problem I was facing changed because I had new information. I can’t tell you how many times I would return to my desk, sit down, hop on the computer, and with this new information in hand, I would solve the problem in 5 minutes. This happened all the time and it blew my mind.

Adam B. Varey, in an article on BuzzFeed, writes, “Ed Catmull, one of the founders of Pixar, was quoted as saying, 'Since Steve didn't make our movies, the building itself became his project.' Craig Payne, who happens to be a good friend of mine, said about Jobs, 'He was involved in every detail of this building, down to the door handles of the offices.'"

Prioritizing isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about focusing on what truly matters. Imagine being a superhero – you can’t save the world all at once, right? You have to pick your battles. That’s where prioritization comes in.

Let’s break it down.

The 80/20 Rule: Your Secret Weapon

Ever noticed that a tiny part of your work gives you the biggest results? That’s the 80/20 rule in action. It’s like finding that one amazing pair of jeans that makes you feel confident – you wanna wear ‘em all the time. So, focus on the tasks that pack the biggest punch. It's gonna feel tough at first, but trust me, the payoff is huge.

One Thing at a Time: Your Superpower

We live in a world that screams “multitask!” But let’s be honest, trying to do everything at once is like juggling chainsaws. Instead, pick one thing, give it your full attention, and crush it. It’s like meditating with a purpose. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you’re not distracted by a million other things.

Remember, you’re not alone in this. We’re all trying to figure it out. Celebrate small wins. Practice and learn to say No.