Why I Retired From Apple

#1

Post by swilliams » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 2:48 PM UTC

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#2

Post by Jabbles » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 3:33 PM UTC

It may be harsh to sum up this article in a single word, but I recognise this as "burnout". It's not uncommon, and it affects people in different ways, but is usually accompanied by a (sudden?) drop in ambition.

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#3

Post by jmduke » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 3:37 PM UTC

Jabbles wrote: post #2

It may be harsh to sum up this article in a single word, but I recognise this as "burnout". It's not uncommon, and it affects people in different ways, but is usually accompanied by a (sudden?) drop in ambition.

What you see as 'burnout' I see as closure.

Don accomplished pretty much everything he wanted to, and more.

Why continue running laps around a familiar track when you could go someplace else?

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#4

Post by mbateman » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 3:42 PM UTC

Jabbles wrote: post #2

It may be harsh to sum up this article in a single word, but I recognise this as "burnout". It's not uncommon, and it affects people in different ways, but is usually accompanied by a (sudden?) drop in ambition.

Burnout is accompanied by a drop in ambition. But not all drops in ambition indicate burnout.

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#5

Post by niggler » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 3:45 PM UTC

"Maybe I was just tired.

And when you’re responsible for so many people, you owe them more than that. Better to step aside and let others have their turn. So I did."

All too often we see managers hold onto jobs and effectively stifle others with poor management, but it's refreshing to see someone think about the good of the company.

EDIT: and the good of the people for which he was responsible (thanks nsmartt)

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#6

Post by nsmartt » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 3:56 PM UTC

niggler wrote: post #5

"Maybe I was just tired. And when you’re responsible for so many people, you owe them more than that. Better to step aside and let others have their turn. So I did." All too often we see managers hold onto jobs and effectively stifle others with poor management, but it's refreshing to see someone think about the good of the company . EDIT: and the good of the people for which he was responsible (thanks nsmartt)

I'd amend that he was thinking of the good of the people for which he was responsible.

edit: wording

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#7

Post by duopixel » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 3:56 PM UTC

I've been thinking about all the great things that have happened within tech companies in the last few decades, and it seems clear to me that a couple of centuries into the future, some of these events will be hallmarks of history. I don't think it's crazy to say that Tim Berners-Lee will eventually reach the same stature of Gutenberg.

Unfortunately there aren't many 'historians of technology' so people like Don Melton are doing an invaluable work to record the inner culture where technological revolution is taking place. Nobody is better suited to write history than those who made it happen. All the best to Don in his new adventure :)

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#8

Post by tsunamifury » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 4:03 PM UTC

niggler wrote: post #5

"Maybe I was just tired. And when you’re responsible for so many people, you owe them more than that. Better to step aside and let others have their turn. So I did." All too often we see managers hold onto jobs and effectively stifle others with poor management, but it's refreshing to see someone think about the good of the company . EDIT: and the good of the people for which he was responsible (thanks nsmartt)

I would hazard a guess that if they were all paid as well as him, they would retire too.

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#9

Post by rednukleus » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 4:11 PM UTC

duopixel wrote: post #7

I've been thinking about all the great things that have happened within tech companies in the last few decades, and it seems clear to me that a couple of centuries into the future, some of these events will be hallmarks of history. I don't think it's crazy to say that Tim Berners-Lee will eventually reach the same stature of Gutenberg. Unfortunately there aren't many 'historians of technology' so people like Don Melt…

It really depends on how things progress. Apple might be in the history books as a "shining example of how tightly integrated hardware and software works so well"; or as "the last big attempt which showed that in the long run closed systems never work". It could really go either way from here.

How these events are remembered is going to be very coloured by how they are perceived after the event.

Re: Why I Retired From Apple

#10

Post by apawloski » Mon, Feb 18, 2013, 4:13 PM UTC

"But if there’s anything I do aspire to, it’s being a writer. ... I’m not vain enough to think it’s my snappy prose that drew the visitors. It was the subject matter."

Don (if you're out there reading this), your blog has almost single-handedly returned me to using an RSS reader. Yes, initially this was for your Safari/WebKit war stories, but please stop being so humble. You've won the technical-yet-engaging lottery -- please take advantage of this for those of us who fail in one (or both) categories.