I have been in the Mac business since 1987, and a Mac user for even longer. My first exposure to a Macintosh (at a Team Electronics store in St Paul) in 1984 affected me so much that it led me to change careers.
The shoe that changed my life
From April 2000 to July 2002 I was a director of product marketing at Apple, responsible for Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, iDVD and few others.
How I went from merely being a fan of Apple’s products, living far away from Cupertino, to actually working for the company and for Steve Jobs himself is the what this book will be about. Oh, and I’ll also explain that shoe.
I’m writing it because I want to get it all ‘on paper’ before I forget some of the amazing experiences. But it’s my sincere hope that you will find it interesting, enlightening and maybe even inspirational. And even if you don’t, I’d still love to hear your comments.
Mike, I’m a new visitor to your site – excellent article about Steve. No doubt, there’s nobody who can hold a candle to his keynote kung fu. Glad to see its the result of discipline and practice. Would be eerie if he could achieve this off the cuff…
My college roommate is a Pixar founder and confided in me that Steve is fine to work with unless he believes he can do your job better than you can. Given that Pixar’s movie business isn’t necessarily his wheelhouse, they’re able to get a little more “distance” than the folks at Apple.
Looking forward to your book. Will definitely make a point of visiting more often in future.
Regards,
Craig Koller
Hey,
This website is great! I will be sure to buy your book when it comes out!
Thanks
Great site and great insight story about Mr. Job. Love your story. Keep up the good work. More please.
AC
Wow, I remember those shoes like it was yesterday.
I was 14 and walking through a computer show with my dad, past row upon row of amber and green screens. Then we came around a corner and there it was. Someone showing off these shoes. And a picture of a Japanese woman. All done with MacPaint and imported into MacWrite.
The rest of the computer show was ruined. I just camped out in front of the Apple booth and watched them run the demo over and over again.
Those shoes, a Titanium clad notebook computer, and a white MP3 player. All things that I had heard about and had written off with a, “Well that’s nice but…”
But in each case, when I was presented face to face with the real-deal. I could only stop, stare, and marvel at how this thing was simply better — a lot better than anything that had come before.
What a nice reading, thanks for letting me feels I ‘m the one sits next to you on a meeting with Steve Jobs .. Haha.
Looking forword to read more untold story .
Stay foolish , Stay hungry.
At least one of us from Mirror Technologies hit it big. Not sure if you’d remember me, but I was there for the last few turbulent years at Mirror. It’ll be interesting to see your book.
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hello mike,
nice project and very interesting.
but i will make a prediction. the book will never become published.
and you won’t get stuck with anything.
why do i think so?
you started very ambitionous and now, there is nothing following.
i don’t know what you are doing at the moment but when i would start such a project there would be a plan that says:
every day one hour or more work on the book.
this blog seems to me some fun for the first three weeks and now you lost your concept and your lust.
but anyway
good luck mike….
Hi Patricia – thanks for your comments. Don’t worry though; this little project is just getting started. Mike
Hi Mike!
What an interesting site — very much looking forward to the book! I will be tuning in regularily…Z
Hi Mike! I’ve got to ask, what Team electronics store in the cities? A good friend of mine was the manager of the store in West St. Paul and I spent some time there hanging out myself. Became a Machead shooting imagery for the Air Force for the last 23 years. I’ll bookmark your blog and check back now that I’m retired with nothing to do except surf all day long on my iBook… Good luck on the book homey!
Mark
Mark – it was the Team store in Rosedale.
Hey Mike,
I recently left Apple after a very long time working there. Cool blog – it’s always interesting to hear the opinion of other former Apple people.
I like the picture of your badge – the “interim” version that SJ hated!
Good luck with the book!
Brad
Hey Mike, or anyone else who knows. How hard is it to get a job in apple and what qualifications do you need? I have always been a mac fan and would love to work at apple sometime. I still have to finish of all my education and and get a lot more qualifications though. One last thing. Is it possible to get some kind of summer job, like at an apple store?
Thanks for your help,
David
ps. Good luck with the book
Nice web site, lots of interesting stuff here. Keep up the good work.