| Today Apple announced its new iPad. Again this | | | | Store, and iPhone along the way, creating $12 billion in |
| provides a lesson in decision making. With every | | | | additional revenue. Businesses should approach |
| Apple decision over the last decade, it will be | | | | strategic decisions a starting a journey on a new |
| criticized by many. The iPod was criticized because it | | | | path and consider the opportunities it creates. |
| would be just another music player. iTunes a was | | | | The other lesson is bold move decisions. Each of |
| criticized because it was just another music store. | | | | these new product lines was a bold move decision. |
| The iPhone was criticized by many because Apple | | | | Apple has grown because of bold moves decisions. |
| could not compete in the cell phone business. Apple | | | | Too many businesses fail to even consider bold |
| apps were criticized because their value was not | | | | move decisions, let alone have the courage to make |
| understood. The iPad is just a big iPod – that will | | | | them. To be successful in the future, businesses |
| be the criticism – too expensive, limited in media | | | | need to make bold move decisions! |
| available, etc. But Steve Jobs, and Apple, can teach | | | | These are decision lessons that can also be used in |
| everyone valuable lessons in decision making. | | | | personal decisions. Decide to create and entirely new |
| These decisions were single decisions; they were a | | | | path for your life, instead of just making individual |
| decision to go down a new path. Each of these was | | | | decisions. Make bold move decisions that can reshape |
| the launch of a new product line in a new market | | | | you life. |
| space, not just a product. There are two decision | | | | So look at the Apple iPad not just as a new product |
| lessons here for businesses. The first is to look at | | | | but as decision making lessons as well. Over its |
| strategic decisions like this as creating a new path, | | | | history, Apple also provided decision lessons in bad |
| not just a single decision. A new path creates | | | | decision making, such as with the Newton. Steve |
| opportunities along the way – opportunities to | | | | Jobs learned from his good and bad strategic |
| launch new versions of the product and keep | | | | decisions and now is putting that experience to work. |
| improving it. Apple kept improving the iPod, iTunes | | | | We can all learn from him too. |