by Ken Segall
First published 2016
Ken Segall spent twelve years as Steve Jobs's creative director, watching Apple transform through the power of simplicity. Jobs applied this principle everywhere: product design, company structure, advertising, retail stores, and customer service. Simplicity became Apple's most effective business tool, helping the company create new product categories and outpace competitors. Segall wanted to discover other leaders who had harnessed this same force. He interviewed over forty executives across different industries and company sizes. The book profiles these "heroes of simplicity," including Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry's, former Apple executive Ron Johnson, and CEOs from The Container Store and Whole Foods. Each leader explains how simplicity transformed their organization and separated them from rivals. Segall explores companies in fashion, automobiles, entertainment, and technology. He even examines the Blue Man Group's strategy to prevent complexity from taking hold. The book demonstrates how simplicity attracts customers, motivates employees, and creates operational efficiencies.
Genres: business, leadership, non-fiction, organizational-culture
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: non-fiction
Setting: Apple
Period: 21st-century
256 pages · Hardcover · Portfolio