© B Y ..S T E V E ..W E L S H
Oregon MacPioneers User Group (Omug)
Within the Apple or Macintosh community, his name is legend, especially for those who followed Apple during the 1980s and 90s. These days, Guy Kawasaki has his hands, and mind, full with family life, an entrepreneur guiding business, launching another great book and, if you can believe it, hockey. Since he can’t visit many Mac User Groups these days, I caught up with him on the eve of Valentines Day and he shared a little history, wisdom, his new book, and romance in our 20 questions:
What’s your favorite color, Guy?
(play along, it gets better)* |
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Depends on the favorite color of what? Car: white. Watch face: orange. Tshirt: black. Opponent: black and blue.
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Did your current company, Garage Technology Ventures, come to be at a crossroad in your career, or was your transition into the venture capital arena a natural attraction or outgrowth of your skills at that time? |
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It was a natural progression: I am too old to start another company, and it was time to help the next generation of entrepreneur. It was a very natural challenge to undertake.
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How did the new book “Art of the Start” blossom — what was the “spec of dirt” that brought forth the pearl inside the clam? |
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The factors were a six digit advance from the publisher and a desire to help entrepreneurs get off to a fast start. Not necessarily in that order.
:-)
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There were some truly amazing submissions for your book cover art contest — what qualities about the one you chose grabbed you?
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I liked the dark, serious overtones, plus the “spark” of the igniting match. The iStockPhoto community is an amazing one. I never thought I'd get so many cool entries.
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You sprinkled your new book with other people’s words of wisdom, quotes to begin each chapter. Is this a favorite Oriental style, like priming the palate before devouring the next offering?
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I've done this in most of my books. I happen to love epigrams. I spend hours selecting them. Why invent wisdom when you can grab what others have done before?
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One of your mantras from your book is “Change the world.” Apple’s goal was the same, really, from the beginning. Do you think it still is? |
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Yes, I think it still is. It’s hard to kill that kind of DNA even if you tried. Maybe the next Apple mantra will be, “I came, I saw, iPod.”
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Apple has kept up its reputation for some outstanding industrial engineering design all these years. What are your Top 5 Apple product design picks — ones that stick with you today, still make you say “Cool!” or “Only Apple” — over the years? |
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(Here's four) The Apple IIc, Macintosh IIci, the first iMac, and iPod Mini.
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What model Mac is on your desk right now? |
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PowerBook G4, 12 incher.
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If Apple never happened, what would you have become/done, career-wise? |
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Good question. Maybe I would have stayed in the jewelry business. Everything lined up for me, though: Macintosh, Apple, nepotism to get a job at Apple, and Apple user groups. I’ve led a charmed life.
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You said your Dad wanted you to be a lawyer. If you had, what TYPE of law would you have gravitated to? |
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Probably corporate, God help me. Although if I had stuck it out, I would be “Denny Crane,” the William Shatner character in (the TV series) Boston Legal.
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In your speech to the 1995 graduating class at Palo Alto High School, you said you took Latin as a second language, but that today it’s useful only if you can get a hold of the Pope in the Vatican. In Latin, what one question would you like to ask him if you had that chance?
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You’re kidding, right? I can’t remember any Latin phrases. I took it 30 years ago. I can only remember a few words. Seriously, though, learning Latin makes expanding your English vocabulary very easy. It’s just not that useful a language in terms of speaking to people.
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In that same speech, from your Top 10 list, #7 was “Learn to speak a foreign language, play a musical instrument, and play non-contact sports.” You told me recently that hockey is your passion now. How does da kine Japanese guy who grew up in Hawai’i, makes his fame and fortune in sunny California, come to love hockey — and, do you still have all your teeth?
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I have all my teeth, though I have ground them down. A few years ago my two sons took up hockey, and there was a kids vs. parents game, so I tried it. At 48 years old, having never skated in my life, I took the sport up. I truly love hockey. I play 2-3 games a week. I try to skate every day.
If I worked as hard on writing as I do on hockey, I would win a Pulitzer.
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Did you have any sports heroes growing up and, if so, why them?
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My heroes were Ray Nitschke and Dick Butkus. Middle linebackers of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. I loved to play football in high school. That same love has been transferred to hockey. In a sense, I’m having my second teenage-hood.
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Last sports question: You played middle linebacker in high school. Would Commissioner Kawasaki make any major changes in the NFL? |
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I could care less about football now. It’s too slow moving. In hockey every play is an audible, there are no huddles, everyone can carry and pass the ball, and everyone plays offense and defense. I would love to fix the NHL. This lockout (ed. note: the current National Hockey League season is on hold, locked-out by the owners after the players struck) has set the sport back five years.
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In your book under ‘Define Your Business Model’, you gave a final tip that you should “...ask women — and only women.” You then explained your theory on the “killer gene” in male DNA. Taking this theory into the political world, do you feel this country is ready for a female president, and ultimately, as our presidents tend to be our national figure heads or even fatherly figure heads, will we ever be?
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I would love if America had a woman president. Preferably a black woman president who is a single mom. If you can manage this, you can do anything.
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You became a legend in the Mac community by visiting a lot of Mac User Groups when you were at Apple (and after). Why did you feel it was important to “preach to the choir?”
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Because the choir is what keeps the religion going when some ministers, pastors, and “the church” burns out. Plus, the choir truly believes — they’re not in it for the money, fame, or power.
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You said age 32, when you got married, is about the right age to marry. Does your wife agree, and how did you two meet? What “way cool” qualities about her grabbed you?
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My theory is that in your twenties, you’re too young to understand yourself, much less another person. In the forties, you’re too set in your ways to accommodate another person. This means the thirties is the optimal time to get married.
My wife and I met at Apple. She was the total package of brains, looks, and soul. It was love at first sight. Apple has been good to me: great spouse, great computer, and great career. There is a permanent soft spot in my heart for Apple.
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In “Art of the Start” you dedicated the book to your 3 children. In your speech to the graduating seniors, your No. 1 offer to the graduating class was, “Enjoy your family and friends before they are gone.” At what point in your life did you fully realize where to prioritize family?
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I came to this conclusion about 10 years ago. I’ve been trying to implement it since then. I’m 50 right now, and I’ve come to grips with my mortality. On my deathbed, I will not utter, “Why didn’t I spend more time with my family?”
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I am trying to tap into your exclusive insight/taste as an Oriental: Was Tom Cruise worthy in playing his role in the movie “The Last Samurai”?
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I hate to tell you, but I’m more American than I am Japanese. I’d rather have Tom Cruise than Tom Arnold. Do you remember the line where Tom Cruise says that he’s never seen a people who are more dedicated to the mastery of simple skills? That’s the story of my life. I am where I am because of the sheer quantity of practice — whether it’s speeches, demos, or shooting pucks.
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Thank God (and you) for including that little mini chapter on “The Art of Using Email” — I suppose those that care might actually listen this time since it came from you. That’s not the question, but I just had to say that. The question: You and your wife are raising 3 little samurai’s in a highly technological, and some might say increasingly LESS social-skilled world/generation — what are a couple of important rules you want to make sure they learn from you in this area of life?
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First, always say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’
Second, never discriminate because of race, gender, creed, or color.
Third, noblesse oblige: the higher you go, the kinder you must be.
Fourth, never take any crap from anyone.
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And last, Guy, what are the Top 5 bands/musicians on your iPod (be honest, some Guy Lombardo, right)? |
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I’m not a real “music guy”, but my favorite artists are Diane Reeves, Joe Sample, Mary Black, Everything But the Girl, Queen. Queen Latifah is rising fast because of her latest CD.
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Interview posted: 2-20-05
*(For those that were counting, there were 21 questions, but really, on a professional level, the first one doesn’t count, right?)
Check out Omug's review of Guy's new book,
THE ART OF THE START
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| Guy went the extra yard for Omug in 2002 when he braved a California storm and Oregon snow to fly up and be the MC for our statewide You Don't Know Mac! (YDKM) Event Day. Here he presents the Golden Apple Trophy to the trivia champion MUGport (Newport, Oregon) team. Photo/Omug. |
More Guy, and links to buy his books, online at:
http://www.guykawasaki.com
Guy's blog:
http://blog.guykawasaki.com
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