Today I want to write about humility. My apologies for those of you outside the tech world, because I'm going to write about it by association to an event I witnessed yesterday. Some of you will know exactly what I'm talking about, while others might be confused, but just stick around and it should make sense. Yesterday was one of Apple's big tech release extravaganzas. They do this semi-frequently; get up on stage and trumpet one of their new releases. Of course other companies do this too, but Apple gets way more recognition, and also turns up the showmanship and the self-aggrandizement to epic levels. These events are not conferences; they are carefully planned and choreographed parties for Apple. Which is why it was doubly surprising that yesterday, during their big launch, they invited an executive on stage - from Microsoft.
To truly understand what a big deal this is, you'd have to be immersed in the tech scene over the last 20 years. Microsoft and Apple are like Arsenal and Manchester United, or like the Steelers and the Browns. Or maybe like the U.S. and the Soviet Union. There's certainly a level on which the companies are competitors; but it goes deeper than that. There's a fanboyism to the whole thing. The two have different ideologies, different home towns, even different color schemes. There's a story arc to their competitiveness. And yet, not only did Apple invite Microsoft on stage - Microsoft accepted.
Why am I writing about this today? Because what struck me was humility. Humility is one of those virtues we often overlook, and it's something I've really been trying to focus on the last few years. There was a time when Apple was led by Steve Jobs and Microsoft by Steve Ballmer and those two guys just didn't like each other very much. Microsoft was pompous and ornery, and Apple was egotistical and snarky. And not only was a lot of emotional ink spilled, but likely money was left on the table. Then along come Tim Cook and Satya Nadella. All of a sudden Microsoft is building tools for Android, and Apple is inviting Microsoft onstage. It may make for good copy to lambast and cajole, but in the end, it makes good business sense to embrace and accept. Through a series of market events, both were driven to cooperate, or at least be nice to each other. And I think there's a lesson to be learned here. Like parents who get along for the sake of the kids, or neighbors who put aside their differences to live in peace, in the end, peace is good and calm and sane and helpful. Rhetoric and bombast and Donald Trump might seem like a fun release, but cooperation will win every time.
And I am much more likely to buy Microsoft products, knowing that their committed to playing nice, than I would be if they were still angry.