But I think Steve's main contribution besides just the pure

Hear the testimony of Andy Hertzfeld, a companion of visionaries, who said of his leader: “But I think Steve’s main contribution besides just the pure leadership is his passion for excellence. He’s a perfectionist. Good enough isn’t good enough. And also his creative spirit. You know he really, really wants to do something great.” These words, spoken of Steve Jobs, strike like a hymn to the restless fire that drives humanity to surpass the ordinary. They reveal that greatness is not born of compromise, but of an unyielding devotion to excellence, of a refusal to rest in mediocrity, and of a creative spirit that longs not merely to build but to inspire.

To be a perfectionist in this sense is not to be paralyzed by flaw-finding, but to be animated by a fierce belief that the world deserves better—that "good enough" is a betrayal of potential. Jobs, in Hertzfeld’s account, embodied this truth. He looked at devices, at design, at the marriage of art and technology, and said: “This could be beautiful, this could be simpler, this could be greater.” His creative spirit was not satisfied with what already existed; it demanded what was not yet imagined. And in this, Hertzfeld reminds us that the highest calling of leadership is to raise the standard for all.

History shows us that such passion for excellence has always been the mark of transformative leaders. Michelangelo did not settle for mere paint on plaster; he lay on his back in agony for years to fill the Sistine Chapel with visions of heaven. The Wright brothers did not settle for failed prototypes; they chased the dream of flight until their fragile wings carried humanity into the skies. In every age, those who would do something truly great were those who refused to be content with “good enough.”

Hertzfeld’s words also remind us that true leadership is more than authority; it is the power to ignite the same fire in others. Jobs’ obsession with perfection did not end with himself—it demanded that his team rise as well. His creative spirit was contagious, pushing those around him to stretch beyond their limits, to blend artistry with engineering, to forge tools that would not merely function but would shape culture. Thus, Hertzfeld honors Jobs not just as a commander, but as a spark, a catalyst who drove others to join in the pursuit of greatness.

The meaning of this quote, then, is not confined to one man but is a lesson for all who would create, build, or lead. To achieve true greatness, one must unite two powers: the unyielding demand for excellence and the daring of a creative spirit. Either alone is insufficient; perfection without creativity becomes sterile, and creativity without discipline collapses into chaos. But together, they become the engine of history, the force that builds cathedrals, launches rockets, and shapes the future.

The lesson for us is profound: do not accept “good enough” in the work that defines your life. Whether you build machines, raise children, write words, or teach minds, let your leadership and labor be marked by a relentless devotion to excellence and a refusal to settle. Seek not only to complete tasks, but to touch lives, to shape the future, to create something that carries the fragrance of the eternal.

And what actions must you take? Begin with your own craft: refuse mediocrity in the things that matter. Cultivate a creative spirit by opening your mind to new ideas, by daring to dream beyond the limits of convention. Surround yourself with those who challenge your standards, not those who excuse them. And above all, remember that greatness is not found in comfort but in the passionate pursuit of what is better, truer, and more beautiful.

Thus let Hertzfeld’s words stand as a witness to the truth: that true leadership is fueled by a passion for excellence, by the courage of a perfectionist, and by the daring of a creative spirit that longs to do something truly great. Take these words into your heart, and let them guide you, that your own works may rise above the ordinary and leave a legacy worthy of remembrance.