By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Let’s talk about Steve Jobs—the black turtleneck wizard who made phones smarter than most people and turned fruit into a billion-dollar brand. You’d think someone that successful followed all the rules, right?
Nope.
Jobs basically looked at the rulebook, scoffed, and used it as a coaster for his organic chamomile tea. He believed creativity was about ignoring the usual “grown-up advice” and doing something so different it made other CEOs spit out their fancy bottled water.
So, if you’re the kind of person who thinks outside the box—or doesn’t even know where the box is—congrats. You’re already halfway there.
Here are 6 rules creative people break (and why you probably should too)—now with extra humor, extra rebellion, and extra Steve.
1. “Don’t Ask for Help” — Unless You Want to Stay Stuck Forever
A lot of smart people treat asking for help like it’s admitting defeat. “I’ll figure it out myself,” they grunt, as they explode their kitchen trying to fix the toaster.
Steve Jobs? He did ask for help—especially from the best. Whether it was design, tech, or business strategy, he built a team of absolute rockstars. He knew that creativity isn’t solo. It’s jazz—sometimes you play lead, sometimes you back up.
Fun Fact: Apple hired Jony Ive, the guy who literally designed the look of the iPhone, MacBook, and iMac. Jobs didn’t design everything. He just made sure the right people did it perfectly.
Rule Reversal: Asking for help doesn’t make you weak. It makes you smart. And honestly, it saves time. Don’t be the genius who spends 7 hours building a rocket… upside down.
2. “Stick to Your Lane” — Unless You’re on a Unicorn
Regular people say: “Master your field. Stay focused.”
Steve Jobs said: “I took a random calligraphy class and made fonts so sexy your computer blushed.”
True story: Jobs dropped out of college, wandered into a calligraphy class, and learned about spacing, serifs, and curves so elegant they could win beauty contests. Fast-forward: Apple computers became the only ones that didn’t look like they were built by cavemen with calculators.
Fun Fact: The first Mac had fonts like “Geneva” and “Chicago.” You know, the classy stuff. Meanwhile, PC fonts looked like they were written by a nervous squirrel.
Moral: If something interests you—even if it seems random—it might just become your secret sauce. Be the weirdo with range.
3. “Don’t Make Mistakes” — LOL, Good Luck With That
Some people treat mistakes like they’re contagious.
Jobs? He treated them like building blocks. Explosive, unpredictable, expensive building blocks… but still useful.
Ever heard of the Apple Lisa? No? That’s because it was a flaming tech disaster. It flopped harder than a fish on roller skates. But without Lisa, there’d be no Mac. And without the Mac, you’d be reading this on a potato.
Fun Fact: Steve’s quote: “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations.” Translation: mess up fast, fix it faster, and don’t mope like a soggy Pop-Tart.
4. “Wait Until You’re Ready” — Or Just Jump and Yell ‘Wheee!’
Perfection is a scam. A big shiny mirage made by people who love procrastinating with fancier words.When Jobs launched the first iPhone, guess what?
- No video recording
- No front camera
- No copy-paste (seriously)
But he launched anyway. And people lost their minds.
Relatable Moment: Remember when you hesitated to post that meme because it “wasn’t good enough”? Meanwhile, Steve launched a half-baked phone that became the phone. Just post the meme, Sharon.
Truth Bomb: You don’t need to be “ready.” You need to start. Growth comes from doing, not from waiting for a divine email that says “It’s time.”
5. “Listen to Everyone” — That’s How You End Up with a Committee Sandwich
Jobs believed customer opinions were nice… but not always useful.
He once said, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” Bold. Rude.
Also… true.
Imagine if Henry Ford listened to his customers. They wanted faster horses. He gave them cars. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos listened to the internet and built a bookstore that now delivers adult diapers and drones.
Fun Fact: Focus groups once said the iPad was “too big” and “nobody will carry a tablet.” Guess who’s reading this on one now?
Creative Rule: If your dream needs a permission slip, it might not be big enough. Innovation often means ignoring polite advice and doing something so cool that people copy you six months later and pretend it was their idea.
6. “Keep Work and Life Separate” — Unless You’re Passionately Obsessed
Normal people clock out at 5. Steve Jobs became his work. Apple wasn’t just a company; it was his art, his diary, and his personal playground of glory.
Now, let’s be clear: You should definitely shower, sleep, and occasionally talk to your family. But Jobs shows us something important—creativity loves obsession. When you love your work, it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like destiny with a double shot of espresso.
Warning: This doesn’t mean burnout is a badge of honor. It means find something that excites you enough to sneak out of bed at 2 a.m. to write it down… with joy, not dread.
Final Thoughts (a.k.a. Rebel’s Digest)
Steve Jobs didn’t follow rules. He danced on them with bare feet and told the world to think different. And in doing so, he changed it.
Let’s recap the sacred rebellious wisdom:
- Mix weird skills like a creativity smoothie
- Celebrate mistakes like party confetti
- Jump in before you’re ready—then swim like crazy
- Trust your gut, not every noisy opinion
- Care so deeply it blurs the lines between life and work
- Ask for help. No ego. Just results.
Because at the end of the day, rules are suggestions with good manners—but creativity? Creativity is that wild kid in class who asks, “But what if we did it upside down?”
Be that kid.
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.
