Apple’s journey began in 1976, when Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded the company in a garage in Cupertino, California. Their first product, the Apple I, was a bare-bones circuit board—but it laid the foundation for a revolution. The follow-up, Apple II, launched in 1977 and became one of the first mass-market personal computers, catapulting the company into the spotlight.

In 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh, a groundbreaking computer with a graphical user interface and mouse—far ahead of its time. Yet despite the innovation, internal conflicts and a power struggle led to Jobs being forced out of Apple in 1985. Ironically, the company he helped build began to struggle without him.

Jobs went on to found NeXT and acquire Pixar, which would go on to dominate the animation world. Meanwhile, Apple floundered through the ’90s with a series of uninspired products and declining market share. In a dramatic twist, Apple bought NeXT in 1997, bringing Jobs back to the company. That return marked the beginning of one of the greatest comebacks in business history.

Jobs streamlined Apple’s product line and introduced the iMac in 1998, which revived the company’s image. But the real turning point came with the iPod in 2001, followed by iTunes, the iPhone in 2007, and the iPad in 2010. These products didn’t just succeed—they redefined entire industries. Under Jobs’ leadership, Apple became a symbol of sleek design, seamless user experience, and relentless innovation.

Jobs passed away in 2011, but his influence remains embedded in Apple’s DNA. Under Tim Cook’s leadership, Apple has continued to thrive, becoming the first U.S. company to reach a $3 trillion valuation and expanding its ecosystem with services, wearables, and continued hardware innovation.

A Business Lesson from Steve Jobs

One powerful lesson from Steve Jobs is: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Jobs believed in creating products that people didn’t even know they needed. He pushed boundaries, challenged the status quo, and demanded excellence. His approach reminds entrepreneurs and businesses that to lead, you must dare to think differently—and never stop at “good enough.”