Exponential Effort

Steve Jobs was unquestionably one of the greatest tech innovators of this or any era. Among his many well known character traits, a fondness for black turtle necks and blue jeans was one of his most visible, and seemingly quirky habits. So - did this simple outfit help drive his creativity and productivity? The answer is more complex than a simple yes or no…

It turns out that the black turtle necks were actually specially made for him by Japanese designer Issey Miyaki. After hiring Miyaki to work on designing some uniforms for Apple assembly workers, Jobs became friends with Miyaki and came to like the idea of having a uniform for himself, because of both its daily convenience (the rationale he claimed) and its ability to convey a signature style. “So I asked Issey to make me some of his black turtlenecks that I liked, and he made me like a hundred of them.” Jobs noticed my surprise when he told this story, so he gestured to them stacked up in the closet. “That’s what I wear,” he said. “I have enough to last for the rest of my life.”

But did these simple black shirts really make Jobs more productive?

First, I think we can safely assume that Steve Jobs would have been equally productive wearing any different outfit on the face of the earth!

That being said - what was it about this particular outfit that was so attractive to him?

1). Unlock Your Alter Ego
In the book Alter Ego, author Todd Herman explores how putting on a simple cape or sports uniform can reliably tap into a specific set of characteristics and abilities that might not be available when we are in our everyday “street wear”. For Jobs, the simplicity and ease of use of his “uniform” were perfectly aligned with his decades long obsession at Apple to create simple and easy to use technology products. This isn’t something to overthink, but if a certain outfit helps you work out better, or seems to inspire creativity in front of the keyboard, or makes you a better dancer - whatever skill you are attempting to improve - then go ahead and repeatedly put on your alter ego “uniform” or “cape” and activate those particular super powers!

2). Keep Things Simple in a VUCA World
A second valuable aspect to having a uniform, whether your are a Japanese high school student, a chef, a nurse or leading a trillion dollar tech company is that it simplifies your decision process each day, freeing up mental space for dealing with work related complexity. Rian Dorris at Flow Research Collective believes we are increasingly living in a world dominated by VUCA - Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. In the face of these stresses, Dorris recommends that we try and limit VUCA in our personal lives so that we can concentrate with intensity on our professional creative tasks. With kids, family and other obligations - it’s easy to have VUCA in every aspect of life, but by just being aware of VUCA, it can help you to look for ways to simplify wherever possible.

3). Embrace a Signature Style
A third important aspect of having a familiar “uniform” is that it creates a consistent brand for your in-person and online identity. Steve Jobs had his black turtleneck and jeans, FDR had his signature fedora hats, Leonardo DiCaprio has his newsboy hats, Hemingway had his Aran sweaters, Harry Styles his bandannas, Lorde has her dark lipstick, Adele her little black dress.. the list goes on and on. These often small but simple “signature styles” can play out in an infinite number of looks, but still communicate the essential identity. Notice also that none of these styles need be especially expensive to pull off!

Conclusion
To be clear, buying a stack of black turtle necks will not immediately propel you to the heights of Silicon Valley business success, just as wearing Irish sweaters will not make you start writing like Ernest Hemingway - at least not right away. Nor will wearing the same style workout shirt for weeks and years on end necessarily improve your training performance. However, as we have seen - finding your own unique special “uniform” that gives you a boost of energy and endorphins is a legitimate performance enhancing tool. A special uniform or look can amplify your efforts and help build a long-term commitment and identify - with yourself and others. In a world increasingly filled with Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, making a small investment in discovering and refining your special “uniform” can pay big dividends by immediately boosting your performance, and also compounding your impact and identity in the long term!