Before rising to fame as a multi-millionaire tech icon, Steve Jobs faced challenges in his early career.
Rather than being celebrated, he was seen as an outsider by his former boss Allan Alcorn.
Upon leaving college, Jobs secured a job as a technician at Atari, a computer game company, before co-founding Apple.
Despite his evident skills, Jobs struggled to connect with his colleagues.
Allan Alcorn, the creator of Atari’s hit game Pong, initially hired Jobs but later had to assign him to night shifts due to interpersonal issues.
Reflecting on the hiring, Alcorn shared, “In 1973, there was this enthusiastic 18-year-old named Steve Jobs who was deeply passionate about technology.
He was quite a challenging colleague and grappled with body odour concerns, hence the night shift arrangement.”
Despite this adjustment, Alcorn maintained a positive relationship with Jobs, who would go on to establish Apple alongside Steve Wozniak, a move that propelled the company to a staggering valuation of $241 trillion today.
Had Alcorn foreseen Apple’s future success, he might have made different decisions.
During Apple’s nascent stages, Jobs approached Alcorn for technical assistance, offering him company equity in return.
Regrettably, Alcorn declined the offer, opting for a computer instead.
This choice proved costly in hindsight.
Nonetheless, Alcorn was presented with a second opportunity to collaborate with Apple after departing Atari when Warner purchased the company.
Despite reservations about reuniting with Jobs, Alcorn became an Apple Fellow, contributing to advancements in digital video compression.
Recalling his apprehensions, Alcorn admitted, “I was hesitant to work with Jobs again due to his challenging nature, but the allure of Apple was undeniable.”
One of Alcorn’s notable projects at Apple involved enhancing video compression technology, a development that significantly impacted internet content, particularly the proliferation of adorable animal videos.
In summary, Steve Jobs’ journey from night shifts at Atari to co-founding Apple underscores the complexities and dynamics of his early career, highlighting the pivotal role played by individuals like Allan Alcorn in shaping tech history.
