REAL ARTISTS SHIP. That was Steve Jobs’ mantra in 1983, as the original Macintosh project spiraled way behind schedule.
The team was full of brilliant minds—designers, engineers, visionaries. But they were caught in a loop of internal debates, perfectionism, and tweaks.
Jobs knew that innovation without execution was meaningless. He gathered the team and made it crystal clear:
“Real artists ship.”
Not talk. Not plan. Not endlessly refine. Ship.
So they did. The Macintosh launched on time—January 24, 1984. It wasn’t flawless. But it was real. It was bold. It changed everything. At some point, every small business—especially professional service firms—must stop talking, stop polishing, and deliver exactly what the client expects.
Not someday. Not next quarter. Now. Your client doesn’t experience your internal thinking. They experience the work you deliver.
That means:
– Not just internal vision decks, but clear, client-facing strategy documents
– Not just performance reports, but proactive insight
– Not just brilliance in meetings, but proof that your team is coordinated and on track
Too many firms confuse education with strategy. Or personality with process. Or software output with value creation.
Steve Jobs wouldn’t have stood for it, and neither will your best clients.
START BY ASKING YOUR TOP CLIENT TWO QUESTIONS:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate us on exceeding your expectations?
2. Specifically, what more do we need to do so that we are consistently exceeding your expectations?
Then, listen carefully. And ship something better.
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About Mark McKenna Little
Mark Little is the ‘regular guy’ Financial Advisor whose unconventional approach to financial services acquired 1,242 clients.
Then in just 34 months he rebuilt his business from the ground up, shattering international records and boosting revenue by 412%
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