Leading Apple With Steve Jobs: Management Lessons From a Controversial Genius

One Infinite Loop

Later, after the Macintosh was released, Steve was able to push the Apple board into a commitment to create a new Apple company headquarters and campus. (Ironically, the property that the company chose to build on was right across the street from the IBM Santa Teresa Labs software development center that I had been responsible for.)

It took a few years, of course, but once the new headquarters buildings at the made-up address of One Infinite Loop in Cupertino were finished and occupied, a few pieces of the old Pirate philosophy spread throughout the whole of Apple Computer. Conference rooms were identified by names sure to bring a smile because they were so anti-corporate and unconventional; names like Da Vinci, Inspiration, and Mission Impossible (after a popular television adventure show of the time). They also included brands of apples: Pippin, Sundance, Fuji, Granny Smith, and so on. Free popcorn was available from popcorn carts scattered throughout the buildings on every floor. Meetings held midday might have catered lunches brought in at company expense, and there were often several of these every day.

The business of the company got done, but it got done in a lighthearted, fun atmosphere that helped keep spirits high.

Other U.S. companies in more recent times have created their own versions of a novel setting to make the work environment a pleasing place to be. At the main offices of Google, known as the Googleplex, there is a playground-like atmosphere, ...