Do you think non-technical consultants can add any value to the tech @ technology companies?

Everyone knows Jobs was notorious for his... let's say "direct" management style. But here's a lesser-known story that perfectly captures his disdain for business consultants. Back in 1997, when Jobs had just returned to Apple as interim CEO, the board was nervous about his unconventional approach. One board member suggested bringing in a top management consulting firm to help "streamline" Apple's product line and "optimize" operations.

Jobs' response? He stood up in the boardroom and said: "The last thing we need is someone who charges $500 an hour to tell us what made us successful in the first place. If you believe we need consultants, then you probably need a different CEO." He then proceeded to draw a simple 2x2 grid on the whiteboard, desktop and portable, consumer and pro. "This is our entire product line. Anyone who needs a consultant to understand this should leave the room now."

The board never brought up consultants again. Under Jobs' leadership, this simple matrix gave us the iMac, PowerBook, PowerMac, and eventually paved the way for the iPhone and iPad.

Fun fact: He maintained this hatred for consultants throughout his career. In his biography, there's a quote where he says consultants are people who borrow your watch to tell you what time it is, then keep your watch.