McHugh Michael

a woman sitting in front of a large amount of bananas

The Sam Zemurray Hustle: From Bananas to Empire

“Things may come to those who wait…but only the things left by those who hustle.” – Elbert Hubbard Early Philosophy & the Sam Zemurray Hustle Samuel Zemurray was driven by the same force that pulled countless immigrants into the American dream—a hunger to climb. That Sam Zemurray hustle defined his life—he wanted more and wouldn’t wait […]

The Sam Zemurray Hustle: From Bananas to Empire Read More »

friday five a blue button with a white envelope on it

Friday Five – Power in quiet, Strength in restraint, Excellence in silence

No. 301 | October 3, 2025 Welcome to this week’s Friday Five—a quick hit of insights, inspiration, and favorites to kick off your weekend with clarity and purpose. Music of the Week The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) keeps a full-scale orchestra alive for the people of the Gulf South. Formed in 1991, the LPO runs

Friday Five – Power in quiet, Strength in restraint, Excellence in silence Read More »

man in black crew neck shirt holding white printer paper

Steve Jobs Leadership Lessons from Make Something Wonderful

“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” — G.W.F. Hegel Steve Jobs leadership lessons: Vision & Idealism One of the most enduring Steve Jobs leadership lessons was his ability to view technology through a liberal arts lens—a human-centered perspective. In Make Something Wonderful, Jobs used the Macintosh as an example. Its desktop

Steve Jobs Leadership Lessons from Make Something Wonderful Read More »

black samsung android smartphone on black textile

Friday Five – Fear in thought, Power in choice, Calm within

No. 300 | September 26, 2025 Welcome to this week’s Friday Five—a quick dose of insights, inspiration, and favorites to start your weekend with clarity and intention. Music of the Week Denis Jašarević—better known as Gramatik—is a Slovenian electronic music producer. His love of music began early—first with funk, jazz, soul, and blues—before shifting to

Friday Five – Fear in thought, Power in choice, Calm within Read More »

grayscale photo of a man in black jacket and pants walking on the street

Steve Jobs on People, Passion, and Culture: Building Apple’s Core Values

“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” — Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel Steve Jobs on People and Culture Hire A-players and develop them. Build a culture where passionate debate thrives. Align everyone around shared values and mission. It may sound like advice from a powerhouse football team—but it’s how Apple operated

Steve Jobs on People, Passion, and Culture: Building Apple’s Core Values Read More »

Friday Five – Small steps, Steady progress, Big results

No. 299 | September 19, 2025 Welcome to this week’s Friday Five — a quick hit of insights, inspiration, and personal favorites to kick off your weekend with clarity and intention. Music of the Week Flamingosis is the stage name of Aaron Velasquez, a New Jersey-based producer and DJ. He blends electronic beats with live instrumentation

Friday Five – Small steps, Steady progress, Big results Read More »

Apple Store shop front

How Steve Jobs Focus and Simplicity Rescued Apple

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” – Coco Chanel Steve Jobs focus and simplicity allowed Apple to prioritize ruthlessly. Do fewer things—but do them extraordinarily well. Simplify your products, processes, and communication. That’s the Apple way, as Make Something Wonderful shows. Steve Jobs’s approach was simple: focus on fewer things. That focus let his

How Steve Jobs Focus and Simplicity Rescued Apple Read More »

Creative Selection silver iPhone 11

Creative Selection Apple: How the Demo Process Built Its Best Products

“Excellence is never an accident. It is the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution. It represents the wise choice among many alternatives—choice, not chance, determines your destiny.” — Aristotle Apple shaped its products through variation—what became known as Creative Selection–building demos, keeping what worked, and discarding what didn’t. Each decision informed the

Creative Selection Apple: How the Demo Process Built Its Best Products Read More »

person using smartphone and laptop computer

Friday Five – Live in the present, Act with clarity, Find true happiness

No. 298 | September 12, 2025 Welcome to this week’s Friday Five—a quick hit of insights, inspiration, and favorites to kick off your weekend with clarity and intention. Music of the Week The Black Keys, formed in Ohio in the early 2000s, consist of Dan Auerbach (vocals, guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums). They began as

Friday Five – Live in the present, Act with clarity, Find true happiness Read More »

Steve Jobs presentations apple logo on glass window

How Steve Jobs Presentations Were Perfected Through Relentless Practice

“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” — Vince Lombardi Public speaking can be terrifying, but Steve Jobs presentations became legendary through relentless practice, as written by Ken Kocienda in Creative Selection: Inside Apple’s Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs. One of his best-kept secrets was just how much time he

How Steve Jobs Presentations Were Perfected Through Relentless Practice Read More »

Scroll to Top