Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts

by Susan Cain

When you read Wozniak’s account of his work process on that first PC, the most striking thing is that he was always by himself. He did most of the work inside his cubicle at Hewlett-Packard. He’d arrive around 6:30 a.m. and, alone in the early morning, read engineering magazines, study chip manuals, and prepare designs in his head. After work, he’d go home, make a quick meal, then drive back to the office and work late into the night. For him, this period of quiet nights and solitary sunrises was an amazing and energetic time. His efforts paid off on the night of June 29, 1975 at around 10:00 p.m., when Woz finished building a prototype of his machine. He hit a few keys on the keyboard—and letters appeared on the screen in front of him. It was the sort of breakthrough moment that most of us can only dream of. And he was alone when it happened. At a moment like that, many people would want to celebrate with their friends, but Woz preferred solitude. His invention changed the technological world, and by partnering with an extrovert who wanted to create a company around Woz’s brilliant invention, it made its way into the public eye. There would be no Apple without Steve Jobs, as we all know—but there would also be no Apple without Steve Wozniak.