{
  "id": 9798045,
  "title": "Ron Johnson worked with Steve Jobs for 11 years. This lesson stuck with him.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/ron-johnson-worked-with-steve-jobs-for-11-years-this-lesson-stuck",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-25T16:41:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-former-retail-chief-ron-johnson-lesson-steve-jobs-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ron Johnson collaborated with Steve Jobs for more than a decade, including a period where they spoke on the phone every night for roughly a year. As Apple's former head of retail, Johnson oversaw the creation of 350 stores and the development of nearly 50 more. This experience left Johnson with a crucial lesson that he continues to apply today.\n\nJohnson emphasized the importance of being present and avoiding rushing, traits that Jobs consistently demonstrated. When Jobs worked, he concentrated solely on his tasks and refrained from carrying his phone, as his assistant would alert Johnson if he needed to take a call. The former retail chief echoed this philosophy, noting Jobs' remarkable presence in their interactions and in the development of Apple's products.\n\nApple's product launches under Jobs, such as the iPhone after the iPod's success, exemplified his deliberate approach to innovation. Johnson highlighted that Apple waited until 2007 to introduce the iPhone, having perfected the iPod first. He attributed this patience to Jobs' belief that rushing would compromise the quality of their offerings.\n\nWhen Johnson joined Apple's retail division, he faced skepticism about the viability of physical stores amidst the growth of online shopping. However, he adhered to his belief in bold, patient visions, aiming for profitability once stores achieved $15 million in revenue. This $15 million threshold was finally met after the launch of the iPod Nano. In his book, Johnson recounted Jobs' acknowledgment that Apple's retail strategy would take time to gain widespread acceptance.",
  "summary": "Ron Johnson oversaw the creation of 350 Apple stores — but success didn't happen overnight.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}