Silicon Valley in its infancy
His days contributed to the world that would become Silicon Valley, which was then in its formative stages as innovation emerged from a few garages here and there but is sometimes lost in the shuffle. Born in 1934, Wayne is perhaps best known as the third cofounder of Apple Inc. with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Nevertheless, his role in the creation of one of the most powerful companies on earth is a tale of missed opportunities and risks.
The Formation of Apple Inc.
A former engineer and technical writer, Wayne had first met Jobs when he worked at Atari. They both realized it was a great idea so he said yes, and on April 1st 1976 Apple Computer came into existence. Wayne had contributed greatly to the birth of the fledgling enterprise, with writing its founding document and designing its first logo, but he did much more: he provided a calming influence over its scramble for respectability in those early days.
A Decisive Exit
But then Wayne was no longer with Apple. Just 12 days after the company form, he left with $800 in his name from a 10%-ownership spot. Wayne was more concerned about the financial risks to himself than he is (actually). saying in the clip, but he did say plenty about risk aversity versus speculative. The final cost of this decision was billions: if only he had held on until today, that stake would have been worth more than $200 billion.
Legacy and Reflections
Some have gone as far as saying that Wayne’s departure is one of the greatest missed business opportunities in Apple ستكون. But Matthieu remains candid about it, saying that it gave him some peace of mind. Uncomfortable with the start-up hustling of Jobs and Wozniak, Wayne sought stability and opted for a safer path.
Conclusion
Yet, the case of Ronald Wayne is one such rarity when looking back at its long and storied past that began with the apple as one of his only choices. He, perhaps fittingly is the giant of this era too thanks to the early work of Steve Jobs unless it leaves him as a long-term success. The last paragraph of the Tale of Wayne shows how narrow is the border between caution and risk in developing innovation.