iPad, CNN, Steve, and Me?

I can still remember the first time I heard the phrase, “There’s margin in the mystery.” 23-year-old me was sitting at a table with Jeff, a good friend and mentor, at Tully’s Coffee on Main Street in Bellevue, where we still often meet. Literally, I heard Jeff’s words, but at that moment in time I couldn’t perceive ever having enough expertise in a “mystery” to ever be able to create “margin.”

Fortunately for me, the object of my affection –  the mobile / social software that we all know and love – has taken center stage for the time being and is causing quite a stir among brands, ad agencies, and consumers. Thanks to Jeff’s generosity with both his time and thoughts, I was prepared for this opportunity to help the world better understand the iPad and see it for the amazing technology that it is… err, will be.

Case in point, I had the opportunity to share a few of my thoughts regarding the the iPad with CNN.   If you had ever told me that my name would appear within a few lines of Steve Jobs, I would have never believed you. Still it’s important to keep in mind that the reason I made it into CNN’s iPad article is that someone of greater importance did not return the reporter’s email or phone call – there’s always a bigger fish in a bigger pond. Regardless, this little fish is still pretty excited about his moment in the spotlight of “iPad apps likely to be bigger, pricier“, and just a few lines below Steve at that!

From a technical standpoint, there’s a reason everyone wants to talk to us. At Übermind, we’ve been working with Apple and the iTunes Store since our founding in 1999. Most of the world’s iPhone (and now iPad) developers have been working with the iPhone’s SDK (software development kit) since late 2007 / early 2008 at best, but our developers have been working with the languages that power this platform since before Übermind was even a thought in minds of our founders. In other words, working alongside the experts here at Übermind has really been quite the blessing and ongoing learning experience – I cherish ever day here at our offices along the Ship Canal in Fremont, Seattle’s quirkiest neighborhood.

So, what mysteries can your passions lend you credibility in? Explore this question; it’s been a life changing one for me, and I’m confident it can be for you as well.

Happy Monday!

– RP