Steve Jobs says the most creative people usually break 5 conventional rules

Throughout his legendary career, Steve Jobs wasn’t just known for his extraordinary success; he was also renowned for his unconventional approach. Jobs famously believed creativity wasn’t about following rules—it was about boldly breaking them.

Inspired by Jobs, I’ve dug deeper into what exactly makes certain people stand out creatively. The answer, intriguingly, often involves challenging conventional wisdom.

Here are five common rules the most creative minds regularly ignore, according to Steve Jobs himself.

1. Stick to your expertise
   Have you ever felt hesitant to venture outside your comfort zone because it didn’t align with your expertise? Jobs rejected this common advice emphatically. He famously dropped out of college yet audited a calligraphy class—a decision initially disconnected from his career goals. However, years later, the aesthetic insights gained in that class profoundly influenced Apple’s elegant typography.

2. Avoid making mistakes
   “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes,” Jobs once said. “It is best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations.”

3. Wait until you’re fully prepared
   If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to start that project or launch your dream business, you might be following a rule that Jobs routinely broke. Jobs embraced the power of starting imperfectly. When Apple released the first iPhone, it had notable shortcomings—it couldn’t even record video. Yet, Jobs didn’t wait until every feature was perfect. Instead, he shipped, learned, and improved incrementally.

4. Listen to popular opinion
   Jobs famously dismissed the notion that products should be built purely based on customer feedback or popular trends. He asserted, “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

5. Maintain a clear work-life boundary
   We’ve all heard the advice: separate work from personal life to maintain balance. Yet, Jobs famously blurred this boundary, seeing his work not just as a career but as an essential part of his life’s passion and purpose. He believed that true creativity and innovation come from a deep personal connection with one’s work, where the lines between professional ambition and personal fulfillment naturally merge.

Final thoughts
Breaking rules can be uncomfortable—it involves risk, vulnerability, and the potential for criticism. But as Steve Jobs showed through his extraordinary life, stepping away from conventional wisdom can unlock extraordinary creativity and innovation.