A Real World Connection...

In oPtion$, Steve Jobs (Co-founder and CEO of Apple) had to deal with his paranoia of getting kicked out of Apple.  It was his worst nightmare that had already came true in 1985.  He had already left Apple once, he was determined not to leave it again.  Yet the board of Apple is growing more and more tense about the stock options crisis that is has plagued Apple, and with the SEC breathing down Apple's neck, one more choice has been given to the CEO, his termination.  However no one formally told him about this "other option", but as the company faced more serious issues, Steve Jobs was beginning to suspect his termination was imminent. 

The current day Steve Jobs is faced with a similar paranoia.  It's his treasure, iOS.  Even back when the book was written, Steve Jobs has treasured iOS (at that time it was called iPhone OS).  Now he must face his former partner, Eric Schmidt as he fights for platform domination.  However with new OSs coming out every couple of months (Windows Phone 7, Web OS, Maemo, ect.) he needs to be prepared with new features for that counter those OSs as well..  He is pushing out updates to iOS every couple of months now, compared to last year when it only had 2 major updates.  He knows that at any second companies like Google, HP, or Microsoft could release something innovative that will capture smartphone market share.  He must be prepared, and deal with the paranoia of his treasure turning to rust.

In both situations he must be prepared for anything.  He must live with the paranoia of losing what is so dear to him.  However in both situations, his paranoia acts as a strength for him, and that one strength is exactly what he needs.

oPtion$, oPtion$, oPtion$...

oPtion$ is an interesting book about the stock option crisis of late 2006 that happened within Apple.  The Author (Daniel Lyons) uses a unique way to tell the story.  He writes the book as if it were the personal diary of Steve Jobs (CEO and co-founder of Apple).   So far, Steve has already been accused of backdating stock options and is faced with a choice from his advisor.  He can take the chance and risk going to prison, or he can fake his own death.  Both ways, Apple stock drops.  He feels trapped and while all of this is happening, he still needs to manage the company and prepare for the coming release of the new iPhone...

The integral setting is Apple headquarters.  It influences the plot a lot because his day-today life happens at Apple.  His job is to run Apple from the headquarters.  He talks to his lawyers here, he talks to his advisors here, and he makes Apple PR release it's statement's here.  Without Apple headquarters there is no Apple...

The backdrop setting is Cupertino.  The story did not have to take place in Cupertino it could have taken place in any other city since Silicon Valley followed pioneering companies like Apple, not Apple following Silicon Valley.