I think the story is better taken as a lesson in both humility, and finding happiness rather than an example of Steve's benevolence. The reason is that this man had very legitimate reasons to take this interaction negatively: He's the famous CEO of the company they are standing in front of, and they didn't recognize him. He's battling a serious illness, rather publicly, and they don't seem to think this could be imposing. His time is incredibly important to him, both in the fact that he is CEO, but also because of his health, he's working fast to try and get everything in order to secure the future success of his company. From his point of view, he could've viewed them as ignorant people who are wasting his very limited time, and he would be right on some level.
He could've said no or simply ignored them, and he would've have legitimate excuse to do so - but the fact that he didn't says something about him. I think a lot of people assume that what that says is "because he wasn't a jerk, it makes him a nice person" but I think it's more that he was able to take what very well could've been a negative interaction and instead of dismissing it, see the positive side of it, and get enjoyment out of it. He was able to take the humble route, and instead of ignoring them, lambasting them, or simply revealing who he was and risk embarrassing them, he simply fulfilled the request and went on his way.
I took this is more a lesson in ego, humility, and happiness than it is evidence for/against his character.
I think the story is better taken as a lesson in both humility, and finding happiness rather than an example of Steve's benevolence. The reason is that this man had very legitimate reasons to take this interaction negatively: He's the famous CEO of the company they are standing in front of, and they didn't recognize him. He's battling a serious illness, rather publicly, and they don't seem to think this could be imposing. His time is incredibly important to him, both in the fact that he is CEO, but also because of his health, he's working fast to try and get everything in order to secure the future success of his company. From his point of view, he could've viewed them as ignorant people who are wasting his very limited time, and he would be right on some level.
He could've said no or simply ignored them, and he would've have legitimate excuse to do so - but the fact that he didn't says something about him. I think a lot of people assume that what that says is "because he wasn't a jerk, it makes him a nice person" but I think it's more that he was able to take what very well could've been a negative interaction and instead of dismissing it, see the positive side of it, and get enjoyment out of it. He was able to take the humble route, and instead of ignoring them, lambasting them, or simply revealing who he was and risk embarrassing them, he simply fulfilled the request and went on his way.
I took this is more a lesson in ego, humility, and happiness than it is evidence for/against his character.