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I agree. The more that this sentiment gets institutionalized the less value it has. Statements without a clear counterargument are always bothersome. Would someone like to make the argument for hiring B developers to build a great product? Jobs is great, but this is exactly the kind of quoting that I find really boring and annoying.

As a side note, it looks like that video is also available on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nMD6sjAe8I

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Would someone like to make the argument for hiring B developers to build a great product?

Are you offering that as a poor example of a counterargument? Because I think it's countering the wrong argument here. His point is not to hire A players because A players make great products.

His point is that A players in software development are unexpectedly significantly better than average players, when comparing to A players and average players in other industries. As such, anyone who is able to attract and work with A players in software development get an inordinate advantage over the competition.

I think the key word that defines his intentions is inordinate. If you can't work with A players, you may have already lost.

That's not the same video. It's a different interview entirely, from many many many years prior to the one referenced.

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