Who’s more innovative?

Apple or Microsoft; Katy Perry or Taylor Swift; Tom Brady or Russell Wilson; Frank Lloyd Wright or Mies van Der Rohe; Mark Zuckerberg or Jack Dorsey; Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk; Messi or Ronaldo?

Emotions can drive the answer to that question, but the place to start is in understanding the impact that they have made.

Hating the Patriots may affect how you view Tom Brady, as would disliking pop music if I asked you about Katy Perry or Taylor Swift.

But, what if I asked you about their craft and what makes them special about the way they do business that makes them different from everyone else?

What has happened as a result of their actions?

They’ve likely made money, but what have they done with it?

How have they changed their business or industry?

Or, maybe the question is how has the industry responded to them?

The ability to turn people your way is certainly a measure of success. But, so is touching the life of an individual. In an age of hyper-exposure, and for a deeper look, I would take a look at what they are doing off the camera and work to understand how they have affected the lives of people. It’s at this scale that another aspect of their impact and true character will emerge.