I think the main part of the "Jobs-Wozniak" relationship that people forget to mention is that Jobs approached Wozniak and thought that's what they should market.<p>In other words, you're not a Wozniak just because you're heavily into technology. Wozniak created a bunch of stuff because he wanted something very useful for himself and he was going to create it on a tight budget. That is actually what great leaders do (at least according to some leadership books and my own experience)--they don't create something and then force it onto other people. Nor do they tell people what to do. They simply start doing it themselves and then other people notice and want to take part. (In other words, if you want people to do what you're saying, start doing it yourself and people will copy it or want to be around you when you prove it works. Don't just start telling people what to do.)<p>So, Wozniak is more than a technical guy. He was exhibiting silent leadership about hardware. And Jobs was exhibiting leadership in how software should be later on.<p>If you think you want a Jobs, are you a Wozniak to even have such a comparison? In other words, are you creating a software or hardware product for yourself that makes things so much easier and better that other people notice it and approach you and tell you, we can sell this? Remember, Wozniak didn't ask anybody. That's the relationship that happened. Not, "Oh, you created a bunch of code, let's try to somehow convert it into a business." The idea made sense in the first place.<p>So, if you're 100% technical, the best thing to do is to show what you do to everybody. Don't force it on to them, and don't worry about anybody copying you since if you're clearly enjoying what you're doing and they think it's a worthwhile thing to do, everybody will want to join you. Remember, if you're a Wozniak, it means you can basically display your ideas everywhere, even to roomfuls of technical people like Woz did, and know that everything will be OK.
IMHO - I don't think there is a very good way to "tell" someone you are a visionary. <p>Nor do I think there is any good way to know of yourself that you are a visionary to the tune of Steve Jobs. People say that the ideas that Jobs has that seem to "change the world" come to him as clear solutions to obvious problems. So you likely think your ideas seem fairly simple and makes perfect sense, only assuming that others could come up with them just as well. <p>I think the mentality of "something is obviously broken and if no-one else can see this seemingly obvious solution, then I'll just do it myself" is common among great inventors. <p>Steve and Woz shared this inventor's mentality, however Woz was content building stuff for fun to show friends. Jobs (being a visionary) saw the business potential and wanted to lead the technology into changing the future. <p>So to answer your question: All that you can show PG (especially in these applications) is that you have a cool idea, and that as a visionary you have plans for a real business that will make sense (aka have value) to people.<p>If you have an idea that will change the future, or just improve people's general quality of life... it is your responsibility (as Jobs) to mold that idea into your vision for a business that will make you and your co-founder(s) some money.<p>Woz created the Apple computer, but SJ convinced Woz and investors that they had a greater market than DIYers, and that "personal computers" was the way of the future. <p>Hopefully your vision works out as well as the Personal Computer, and then whether your start is with PG or not - people will be able to see you for the visionary that you are.
If you're the Jobs, you would find a way to get your message across effectively even if the questions on the application didn't present an easy opportunity to do so. For someone who's a Steve Jobs, the application questions provide a natural opportunity to market yourself.<p>(My first answer was going to be "If you have to ask you're not the Jobs", but I'm working on tact in my comments.)