Apple's former design director says this one bad habit can ruin your new job from day one

Starting a new job can feel like being dropped into a foreign country. You know the role, you know the company name, but the culture? That’s invisible. Former Apple design director

Bob Baxley

learned this the hard way when he jumped straight from Apple to Pinterest—“Friday to Monday”—and his Apple instincts clashed with Pinterest norms. He calls it being caught in Apple’s cultural imprint, or what Steve Jobs playfully dubbed “the Apple car wash.”According to Baxley, the biggest mistake people make on day one is not pausing to reset. Here’s why slowing down—and learning how to blend your past strengths with your new setting—is essential for your career success.

Apple's former design director warns: Bring the culture, not the habits

Baxley shared how he “bounced off” Pinterest by carrying over Apple’s direct and intense style—an environment he thrived in at Cupertino but didn’t translate elsewhere. He said:

“I came in thinking I was supposed to behave the way I behaved at Apple... That’s not really where Pinterest was at the time.”He describes Apple’s culture as a “really powerful” imprint that sticks around long after you leave. To adapt effectively, Baxley recommends adopting a “personal period of adjustment”—a “car wash” to rinse off old workplace behaviours.

Why "slowing down" matters when you join a new team

In fast-paced industries—especially tech—you might not get a delay between jobs. But Baxley says that even then, you can buffer:“When you go into a new culture, you need to slow down, deeply observe, don’t judge or compare.”That means listening more than speaking early on, watching how decisions are made, and noticing norms around communication, feedback, and risk. This approach keeps you from stepping on toes.

Carry strengths, not habits: The real transition challenge

Baxley isn’t saying throw away your toolbox—just be strategic about using it. He notes that your former employer hired you for your values—such as focus, detail, or creative rigour—but not necessarily for your past behaviours.So the key: pause, rethink, and ask yourself:

That alignment not only earns you credibility, it also avoids cultural misfires.

How others have done it right

Baxley points to Hiroki Asai—a former Apple marketing VP who took several years off before joining Airbnb—as a good example. That “rewirement” gave him time to recalibrate his mindset, easing the cultural transition.If you can’t take a break, you can still mimic the effect by spending your first few weeks observing, learning, and asking questions—instead of immediately implementing.

Common day‑one mistakes and how to avoid them

Even beyond tech, starting a new job often means tripping over invisible cultural patterns. Reddit users in r/Accounting recently shared first-week mistakes like rushing into tasks without checking procedures, then hiding them—it’s normal. The advice? Own your mistakes, document clearly, and ask for feedback early.This aligns with Baxley’s core tip: slow down, ask clarifying questions like "Can you walk me through your preferred process?" and adjust before acting.