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Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish. R.I.P. Steve Jobs
Today, we've lost a visionary, which has been surprisingly hard for me to say. If there was one thing that I could really thank Steve Jobs for is his steadfast dedication to making products for people and his ability to create products based on the human experience. His understanding for human interaction and simple product design is an inspiration to me.
As a tech guru, it's no surprise that Steve was always in the spotlight, bringing Apple to the forefront of the technology age (on more than one occasion). But Steve was never jaded, only accepting interviews for Apple product releases and never drawing attention to himself. I'm sure it was largely attributed to his humble beginnings, being raised by a foster home that only wanted the best for him. This humbleness from a CEO of the second most valuable company only rivaling Exxon Mobil is a sight to be marveled by all.
In the months leading up to his death, it seemed like Steve was still in control. Perhaps finally believing that he'd helped built a company and culture that would live on in his absence - and he sure has. I truly believe that the impact he's made on technology and on the world will continue to pervade in our everyday lives. Some have even compared Steve Jobs to the likes of Edison and Einstein. Though I can't make the same parallels, I can certainly say he was a visionary and will be remembered for decades to come.
If you haven't had the honor to take watch Steve Jobs' commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005, I think it's time. You can also get a transcribed version of his speech here.
I live by and will continue to live by some of his famous words:
Live on your own terms, don't let others bring you down.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.Trust your gut and follow your heart.
Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.Do what you love and don't settle for less.
You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.In the words of the great: "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish."
Rest in peace, Steve Jobs.
