Apple.com homepage on 10/5/11
As I sit here on my Apple computer which is linked to my Iphone and Ipad (all of which have become convenient tools of life for my family and I) this news hits me kind of hard. Many of these tools that claim to make us more "productive" and can entertain us as never before are in large part the creative genius of college dropout Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs is really a modern day Solomon. His story is a story of success, perseverance, creativity, entrepreneurship, & genius is unequaled. Many people aren't aware of this but Steve was given up for adoption because his parent's wanted a girl and also for him to raised by parents who had a college education so he would have a better chance at becoming "successful". After dropping out of college himself he started a little company out of his garage. This company called Apple would later fire him in 1986. He was hired back in 1996 after helping modern computers come into existence by coming up with ideas such as modern typesetting that began with the MAC (learned from a calligraphy class he wasn't required to attend) , the idea of using symbols instead of text to click on, and the foreign concept of a mouse. In 1998 the iMac became the most successful selling computer in history and became a link to this new thing called the internet. In 2001 Apple introduced something called the Ipod which many said would not serve a good purpose since so many people would be unwilling to get rid of their 8-tracks, records, tapes, & CD's in lieu of digital music. Seeing how digital was the coming future Apple introduced the Itunes store in 2003 so people could start shopping for their digital entertainment on the internet. People then said that digital music could be a possibility but that most people would never buy a movie or TV show to watch on something such as an Ipod. Apple then introduced the video Ipod in 2005 and optimized all other versions of the Ipod. In 2007 Apple introduced the first Iphone and then wireless capability for their devices. People resisted at first because they questioned the need to always be connected (wise decision or not?). In 2008 Apple introduces the Apple App Store which enabled people to link with many other tools of business and the ability to connect to social media networks. People resisted because they questioned the viability of social media networks. In 2010 Apple developed the Ipad which began the race between a few companies to create the smallest and most portable computer known to man. People told Steve that there was no way the original Ipad could be thinner but he didn't listen to that either. All the above doesn't mention many, many other areas of Steve's creative genius such as the development of Pixar animations among others. In just 15 years Steve Jobs had a hand in almost every area imaginable from computing, all forms of entertainment, business, government, & has had an impact in almost every person's personal life here in the US. At one point in the summer of 2011 Apple is reported to have more cash on hand than the entire United States government. Steve Jobs personal networth is more than 11% of the cash the entire United States government currently has on hand. All this and today Steve has passed on to meet his maker.
We will continue to be impacted by his (and many more to come) legacies of innovation but what's it really worth in the end? Will all this "technology" really have that much of an impact when we leave this world? I think about the sweet old lady from Oklahoma who has mailed Jake a card saying she is praying for him every single week for over a year now (that's right over a year now every single week). I can hardly think of one thing I've done every week for the past year. She is having an impact with only a pen and a stamp. What's more important is her desire to do something nice for someone and then do it consistently. I regret I haven't saved all of her cards for Jake to look at one day later in life but I plan to save every one of them from now on for this specific purpose. We don't need everything we think we do sometimes to make an impact or leave a truly valuable legacy to our family and friends or the world. We definitely don't need to exert the extra effort we do at times to research and obtain the latest products because it's not going to be "new" when the next announcement comes out.
There is no question that Steve Jobs has had a positive impact on the world's economy and played in huge part in the technological advances of the entire world in basically 15 years. However, Steve learned some things in the last part of his life that we all need to be reminded of from time to time. In a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, Steve said,
We will continue to be impacted by his (and many more to come) legacies of innovation but what's it really worth in the end? Will all this "technology" really have that much of an impact when we leave this world? I think about the sweet old lady from Oklahoma who has mailed Jake a card saying she is praying for him every single week for over a year now (that's right over a year now every single week). I can hardly think of one thing I've done every week for the past year. She is having an impact with only a pen and a stamp. What's more important is her desire to do something nice for someone and then do it consistently. I regret I haven't saved all of her cards for Jake to look at one day later in life but I plan to save every one of them from now on for this specific purpose. We don't need everything we think we do sometimes to make an impact or leave a truly valuable legacy to our family and friends or the world. We definitely don't need to exert the extra effort we do at times to research and obtain the latest products because it's not going to be "new" when the next announcement comes out.
There is no question that Steve Jobs has had a positive impact on the world's economy and played in huge part in the technological advances of the entire world in basically 15 years. However, Steve learned some things in the last part of his life that we all need to be reminded of from time to time. In a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, Steve said,
" Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked."
This thought helped Steve Jobs become a legend. He was not influenced by much of what was said about him as he was focused on using his gifts and talents to simply do what enjoyed to do. He was not worried in the slightest that many of the things he poured himself into totally ignored the conventional wisdom of the day.
Hopefully, this is the legacy we all can focus on more rather than all the new features the Iphone 4S will have but sometimes this type of thing is a challenge. However, you have to identify a challenge first before you start working towards conquering it so good luck to all those who attempt it. Anyway, just my thoughts.
This thought helped Steve Jobs become a legend. He was not influenced by much of what was said about him as he was focused on using his gifts and talents to simply do what enjoyed to do. He was not worried in the slightest that many of the things he poured himself into totally ignored the conventional wisdom of the day.
Hopefully, this is the legacy we all can focus on more rather than all the new features the Iphone 4S will have but sometimes this type of thing is a challenge. However, you have to identify a challenge first before you start working towards conquering it so good luck to all those who attempt it. Anyway, just my thoughts.
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