Steve Jobs, entrepreneur extraordinaire, was born on this day, 24th February in 1955. Most well known as the co-founder of Apple Inc. and Pixar, his legacy goes beyond incredible innovations that changed computing, networking, and communication.
Every interview, sound bite, and article of his sheds light on the visionary genius’s deep understanding of life and the myriad possibilities it presents. Revisiting his words proffers pearls of wisdom no lesser than those offered by spiritual gurus. His profound appreciation of life and its transient nature compelled him to make every day on this earth count.
Here are some of the lessons he imparted that would be of immense help to those trying to ‘succeed’ in this world.
Jobs has said many times, “Ask for help.” In today’s cut-throat world, where we are digitally connected but otherwise ‘disconnected,’ this is a piece of advice many would find daunting. He contends that the absolute worst that can happen is a wasted request. He has rarely been turned down when asking for help, he stated. Fundamentally, his words encourage one to believe in the goodness of people, in general. (Watch video here)
Many of us hesitate to ask for help for one simple reason – fear of failure/rejection. Jobs’ perspective of ‘failure’ is illuminating. He chose to see instances of loss or failure as new opportunities. His life itself is the most remarkable illustration of never allowing setbacks to become insurmountable obstacles. Remember, besides his numerous successes, he experienced epic failures.
Not to be discouraged by the prospect of or instance of failure, in essence, means not giving up even when the going gets tough. Jobs has never glossed over the hardships of being an entrepreneur. He has plainly and repeatedly said that it is a trying, worrisome and demanding undertaking. He believed that perseverance is key to success; that this one quality often separated those who succeeded from those who did not. Watch video here
Jobs has candidly spoken about the difficulty of working towards a goal, especially when it seems beyond reach. According to him, what keeps a person from quitting and motivates one to persevere is their passion for the project or dream. He believed it was crucial to find one’s passion for one to succeed. Listening to his words, it seems as though he thought very little was possible without being passionate about it.
It is safe to say Jobs was a profoundly philosophical man. Take a look at his words about ‘connecting the dots.’ Using the example of his interest in a calligraphy class at Reeds College, Jobs expounded that no knowledge is ever truly wasted. There are reasons and purposes behind what interests one. Watch video here
During Steve Jobs’ Commencement address to the Stanford class of 2005, he said, “And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”
Steve Jobs continues to inspire millions who dream of emulating his quest for perfection and innovating technologies that change the world. With a profound sense of loss and deep admiration, we remember Steve Jobs on what would have been his 66th birthday.
