“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.” -- Steve Jobs (02/24/55 -10/05/2011)
Steve Jobs died today. He was one of my heros and there honestly aren't too many people who make this short list. I was one of the very first users of the Apple Macintosh. I spent a year at Stanford doing research and was able to buy my first Mac through something called the Stanford Consortium when it was first released in 1984. I've had every version ever since. I was also one of the first iPod and iPhone users. I've always been an "early-adopter" when it comes to Apple's products because each one has been better than the last. Steve Jobs has touched my life in so many ways and continues to do so multiple times per day through the delightful devices he brought to my life. Just consider how many smiles each day he is personally responsible for! He was an inspiration to us all and changed the way we do the simplest things, always for the better. He made it cool to be a geek, something I will always be grateful for! He's left an amazing legacy and very big shoes to fill at Apple. It is so sad to see him taken from us so young. The world has lost a truly great man and a genius of epic proportions today.
I admired his vision, his tenacity and his willingness to do whatever it took to make his products the best and most beautiful they could be. He overcame daunting obstacles, even getting fired from the very company he helped found only to graciously agree to return when Apple took a nose dive in his absence. He was able to see new ways to do things and embraced his own creativity and incredible sense of possibility. He marched to his own drummer and never apologized for being unique. I hope original thinkers everywhere will always be inspired by Steve and his dreams. And I hope all of us take a moment to express our appreciation and respect the next time we reach for one of the many delightful and innovative products he brought to our lives.
Rest in Peace Steve Jobs (1955-2011). You will be deeply missed as someone who touched the world in the best possible way!
