Some Thoughts About Steve Jobs

Unless you’ve been in the deepest darkest Amazon today you’ll have heard about the death of Steve Jobs. For some of you his death is of no consequence, for others his death will have impacted you like it has me. It’s made me stop and pause and think about my life.

I was reminded today about what the Bible says about our life

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” James 4:14

Here are some thoughts:

Life is short, make it count

Steve said in a speech

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

I’m now over 40. Steve was 56 when he died. When I die will those around me will have the same words to say about me as they have about him. I need to make every day count as though it is my last. I need to focus on things that are worthwhile.

Don’t settle for mediocrity

Steve designed his products to the highest possible quality using the best quality materials. There is one story where Steve brags about the finish of the metal on the back of the iMac. Every little detail counted for him, even the back of a computer monitor. So often ‘good enough’ has been enough for me. I haven’t challenged myself enough and those around me to ‘be better’. I’ve settled for the average and the obvious.

Good design matters

Every Apple touchpoint has a sense of design class to it. It has been considered, revised, considered, re-written then created or developed. Every Apple product has been worked on remorselessly to make the complex ridiculously simple. Our challenge as marketers, communicators, leaders in our field is everyday to help make the complex simple so that everyone can connect and understand what we are trying to communicate.

These are just a couple of thoughts of the top of my head. What thoughts have you had? Comment below

3 comments

  1. I’ve been a rusted on Apple user for 15 years. What you say here about not settling for mediocrity resonates with me. Thinking of the parable of the talents, I don’t want to be mediocre Christian, and to be able to look back one day and see that my life was significant in God’s eyes.

  2. I read on the Guardian website the transcript of a speech that Steve Jobs gave at Stanford University in 2005. In it he describes how two major events that at the time felt like the worst thing that could have happened (dropping out of college and being fired from Apple) worked out to be the complete opposite. I learn from this that we should never give up being creative and passionate when we get knocks and obstacles. It also reminds me of Romans 8:28, that God sometimes takes us down what we think are dead ends and to have difficult experiences that turn out to be the best thing that could have happened to us

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/06/steve-jobs-pancreas-cancer

  3. Wonderful article, Steve. I’m agree with you, I consider that some of the things that you write are the best way to remember Steve Jobs and his legacy.

    Right now I’m watching the Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Conference, is truly inspiring. He talked about life, love, faith, confidence, lost, lucky, dissapointment and, mostly, about love what you do.

    Kind regards amigo Steve!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *