Remembering Steve Jobs
We recently lost a great American entrepreneur, an icon on a global scale, and an inspiration to each of us. He will be missed. As we look back upon his short life, we see a man with an unstoppable will, limitless thinking, tenacity, and passion. When he spoke, you saw the sparkle in his eyes. Who lives so fearlessly to create, lead, and inspire transformation on such a grand scale?
Look at your career. How does Steve Jobs inspire you? I am drawn to these two quotes from Steve Jobs. They sing to me as a career strategist.
"That's been one of my mantras -- focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."
BusinessWeek interview, May 1998
As a communicator, simplicity can be the most challenging target. It’s more difficult to write a paragraph than a single page to explain a concept. Simplistic thinking, speaking, and writing is powerful. Dare yourself to remove the superfluous to reveal the essence of your thought. Remember this when writing your résumé, pitching yourself or product, or making a sales call. Steve Jobs got this right, in so many ways.
"[Y]ou 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."
Stanford University commencement address, June 2005.
Wow, that is what life is about. That is what separates successful people from the rest. Trust in yourself. Listen to your heart to uncover your dreams. Study your history to plan your future. The eloquent statement by Steve Jobs also serves as a platform for career planning.
Take a moment today to go online and read a little more about Steve Jobs. Get to know the man behind the products. I promise that you will be inspired.