I’ve been reading all the news about Steve Jobs’ death these past few days. It’s one of the few stories that i can’t get enough of. Because of all the articles, i didn’t want to post anything about it and be just another post about a topic that everyone knows about. But i’m going to anyway. I’m going to post for myself and because i think it’s important to write about people that impact you.
Steve Jobs was a hero of mine. Not in a childish Superman-y way, but in a real day-to-day way. I spend my days discussing, inventing, reviewing and managing the production of online products. This is what i do. Every day. Lots of people do this. I’m friends with hundreds of them. Steve Jobs also did this. But Steve did it differently. He was able to make products that came directly from his imagination and make them real. This is something that is amazingly hard to do.
I also admire him as an entrepreneur. He had a passion and a vision that was rare. He envisioned 30 years ago a world where hardware and software met. A world where the public can get excited about technology, where technology achieves cult status. He got fired for thinking this way. Seriously, read this article. This thinking got him canned. The CEO who replaced him said this of Steve’s thinking in the 80’s,
But Steve was thinking about something entirely different. He felt that the computer was going to change the world and it it was going to become what he called “the bicycle for the mind.” It would enable individuals to have this incredible capability that they never dreamed of before.
He got fired and regrouped. Talk about a 2nd act. First Pixar and then NEXT and then back to Apple. His passion and focus made him successful every step of the way. You can’t be an entrepreneur and not be inspired by his story.
I remember the first time i put the iPhone in my hand and used it. I was sitting at the Washington Nations game with Drew Mowery. He had one and showed me. Using it was like a window into the future. That’s a rare feeling to have. It happened over 4 years ago and i still remember it. I feel lucky to have been alive when he was around and building products.
As an innovator and as an entrepreneur, I’ll miss Steve Jobs.
I enjoyed reading your piece Mike. I thought of you often since Steve’s passing. Strangely, I was (in a way) waiting for an expression of love, loss and inspiration from you.