We lost a great man and visionary yesterday, and my thoughts go out to his family, friends, and coworkers. I admired Steve Jobs for a number of reasons, not the least of which was his clarity and focus on what mattered most: people doing their best work, together, inspired, and happy. He was a pure leader, inviting people into his possibility, always with such excitement and pride, much like a kid on Christmas Day while he eagerly awaits Mom or Dad opening his handmade present. Who wouldn’t want to give their best to someone like that? I say this while also recognizing that there were many sharp edges to his personality, many of which likely got in his way.
I got my first Mac in 2005, and quickly converted my entire family to Macs, and then to iPhones. I bought into his vision for beautifully crafted experiences, and shared my knowledge while trying to convert my friends, coworkers, and sometimes strangers to the Apple product line. I genuinely looked forward to watching his entire keynote, and the iPhone keynote was my favorite. By the time he got to unveiling the phone I was literally seated upright in my chair, a big smile on my face, so excited to see such a giant leap forward. I loved his showmanship, and his energy.
Here’s a quote from his Stanford commencement address that I think is so poignant:
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
Thanks Steve for inviting us along, and for showing how it’s done.
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Adaptive Talent is a talent consultancy designed to help organizations achieve amazing results and ongoing adaptability. Founded in 2008 and based in Vancouver, Canada we offer retained search, assessments, total rewards consulting, training, leadership coaching and development programs, and culture & organizational development consulting.