Thursday, October 6, 2011

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs died yesterday. This commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 explains why he will be remembered and how he was able to be successful. If you'll notice throughout the speech he talks about time orientation. I don't think it was happenstance that Jobs continuously stressed focusing on the future. One of the major differences between the cultures and classes of people isn't birthright - it's future orientation vs. present orientation. By continually focusing on the future and making sound decisions regarding that future, a person can pursue a level of success that the hedonistic person cannot. People and cultures often determine their levels of success by how they regard time. Being future oriented has been shown repeatedly to breed more wealth and a higher station in life.

The second thing that is glaringly obvious, as Jobs mentions it at the beginning of the speech, is the irony of a college dropout speaking to the graduating class of Stanford. In yet another example of Steve Jobs being ahead of his time, he personifies the overemphasis of a college education in our society. Think about it - a college dropout, billionaire, entrepreneur - lecturing young people graduating from one of the most prestigious universities in the world. None of those graduates will have the impact on the planet that Jobs has had. Probably none of them will be as rich. We are taught that Steve Jobs relegated himself to a life of failure because he didn't finish college, and he explains how that decision caused his success. Jobs success was spectacular, but the decentralization that is happening will make dropping out of college and breaking away from the debt servitude universities promote more common. This is obvious now, Jobs was at least 6 years ahead of his time. Again.

Stay focused on the future.

Explore and find out what you love to do.

Pursue your calling with a passion.

Thank you Steve Jobs.

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