In remembrance

 

This 1997 commercial shortly after his return to Apple,
it seems to speak volumes now.

To the man that was different and taught us all to think different! 

I know his impact will be felt for generations.

Steve Jobs (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011)
 

Tonight's blog post is dedicated to a man, a legend, an innovator, dreamer and frankly the greatest salesman since P.T. Barnum, Steve Jobs. We were fortunate to have been here when he was, and were able to witness technological history, without even knowing what it was that so marveled us at the time, yet with baited breath we waited each time for the next creation. None of us knew we needed a device to store all of our music, or a laptop that weighed less than my purse. Still, we bought these items on the word of one man, who said we did and we believed him.

Most from my generation have a special affinity for this man, simply because of one word; Apple. In the early 1980's personal computers were still thought to be something out of a Sci-fi novel or Star Trek episode.  Computers in the home? You might as well have been speaking Mandarin, it was preposterous. Who in their right mind would first; learn to use this thing and second, make use of it. The iconic man we all remember tonight, Steve Jobs did. It was as if he had stepped into our future, saw what we would be using and returned back only to build each item. When I was in high school, we had computers and a computer room of sorts, each one was an Apple. This was great if you were one of the lucky ones that got to take the class, but bad too, leaving you frustrated when we had to come home and work with a Commodore 64.

These events began the quest of a new generation of discovers, inventors and dreamers to be unleashed in the last millennium. We were going to crash our way through barriers, and jump light speeds ahead into the new century.  Suddenly, people were building computers, gaming machines, designing programs all because one man the had fore-thought and the fortitude to push the idea of a personal computer in every home. He gave his competition a run, and in my opinion helped force the ingenuity that was shared by another, almost like him, Bill Gates.

Over time, Steve Jobs left Apple and went into another arena, animations. Like the computing industry, children's animated movies would never be the same again. While at Pixar Studios, we all met a group of toys and each one of us were mesmerized once again to the brilliance possessed by Steve Jobs.

Upon his return to Apple, the company he founded, Steve Jobs took the company to new levels. Introducing product like the Mac Book Air, the iPod, iPhone, and more recently iPad (now on its second generation). The presentations were heart stoppers and Steve Jobs was a rock star. He had built a passionate following, where Apple and Steve Jobs were the new deities in the Church of Technology. His followers taking in each word like gospel, and devotees standing on lines than ran for blocks to get the first generation of whatever he had to offer.  

Tonight, the world got a little colder and dimmer, now that his light is out. Crazy as it sounds, we thought that if anyone could beat this cancer, surely Steve Jobs can. Sadly, it was not to be, he passed away and I heard the quiet whimper from the heart of millions upon hearing the news. Although he is no longer with us in the physical realm, he will live forever. Steve Jobs has done more than left an indelible mark on the world with his inventions and the advancements that he gave us, but his legacy is that he told us to dream! Dream big and dream until they all come true. So while I listen to music from my iPod Touch, and type my blog on my MacBook Pro, while listening to the news about his passing on my iPad, I tip my hat to you Steve Jobs and say "Thank you" for all the gifts you shared with us. To his family, friends, and colleagues, sorry for your loss and may you find comfort in knowing the effect he had on the world.

  

Tonight I will leave quotes from the man himself, Steve Jobs; 

• “The most compelling reason for most people to buy a computer for the home will be to link it to a nationwide communications network. We’re just in the beginning stages of what will be a truly remarkable breakthrough for most people––as remarkable as the telephone.” (1985)
• “When you’re young, you look at television and think, There’s a conspiracy. The networks have conspired to dumb us down. But when you get a little older, you realize that’s not true. The networks are in business to give people exactly what they want. That’s a far more depressing thought. Conspiracy is optimistic! You can shoot the bastards! We can have a revolution! But the networks are really in business to give people what they want. It’s the truth.”  (1996)
• "No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true."(2005)
• "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice."(2005)
• "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma,.. which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice." (2005)