Steve Jobs
I sit here typing this on my MacBook Pro saddened by the news of the death of a man I’ve never met. How can a complete stranger have such an affect on my heart? Because in him I see a little of myself…and through his works I’m able to explore my own passion. I’m not going to recount the life and history of Steve Jobs. You can Google him or wait until his biography comes out later this year. What I will tell you is that whether you know it or not Steve Jobs made an impact on your life. Even if you’re a pc user. 
Steve pioneered the iPod which changed the way we listened to our favorite music. You no longer had to carry around a heavy cd case with you. The palm of your hand could carry most of your music library. It was brilliant! Even if you didn’t have an iPod you probably had a portable music player that was inspired by the iPod. Then came iTunes, iPhone, the App Store and last the iPad. I know. You’re like you forgot the computers. No I didn’t. The fact is that Apple was suffering severely to Microsoft and PC manufacturers for years until the iPod came on the scene. That simple invention put Apple back on the map and introduced thousands of people, who may have heard of Apple but didn’t know much about it, to a whole new style of technology. It was the catalyst for the rise of Apple as we know it. From there Steve’s vision lead to one hit invention after another. He revamped the look and feel of Apple as a whole, turning it into one of the most profitable businesses in the world.
However it’s not his greatness that I connected too. I am not great. I will probably never be a tenth of Steve Jobs, but like Steve I have passion. Also like Steve I have had constant set backs to my passion, yet I have not wavered. Steve was always passionate about technology. In the early years when Apple kicked him out, he did not let that phase him. He was passionate about technology and had vision. He founded a new computer company and bought Pixar. Through Pixar his creative vision wowed us with animated titles such as Toy Story and Finding Nemo. It was like nothing we had ever seen. His passion and love for what he did gave him the Midas Touch. Leading a suffering Apple to realize their mistake and return Steve to his rightful place within the company he gave birth to. Steve proved he didn’t need Apple to make him great. He did prove that Apple needed him to make it great. Look how much passion and love for what you do can accomplish? You don’t have to be a genius to get that concept.
I have a passion for graphic design. I love it. I’ve been turned down and told no over and over by companies I’ve sent resumes to. It hasn’t stopped me. They may tell me no, but I haven’t told myself no. So I have carried on. Pursuing my passion in hopes that one day I will reach my destination like Jobs did. I’m still young in my journey, but I am already starting to see rewards to my perseverance. My love and passion have inspired others to pursue their passions. It is truly a wonderful thing to find something you love…and do it! Steve Jobs said many times, “The only way to do great work, is to love what you do”. I hope everyone reading this is fortunate enough to find their passion. Once you discover it, pursue it! Don’t let anyone tell you no. No is hard to hear, but it makes yes so much better when it comes.
Thank you Steve. Without you my current way of pursuing my goals would be harder. My MacBook Pro is the tool I use to create my art. You made that possible. My iTunes and iPod lifts my spirits with music and enhances my creativity while I design. That also came from you. Later this year when I get my iPhone and can get the app that goes with my client management software I will thank you again. That will make a huge difference in my efficiency as a freelancer. I never met you, but I thank you for all of these gifts that enable me to explore my passion the way you did. I love what I do and I plan to only do greater work in the future. As you said, “It just keeps getting better”. Thanks for helping it be that way.
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