Earlier today I viewed Steve Jobs 2005 Commencement Speech at Stanford University. In this talk Jobs recounts three stories and ties them together with a common theme. The first was dropping out of Reed College and showing up for the courses he wanted to take rather than spend time on those he had to take. Dropping out was a tough decision but some of what he learned in these audited courses had a fundamental impact on the Mac and, in retrospect, appeared to be a good decision or at least one that lead to a good outcome. Getting fired from Apple was the second. Clearly not his choice, not what he would have wanted to happen but it lead to Pixar, Next and rejoining Apple stronger and more experienced than before. Again, a tough path but one that may have lead to a better overall outcome. Likely he is a better and more capable leader for the experience. Finally, facing death. Death awaits us all and, when facing death, it becomes clear what really matters. It becomes clear that following your heart is what is really important. Don’t be trapped by Dogma, don’t live other people’s lives, and have the courage to follow your own intuition. Clearly nobody wants to approach to death but knowing it is coming can free each of us to realize we can’t hide, we don’t have forever, and those things that scare us most are really tiny and insignificant when compared with death. Facing death can free us to take chances and to do what is truly important even if success looks uncertain or the risk is high.
The theme that wove these three stories together and Jobs parting words for his listeners was to “stay hungry and stay foolish”.
It’s a good read: http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html. Or you can view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA.
Sent my way by Michael Starbird-Valentine.
–jrh
James Hamilton, Windows Live Platform Services
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