Since his passing few weeks ago, people have been revisiting the life and times of Steve Jobs. As I’ve said in a previous post, his life and passing are significant for this generation in the same way Einstein, Ben Franklin and Alexander Graham Bell were in their generation.
Just this week his authorized biography, Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, came out and i read it in just a few seatings, despite the fact that the book is over 600 pages long. Yes, it’s that good. Steve lead a fascinating life and his way of looking at the world was totally unique.
Most people will read it for the interesting tidbits of history on the development of technologies that have and will change the way life works, and on that note its very interesting. But I felt some of the largest lessons of the book were the life lessons that is are embedded in his story. It’s hard to read his story without having to do some thinking about how he lived his life, not just about the tools he created.
Here are a few of lesson I took from his story:
1. Standards matter. One of the thread that runs throughout the book is that Steve held really high standards, and this was part of his genius in creating really unusual technological impacts in his lifetime. He often refused to settle on something he found below his standards, even when everyone else was ready to give in and move on. He held to his principles and was thus able to jar loose the status quo.
2. People matter more. unfortunately, one of the lesson learned was that he often belittled people needlessly to get his way, most often earlier in his life. It’s hard to imagine he couln’t have acheived the outcomes without crazy outbursts and ridiculing people when they were working hard.
3. Focus on things you love. He was really passionate about creating great products and he did. Creating great products isn’t my passion, but I could see the lesson for my own life, go all in.
4. Get first things first. Steve Jobs was a seeker, who sought spiritual peace throughout his life, but it seemed like faith was something he was putting second in his life. His biographer noted that although he studied Zen buddhism, it didn’t seem to bring him any peace and tranquility personally. My personal faith in Jesus, which I’ve been very public about, has given me so much solace and guidance through the difficulties and uncertainties of life that I can’t help but feel the spiritual part of life is the primary part of who we are.
I’m curious what lessons you may have pulled from his biography, life, and work. What do you think of my list and what would you disagree with? Let me know.
David Curry
