Haley Webb

UPDATE: I like to think that I don’t jump to quick conclusions, and take all facts in front of me into consideration before forming decisions and opinions. In lieu of Mr. Jobs’ death, many unsavory characteristics of his have come to my personal attention of which I was previously unaware. This doesn’t necessarily change my opinion when it comes to the fervent nature with which he pursued his career, but I would like to note that I take the full man into consideration. None of us are perfect, and it is no right of mine to judge any person on this planet (except maybe a few dictators), however, learning of Steve Jobs’ bullying tactics, the horrible working conditions of his “employees”, and a host of other stories are disheartening and things of which I was unaware when I wrote the following post. For the sake of the post, I would like to put those things aside and focus on the positive aspects of what Steve Jobs had to offer us and the world.

The news that Steve Jobs had died left me nearly incapacitated. He was one of those rare public figures to whom for some (or arguably subtly crafted) reason you felt personally connected. Granted, we were familiar with his medical struggles over the last few years, and his stepping down as CEO last month didn’t necessarily come as a shock, but more as a sad reality. Still, knowing these things didn’t lessen the impact for me, and it has gotten me thinking about the influence a public figure, someone you have never met, can have on you.

Steve Jobs not only captured our imaginations, but his reach extended further as the Master of our daily physical lives. It is widely stated that Steve Jobs knew what we wanted before we knew we wanted it. Even if you think this is hyperbole, he sure as hell satisfied my cravings. This, I’m convinced was due to the incredible person Steve Jobs was. He first caught my attention in 2005 with his Commencement Speech at Stanford that was being passed around like the common cold. It was so inspiring, eloquent and almost causual, that I was hooked. Not only did I already feel as if Apple understood me and my personal needs (which is rare for a company, and I would venture to say unparalleled), but I now saw the man behind it all for the first time, who was someone who shared my own personal spirit + outlook.

I don’t think you need to know somebody intimately for them to inspire you. In fact, I think the question of “How can someone you’ve never known inspire you so much?” is silly. Because we think grandly. We love epicness, storytelling and crave validation of the grand plans + ideas we have for ourselves. Steve Jobs seemed to embody all of those. He had quotes, he had end results, and he had an air that was approachable and oddly comforting. The personal connection I felt for him initially was due to both of us not finishing college (to be fair, I never set foot in the place) and following our crazy dreams. He was always my go to in defending myself: “Yeah … well … STEVE JOBS didn’t finish college!” After digging deeper into the history of his creating Apple and seeing subsequent interviews, not to mention being able to hold in my hands the things that came out of his imagination, it was all just too much, and I was a fanatic.

One of the things that really touched me yesterday, despite the fact that I would no longer see the salt + pepper beard/black turtleneck pop up every time a new (amazing) product came out, almost nothing makes me more emotional than recognizing how much one individual can shape the world at large for generations to come. His vision, talent, and rock-n-roll spirit went hand in hand with the products I had in my hands every day. He built an incredible company because he was an incredible visionary who veraciously went after his dreams. (Granted, Malcolm Gladwell might argue with me on that. For those who haven’t read the book, Gladwell essentially debunks the “myth” of a self-made man, saying that a huge part of their success is partly due to outside forces, such as being in the right place at the right time, as well as specific opportunities that arise. However, you can have all the opportunity in the world, but if you don’t exploit it, then what the hell’s the point?)

I don’t envy the challenges Tim Cook now faces. Although, on the flip side what an incredibly legacy to follow. You may not want to be “second fiddle”, but hopefully he will see this as an opportunity to lead one of the greatest purveyors of technology + the way we live into even further brilliant territory.

I salute you, Mr. Jobs. Thank you for not only changing the world with your vision + chutzpah, but also inspiring me toward greatness.