THAT GUY NAMED STEVE
December, 2011
I always admired Steve Jobs and Apple’s design philosophy. I began following Apple around the introduction of the original iPod. As young as I am, Apple’s design tradition is all I’ve known as far as design goes: simple, functional, and beautiful. Keeping with that tradition, I’ve always made my websites simple. Oddly enough, this new version of TDR is perhaps the most simple and clean design I’ve ever had, but it was planned before Steve’s death.
Steve’s influence on the world is felt in more areas than can be numbered. He revolutionized the movie, music, computer, phone, personal media player, and software industries. Then he created the iPad industry and began to reshape the Cloud industry. He indirectly influence so many companies (i.e. Square, Nest Labs) and people that his influence will live on, I dare say, forever. Since his resignation and now his death, writers have compared him to Henry Ford and Thomas Edison in terms of genius and innovation. I contend that he leads that list.
Perhaps the most inspiring part of Steve’s story comes in the form of his commencement address at Stanford University in 2005. I had never read or watched this speech before, and I had even forgotten that he gave it. At a time in my life when I’ve been unsure of what path to follow, reading this speech sent chills down my spine. Why? Because Steve wouldn’t want me to choose a path; he would want me to create one. Since my senior year of high school, I had wanted go my own route, but had been discouraged by others. “Be realistic.” “You still want to do that?” “Only a few people even make it doing that.”
…and there are a plethora of other similar remarks from people over the years. In case you’re wondering, I aspire to 1.) Create Hollywood films and 2.) Create innovative and bold products. The former is the dream I’ve taken the most flak for; the latter requires me to create my own business (more on that later).
Today’s society demands that we form a rigorous plan on how to become obedient little rats in the rat race of life. Normally, this plan consists of graduating college with good grades and working in a typical line of work. But we’re also hounded with how we are to attain that end result. We’re told you must get good grades, pass a rigorous exam (for graduate school), flip burgers while attending graduate school, pass an exit exam, and walk our feet off while we job hunt. Society likes rules and plans. If you don’t adhere to the rules or form an acceptable plan, you will fail.
But looking back in history, the strongest individuals are those whom deny society that control over their lives. They are the people, who, like Steve, forge their own paths. Some people do this out of necessity and due to circumstance. Others do this simply because they believe in doing something that makes them happy, or something that they were called to do.
Even when these people fail, they deserve to be commended. They challenged the status quo. They lived without regret. They tried doing the “impossible.” So “here’s to the crazy ones.”
“Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs (1955 – 2011)
