Steve Jobs
February 24, 1955 - October 5th, 2011
Revered, Successful, Brilliant, Innovative, Wealthy beyond his means - Steve Jobs was and is every entrepreneur's measure of true success. I think there are some very important lessons we can take from his life and work, especially as African underdogs in a Global media world.
1) No excuses!
Steve Jobs was adopted into an Armenian family, and biologically of a mixed background - Muslim father and American mother. His parents later married and raised his biological sister without him. Steve Jobs is one person who could have easily fallen into the self-pity zone, the "daddy" issues, caught up in feelings of abandonment, self-doubt, and questioning his self-worth. Life is never without complications, family issues, trials and tribulations. Don't get caught up in the worry - get on with making something of yourself.
2) Take what you can get...
College isn't for everyone - My mother always told me that, all the while, encouraging me to go. With two degrees under my belt, and while I'm carefully considering undertaking a third - I can safely say that in this new twenty-first economy, I am no better off than a high school or college dropout. Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad reiterates this theory. This century is all about the entrepreneur, the idea, the risk.
... 3) because every little bit counts.
Steve Jobs, voluntarily dropped out of college, became somewhat destitute - sleeping on his friend's floor, getting free meals from the Hare Krishna, returning coke bottles for money. He later recalled that the single class he took in Calligraphy gave him the inspiration to give MAC the various typefaces and proportions it has today.
4) Zone in on your strengths and Interests
So you're not a rugby player or a actuary - but you love video games? Steve Jobs made the effort to attend a computer club's meetings while also landing himself a job at Atari - as a technician. Atari was a company that manufactured video games. Exposing yourself to activities of interest, wherever you can find them, is important. It's from this starting point, you can begin to think about developing your own ideas, taking them to the next level. For instance, iPods are great, iPod decks are even better to hear music out loud - I'm always wondering when a waterproof iPod will be developed - people love music in the bath and shower!
5) Use the talent around you
You've probably heard that Rome wasn't built in a day, and perhaps that too many chefs spoil the both - but you cannot build a business or brand alone. One more useful saying - A jack of all trades is truly a master of none. Get the expertise you need. When Jobs worked at Atari, he was challenged to create a game's circuit board with a reduced number of chips. Jobs had not the knowledge or interest to do this, but asked former classmate Wozniak to try. Wozniak reduced the chips in design so neatly that it was impossible to reproduce in the factory but it still meant Jobs had risen to the challenge and succeeded. Jobs at 20 years old and Wozniak started Apple from his parents garage shortly after this. At 30, his finest creation - Macintosh was launched.
6) Bouncing back, keep it moving...
Contrary to what Hollywood happily ever after endings would suggest, you don't just achieve once and live a stagnant life of continual achievement. Life fluctuates, business is erratic, unpredictable, market dependent. Steve Jobs in 1985 was fired from Apple's Macintosh division. He kept it moving, founding Next Computers in the same year but ran out of money. He managed to find funding but then hit another dead end with a product that didn't sell and appeal to people.
7) Don't be afraid to get it wrong. Every wrong move is a lesson towards the right one.
Steve Jobs got it wrong again with Pixar - which he intended to be a high-end graphics developing company. It was only until Pixar was contracted to produce Disney animated movies, did it meet success! The likes of Toy Story, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, Monsters Inc. are all examples of Pixar's success and money earning potential. Trust in the potential!
8) Leave out the Egomania and the Bi-polar tendencies
Creatives are renowned for their mood swings, bad behaviour, and their brilliance once the work is done. I don't think this is acceptable. Steve Jobs was also known to be temperamental, head-strong, erratic, quiet sometimes and them totally upbeat and forceful about his passion. The people around you are what builds you, and carries you, your passion and your business from strength to strength. Value your human resources, treat people as you would like to be treated.
9) Philanthropy
Give back with your time, with your money, with your expertise. It won't hurt. Steve Jobs wasn't great at this - and in fact, in 1997, actually eliminated philanthropy programmes at Apple. If not just for charity and karma, for your own sense of worth and corporate standing.
10) Don't settle
Quoting Steve Jobs
"I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."
Steve Jobs "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."
Written by N.Zindi
for Monkeys Wedding Media Blog
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