Steve Jobs Standford’s Speech
Steve Jobs’ 2005 Standford Commencement Address
At the Stanford University’s 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005, Steve Jobs, the CEO and co-founder of Apple Computer and Pixar Animation Studios, encouraged graduates to chase their aspirations and recognize the potential within life’s challenges, even in the face of mortality, drawing from key moments in his own life.
(You scroll through a seemingly endless stream of cat videos. Your brain feels like it's turning to catnip. But wait! There's a glimmer of hope – a TLDR.)
These are the three crucial moments in his life:
- connecting the dots
- love loss
- death
1. Connecting the dots
The story of Steve Jobs underscores the significance of placing trust in one’s intuition, even amidst ambiguity.
During his formative years, adoption by parents of modest means came with a commitment to his college education. He eventually entered a prestigious and costly institution, but after half a year, he began to question its worth and opted to withdraw. This bold choice, though daunting initially, granted him the freedom to explore his interests without constraint.
One such interest was a calligraphy course, seemingly devoid of immediate practicality. However, years later, when he embarked on designing the Macintosh computer, the insights gleaned from that class proved indispensable. They facilitated the creation of the first computer boasting exquisite typography, a feature that would revolutionize the entire personal computing landscape.
Jobs’ message is that seemingly unconnected experiences can become meaningful later in life. We must trust that these “dots” will eventually connect, even if the future remains uncertain. This belief allows us to follow our passions, leading us down unexpected paths that might hold great significance.
2. Love loss
“How can you get fired from a company you started?” — Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs recounted his experience of finding passion, facing loss, and ultimately rediscovering his purpose. He described starting Apple with Steve Wozniak and achieving great success within a decade. However, at the age of 30, he was fired from his own company due to a disagreement with the board. This public failure was devastating, and Jobs considered leaving the industry entirely.
Despite the setback, Jobs realized his love for what he did remained unchanged. This newfound freedom from past achievements led to a period of immense creativity. He founded two new companies, NeXT and Pixar, and met his wife. Pixar achieved remarkable success with the first computer-animated feature film, Toy Story. In an unexpected turn of events, Apple later acquired NeXT, bringing Jobs back to the company. The technology developed by NeXT became instrumental in Apple’s revival.
Jobs emphasized the importance of passion, stating that his love for his work fueled his perseverance through challenging times. He encouraged listeners to find their own passions and never settle for anything less.
3. Death
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
In his third narrative, Steve Jobs reflects on the theme of death. He recalls a quote he encountered at the age of 17, which urged him to live each day as if it were his last. For the past 33 years, Jobs practiced introspection by questioning whether he would want to pursue his daily activities if it were his last day alive. This mindset shift, prompted by the acknowledgment of mortality, helped him prioritize what truly mattered in life.
He emphasizes the liberating effect of contemplating death, as it strips away external pressures and reveals what is genuinely significant. Jobs then recounts a personal encounter with mortality when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, initially believed to be incurable. Facing the prospect of imminent death, he grappled with the necessity of preparing for the end. However, a biopsy revealed a rare form of the disease that was treatable with surgery, ultimately saving his life.
This brush with death reinforced Jobs’ understanding of the inevitability of mortality and the importance of living authentically. He urges others not to squander their limited time on Earth conforming to societal expectations or the opinions of others. Instead, he advocates for following one’s heart and intuition, as they hold the key to realizing one’s true desires.
The Apple of It All
Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. Thank you all very much.
Thank you, Steve!
Written from my iPhone
