Steve Jobs died today and that really sucks. It sucks because although I didn’t know him personally, he had an impact on me and the world at large in a way that very few people do anymore.
In a society that has largely turned into a simpering lot of petty milquetoast political correctness and ineffectual do-nothings, Steve Jobs had the guts to recognize that good wasn’t good enough at a time when most barely bothered to aspire to mediocrity.
His methods were brash, rude, cocky and sometimes a bit crazy. He was one of those people you either loved or hated. In short, he didn’t suffer fools because he didn’t have time to. There was too much to do. Too much greatness to be had. And if you didn’t understand that, or didn’t want to go along with it, then don’t let the door hit you on the way out. And he meant it.
For me though, it really never had anything to do with Apple’s products. Yes, I use them – a lot. But it was his courage that made an impact on me. Courage to drag everyone kicking and screaming if necessary into a realm of excellence. A realm not familiar to most. It was just nice to know that someone still cared about being the best.
When I was a kid, my dad brought home a gleaming white box with a brand new Apple 2c in it. I had no idea what it did and I didn’t care. All I knew was that it was amazing and beautiful and that I was sure I’d be able to do incredible things on it! Well, many Apple computers (and yes, my much loved Newton) later, I finally had a chance to work for the company founded in a garage those many years ago. It was a dream come true. And though I left Apple to start Johnson Creek, Apple never left me. We use only Macs here in our offices and indeed many of the original Johnson Creek team members are former Apple employees.
But wait a minute. We’re talking about a computer company, right? I mean, who gets all weepy and nostalgic over a computer company? Well, anyone who’s used a Mac or an iPod or an iPhone knows. They know that Apple and it’s products and it’s founders were about much, much more – and that’s why we save our old iMac boxes, doodle little Apple logos in our notebooks, stand in line for thirteen hours, save every set of iPod earbuds, pour over rumor sites, and of course, save each and every Apple sticker that comes in those gleaming, beautiful boxes.
It’s safe to say that had Steve Jobs not reminded us how to demand excellence of ourselves and each other, had he not shown us how to be a little insane, and had he not shown us that the only thing to do is to follow your dreams, it is quite unlikely I would have ever had the nerve to start my own company.
So that’s why today sucks. We lost a visionary during an era when there aren’t many other visionaries out there. And that’s a bit scary. Fortunately though, Mr. Jobs left us a legacy that good isn’t good enough.
It has to be insanely great.
Please check out the below (2) videos, the first is from a famous Apple advertisement and the second is the 2005 Stanford University Commencement Speech delivered by Steve Jobs. Both videos are well worth your time.
- Christian Berkey, CEO Johnson Creek Enterprises
The Crazy Ones
Stanford University Commencement Speech
An American Company
