ADIEU, MR STEVE JOBS

Wao!!! I can never forget Thursday October 6, 2011 just in a hurry. That was the day almost all Facebookers and subscribers to other social networks momentarily suspended their stock comments and jaundiced viewpoints on mundane and serious issues that have continually hugged the global headlines, to pay tribute to one of American foremost inventor, computer engineer and industrialist. It was a day all vertebrate mammals with the faculty to reason and ability to use personal computers, iPads and iPhones and the like became so effusive in their praise of one man who gave a new meaning to computing in his relatively short but fulfilling life.

Almost all the television channels I switched to, that day were awashed with the news of Steve Jobs' death, the story of his struggle with cancer of the pancreas which later claimed his life, his humble beginning and his sterling innovations which make life more meaningful and less harrowing. In fact it was as if the whole world stood stock-still to pay tribute to the man who, in the words of President Barrack Obama, put "internet in our pockets" and "made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun". Obama would end his tribute to Steve Jobs' life and legacy by saying, "The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented". How true!!!

Steve with Bill Gates

A friend on Facebook, in his grief laden tribute said "Strange! I'm fighting back tears for someone I never met. I don't even use ANY apple products! Boy, this is sad. #Steve Jobs". His statement resonated with me and I'm sure it did with many other Facebookers who had never met Steve, yet loved him to the point of showering on him flowery compliments that were almost verging on hero-worship. But what really caught my attentions and prodded me into writing this piece was his numerous searing and inspirational quotes that were flying around in the media immediately after his demise. While some of these quotes depicted a Steve Jobs that knew the sands are running out and he needed to push out many innovations within a fairly short time frame, many others portrayed him as a Life coach on the touchline, shouting out instructions and inciting the next generation on how to think out of the box, how to be quick on the uptake, how to persevere in the face of difficulties and how to put the best foot forward and seize the day.

Steve at Stanford University, 2005

One particular quote of his that got me thinking and reminded me that time marches on and I'm still lagging behind the original Me, was the one taken from his commencement address at Stanford in 2005:  

" Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary "

Honestly speaking, I see the quote as a clarion call to challenge the status quo and crush out stereotypes wherever they exist with the creative jackboots of a genius! It becomes absolutely clear from the address that, to amount to greatness in life you have got to be ready to step out of line and break the traditional mould that want to stunt your growth and impede your march towards your goal.


Another quote of Steve with subsisting life lessons, which as a matter of importance should be etched in the memory of creative weirdos (all over the world) because of its flaming radical bent, is the one from the Apple - Think Different campaign of 1997:

Steve and his wife, Laurene

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

As if he knew he was on the home stretch, Steve was forever harping on the need for young people to follow their hearts, find the niches that increase their demands, swim against the tide, shun the line of least resistance and beard the Lion in his own den, after all, there is nothing to lose:   

“Almost everything–all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure–these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

 Indeed, there is nothing to lose except your fear!!! Thank you Steve for making computing an idyllic experience and more importantly, thank you for all your inspirational quotes which have made a huge impression on me.  Adieu, Mr Steve Jobs.

ADEDAYO GABRIEL FATOKI