As I took out my touchscreen phone to play music, I started to ponder about how intelligent the device that I was holding in my hands. This tiny device could do more than just call or text to allow the owner to communicate as per the functions of the earliest phones. The pen and paper used to be the most powerful tools in one's hands to spread word, but now it takes less than just ink to give other people a piece of one's mind.
These thoughts were still lingering in my mind when a friend of mine approached me, holding onto her phone that seemed no much different than mine. We started to compare the two phones. In my hand was a beautiful white Galaxy Ace that I should say is new, whereas in her hands was the iPhone 4s. I decided to stop comparing right at that moment. How can we compare two things so similar, yet so much different?
When we mention iPhone, many things come to mind. Applications, technology, luxury, even Steve Jobs.
Most of us know that Steve Jobs is a technology wiz and the CEO of Apple company that produced the iPhone series and also Mac computers. Did any one of you actually know that whatever he has done for now is actually a result of what he does in his past time?
Let's travel back in time to have a rough look at his past. He was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs couple when he was born. When he got into elementary school, he was a prankster and did not have much interest to study even though he was a really smart student who always did well in tests and examinations. When he reached fourth grade, his teacher had to bribe him with candy and $5 bills. If only my teacher would do that whenever I had troubles studying when I was younger...
Anyway, the bribes actually worked and he started to ignite an interest to study. So much that even the Administrative office suggested that he skip straight to High School but of course his parents did not permit it. After enrolling to High School, he spent his free time at Hewlett-Packard which at that time was the huge name of Computering industry. Steve then befriended a computer engineer there named Steve Wozniak and started to learn more about the technology.
Steve Jobs actually had been learning about all these machineries from his father, Paul Jobs who works as a technician at that time. Steve grew up dismantling and putting machines back together at his free time and now he learns more about the technology from Wozniak.
Here comes the interesting part, Steve Jobs enrolled at Reed College in Portland, Oregon but he dropped out after six months and spent eighteen months dropping in on creative classes instead.
Quote from Steve Jobs:
"If I had never dropped in on that single calligraphy course in college, the Mac would never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts."
This quote sparked a curiosity in me. Had Steve gone to more classes in College, would he have had more knowledge and perhaps we would have more than just iPhone, iPad series and Mac.
Well as a student, it makes me ponder for more than just a moment or two. You may give reasons like Steve was born smart or had the intelligent blood or it was all in the genes. Or even say that he was a computering genius since he was young. But just think about it for a moment. Nothing happens without passion and courage to do what you love to do. Steve did what he always loved to do and he is now famous for his products. Who knows where we would be someday just by doing what we love to do?
Resources:
http://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805?page=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs
Steve Jobs is not just a man who did what he loved, but rather he was a man who was smart and street smart.
ReplyDeleteHe knew how to advertise to the people and everyone knows it. Look around and you'll be able to see that almost everyone owns something from Apple company. As an owner of a Mac and an iPod touch, I'm no different from the masses.
But is it just his love for computers that revolutionised the way people started thinking of computers? How did we get from MP3s to iPods and how did we get from brands like HP and Dell to Apple? Some will say that a Mac is the exact same thing as a PC but more expensive. If that is true, then why do people all over the world queue for it?
One cannot deny the riots in China over the new iPhone and the long queues for the release of the iPhone 4s. It can be argued that the iPhone 4s is the same as its counterpart, the iPhone 4 with the exception of Siri and perhaps a few more differences. This did not stop people from raving that the iPhone 4s is the way to the future.
So one has to ponder, is it just his computer genius or is it his advertising methods? You choose.
I agree that he is a man with good advertising methods. He may not be a computer genius but he definitely has made use of his strengths in advertising to portray the image of a genius.
DeleteThank you for your comments.
Although most realized after his death, Steve Jobs embodied the meaning of a visionary. Even though the brides might have been necessary to encouraging his studies in his youth, he took the step further to combine his existing knowledge and his interests to pursue his dreams of developing technology, even if it meant leaving his college education, which many people often see as crucial to having a good job.
ReplyDeleteBy revolutionizing the way people conceptualize technology, Steve Jobs is probably one of the best examples of the success of following your interests and dreams. Many may argue that he was born with it or that he was raised well in the popular nature versus nuture argument, but much of his decisions and actions probably stemmed from his confidence and trust that he can do well even if he didn't follow the conventional education pathways or endured unusual business events, such as being fired from Apple, which he claimed was one of the best things that ever happened to him. He also had the faith that he could still continue what he wanted to do even after setbacks and the strength to realize his faults and and perseverance willingly begin from the start. Through everything that he accomplished, Steve Jobs really does show what can be achieved when we do what we love.
He has done and achieved so much in the pursuit of what he loves to do. Perhaps it is time for us to spark our own interests and pursue our own passions as well.
DeleteI agree, everyone with a passion to do what they want, would be able to be courageous and love what they do. Maybe Steve is smarter with innovations than the average person, but that has to stem from a passion.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one day when people finally realise that passion is truly the stem to success, the world will be filled with people of innovations and geniuses like Steve Jobs.
DeleteHAHA! I REALLY LAUGHED AT STEVE'S QUOTE!
ReplyDeleteYes it is a great loss for tech world. He has done so much for us and eased communications for us with his famous gadget, the iPhone.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteSteve Job is a prefect example of taking one's life into control. He was not the top student in college nor was he rich at that time. Yet he took charge of his own destiny and paved his way through to become one of the most influential person in the world.
His death will be a great loss for apple company and the tech world. He did however leave his legacy behind. Without him, there will be no such thing as i products.
As they say, life is a roller-coaster and filled with ups and downs. Steve was never always at the top but he took a steep rise when he took charge of his life.
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