I had the pleasure of listening to Ted's "Best of the Web"videos and the one that stuck out to me the most was the video with Steve Jobs called "How To Live Before You Die". Steve Jobs covered some great points in his speech.He told about the beginning stages of his life with him being adopted. He mentioned that the only way his birth mom would allow his soon to be adoptive parents adopt him was if they made sure that he went to college. Steve Jobs discussed how he went to college, dropped out and returned 17 years later. Steve Jobs proceeded to tell about his life creating Macintosh and fired by Macintosh and then started the company Next and Pixar. Years late Apple bought Next, which brought Steve Jobs back to Apple. Because of Steve Jobs wisdom and business mind, he has made Apple who there are today. He went on further to discuss when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Steve shared that the doctor gave him 3-6 months to live. He overcame that illness and realized the quality of life and the importance of living. Steve jobs mentioned a quite of few things that stuck out to me. He mentioned about living life to the fullest, follow your dreams, never give up etc. Steve Jobs made me reflect on my own life especially since now he has died.
I chose this video to write about because first and foremost I love Apple and everything that they create and also I always admired Steve Jobs for his accomplishments and kind spirited personality. This video meant a lot to me as I reflected on my own life. I also graduated from high school, went to college, dropped out and went back many years later. My reason was I received a great paying job and went with the option of money over education. I have always regretted going that route because I believe down through the years not having a degree, held me back from some prominent positions. Steve Jobs made me realize through his speech that whatever decisions we made in the past, was necessary for our future. I have been working in Insurance for 25 years and have always disliked it but felt stuck and comfortable. What sense does it make to look like you are living your life to the fullest on the outside but dying on the inside?
I decided to follow my passion and attended Full Sail University. Even though people told me I was wasting my time, no jobs, all in who you know, too old etc., I still pursued my passion for the Entertainment industry. Steve Jobs mentioned that even though you fail in your passion to not give up and try again. I want to do what I love and love what I do the rest of my life. Its so easy to get caught up living in the expectations that people have for you but I decided 3 years ago to live for what I want and pursue my passion regardless of what people think.
Steve Jobs really opened my eyes even more about living life to the fullest. I have always said that "when I die would it have mattered that I lived"? Success is not easy and being happy and successful is even harder. I believe if you do what you love, it will make you happy and being happy to me is being successful because you did he things in life that made you happy, not others. My goal from this day forward is to make every day better than the day before.
Even though Steve Jobs is no longer with us, he has left his mark in the world. It mattered that he lived. His life had purpose, he followed his passion and he loved doing what he was doing. I want to be able to create a legacy myself that people will be able to say the same about me when I am dead and gone.
