Steve Jobs’ 12 Most Valuable Life Lessons
Posted on Oct 6th, 2011 
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs will be remembered as a digital visionary — the man who brought poetry to the microchip.
But before he was a legend, he was a person.
We can’t all be Steve Jobs, but we can all learn from his extraordinary life
#1 Steve Jobs Put a Dent in the Universe
Jobs once said, “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why else even be here?”
Having a higher purpose does not just help you find success. It redefines the meaning of the word.
#2 Remember You’ll be Dead Soon
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because 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.”
#3 Fail Forward
Everybody fails. It’s how you respond to those failures that makes all the difference. In 1984, Steve Jobs was fired from Apple.
At Stanford’s 2005 commencement address, he had this to say about it:
“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”
#4 Learn How to Take a Brick to the Head
More inspiring words from the Stanford speech:
“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.”
#5 Find the Right Partner
There is no more important decision in your life than the person you decide to share it with. Choose wisely (as Steve did), and you have a partner who will help see you through daily challenges.
#6 Have a Higher Purpose
Buddha said, “We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”
Jobs has turned his vision into reality since he began practicing Buddhism in the 1970’s.
#7 Create a Personal Brand
Steve Jobs was one of the first people to recognize the growing importance of personal brands in the Internet age. His black turtleneck is as instantly recognizable as the Apple logo.
#8 Take Risks
Jobs was willing to cannibalize his company’s products in the name of progress. Many CEOs would have been hesitant to develop the iPhone, knowing full well that it would help to make the iPod obsolete – but Jobs did it anyway (and took a big bite out of the lucrative mobile market).
Don’t be afraid to take risks. Especially smart ones.
#9 Value People
Jobs hired passionate people and cultivated exceptional company cultures at both Apple and Pixar – and their work speaks for itself.
#10 Don’t Value Money
As CEO of Apple, Jobs earned $1 a year. Jobs wasn’t incentivized by his salary, but by his own unrelenting pursuit of excellence. (Then again, his expansive stock holdings may have been some incentive.)
#11 Obstacles are meant to be Overcome
Jobs and Wozniak ran out of money while developing the first Apple computer. Instead of giving in, Jobs sold his van and Wozniak sold his graphing calculator. When there’s a will, there’s a way.
#12 Fake it Before You Make it
In Apple’s early days, Steve recognized that Palo Alto, California was the epicenter of innovative computer technology. Steve wanted his company to be associated with this place – but Apple was still headquartered out of a garage in nearby Los Altos.
Jobs’ solution was to set up a PO Box in Palo Alto and hire a voice answering service. A potential client would get the impression that Apple was a big company in the heart of Silicon Valley – even though the truth was that it was still just two sweaty guys in a garage across town.
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good post. Ne’er knew this, thanks for letting me know.
Rest in Peace Steve Jobs =(
RIP You will always remain in our Hearts Steve Jobs =(