The world’s most innovative rebel was the son of a Syrian man who gave him up for adoption. But neither this, nor cancer, nor a series of public failures ever deterred his strength of vision. This is our tribute to Steve Jobs.
“No one wants to die,” Steve Jobs said in a speech to Stanford’s 2005 graduating class, “and yet it is the destination that we all share.” At 56, after struggling with pancreatic cancer for several years, Apple’s co-founder and lead visionary finally reached his destination. And though he once said that he didn’t care about being the richest person in the cemetery, he will be, not only because he is one of the world’s wealthiest people, but because his commitment to personal excellence has completely changed how millions of people from all walks of life interact with their personal computers, their telephones, and one another.
Steve Jobs did not revolutionize the animation and computing industry by feeling sorry for himself when he found out about his illness. When Apple, Inc. – the company that he co-founded after dropping out of college – fired him at 30, he did not give up and slink into oblivion. He kept going and founded NeXT. Nor did he dwell on the idea that his biological parents Abdulfattah Jandali – a Syrian man – and Joanne Simpson gave him up for adoption. Instead, the man behind the Macbook, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Pixar – the animation studio that delighted squealing children everywhere with Toy Story – persevered through his daily challenges with a determination and discipline that sometimes made him fearsome, but always with a focus on making the world a better place.
Steve Jobs broke the rules and shattered stoic conventions, and he did it all with heart. We at Green Prophet are very sad to lose such an inspirational figure, and promise to honor his legacy by striving to heal the planet’s health with the same courage, dignity, and clarity of purpose that this well-loved husband, father, and mentor displayed every single day. “I want to put a ding in the universe,” Steve once said. I think we can all agree that he has definitely done just that.
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Great article. One of my heroes. I have been following Steve and Steve’s story since that garage in Palo Alto. When my dad bought me the Apple II in 1983 with the duo floppies and the dot matrix printer (2600 Dollars) it opened my world up to computing and the Internet (Albeit vey slow:). He will be missed. A true inspiration. Thanks for the article.
The Apple Company should take care of the factories in China, and other places all over the world to insure that the workers are in a safe environment. Right now plants built in China are sub-standard, and with the founder of Apple having died at such a young age, his legacy should be to alleviate cancer in all its forms by 2020. If any corporation could do it, Apple could.
For more about the conditions in Shenzhen, China where your iPhones are produced go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUtT2ZZP4EA&feature=related
Thank you for posting this. He was a great example of professionalism, passion, and innovation.
Thank you for this. May we all be inspired by Steve Jobs’ heart, courage, dignity, and clarity of purpose.
Nicely done, Taf, thank you. Love.