On 6th anniversary of death of Steve Jobs, Apple CEO Tim Cook still inspired by his late f...
Six years ago today, Apple cofounder Steve Jobs passed away. The company's current CEO, Tim Cook, reflected the occasion on Thursday with a quote from the iconic visionary.
"Make something wonderful, and put it out there," were the words of Jobs heard last month before the unveiling of the iPhone X.
Cook quoted them again on Thursday on his Twitter account, adding: "Remembering Steve today. Still with us, still inspiring us."
Jobs passed away on Oct. 5, 2011 at age 56, after a long bout with cancer.
The words of Jobs echoed through his namesake theater last month, when Cook and the rest of Apple unveiled the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. At the time, Cook said it was only fitting that Jobs should help to open his own theater.
"Steve meant so much to me, and so much to all of us," Cook said at the iPhone X event. "There's not a day that goes by that we don't think about him. Memories have especially come rushing back as we prepared for today and this event. It's taken some time, but we can now reflect on him with joy, instead of sadness. Steve's spirit and timeless philosophy on life will always be the DNA of Apple.
The full quote from Jobs, heard at the opening of the Steve Jobs Theater, follows:
"Make something wonderful, and put it out there," were the words of Jobs heard last month before the unveiling of the iPhone X.
Cook quoted them again on Thursday on his Twitter account, adding: "Remembering Steve today. Still with us, still inspiring us."
Jobs passed away on Oct. 5, 2011 at age 56, after a long bout with cancer.
The words of Jobs echoed through his namesake theater last month, when Cook and the rest of Apple unveiled the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. At the time, Cook said it was only fitting that Jobs should help to open his own theater.
Remembering Steve today. Still with us, still inspiring us. "Make something wonderful, and put it out there." pic.twitter.com/7aOCPkwU0U
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook)
"Steve meant so much to me, and so much to all of us," Cook said at the iPhone X event. "There's not a day that goes by that we don't think about him. Memories have especially come rushing back as we prepared for today and this event. It's taken some time, but we can now reflect on him with joy, instead of sadness. Steve's spirit and timeless philosophy on life will always be the DNA of Apple.
The full quote from Jobs, heard at the opening of the Steve Jobs Theater, follows:
There are lots of ways to be as a person. And some people express their deep appreciation in different ways. But one of the ways that I believe people express their appreciation to the rest of humanity is to make something wonderful, and put it out there. And you never meet the people, you never shake their hands, you never hear their story or tell yours. But somehow in the act of making something with a great deal of care and love, something's transmitted there. And it's a way of expressing to the rest of our species, our deep appreciation. So we need to be true to who we are. And remember what's really important to us. That's what's going to keep Apple, Apple -- is if we keep us, us.
Comments
When I watch Steve himself or read his words I see an extremely complex person who remained deeply thoughtful, caring and genuine -- and passionate about his role in life. And, it appears to me that his genius derived from the sum total of all of that.
There will never be another Steve... Never.
When I read the book Becoming Steve Jobs, I came away thinking it was a fair appraisal of the complexion of a person whose every thought, every quote, and every decision has been scrutinized for several decades. I had the fortune to spend 26 years, beginning in 1985, working in software start-ups, constantly under the invent-or-die paridigm in which someone like a Steve Jobs comes to stardom. I worked for the same CEO in three consecutive companies throughout that 26 year period; probably one of the longest running continuous partnerships in the history of the fast-paced and ever changing technology industry. He's a UC Berkley grad, and a Harvard MBA, and is a brilliant and driven entrepreneur and CEO, who grew up in Palo Alto, by the way, just a few blocks from where Jobs lived until his death. I recall shouting matches in meetings, cold dismissals of people who were lazy in their thinking, and a relentless drive to pull us all forward into a future he often single-handedly invented. Very much a portrait that might be applied to Steve Jobs. And yet, one of the most caring and human people I've ever known; a Buddist, a deep thinker, and someone who would go out of his way to serve his employees, beyond the workplace. To anyone on the receiving end of his intense and intellectual scrutiny, I can see them walking away dismissing him as nothing more than an egotistical asshole. But that's far from the truth understood by those of us who knew him for decades. I imagine the reputation of Jobs was formed in the same manner, and wholly undeserved of the actual man.
Another motivating quote from SJ.
I am still rather curious if there is an office at Apple Park with his nameplate. Yes, the theater, but I understand his office at the old HQ is essentially untouched.
And now that I think about it, I didn't see any mention Steve's family was at the inaugural event of his theater. Makes me sort of wonder what connection they still have to the company, if any.
You're right...there will be all kinds of comments on how Tim is screwing up Apple even though there has been new products and updates to existing ones that are working out very well for Apple. I guess some people only remember the last few years Steve was at the helm. In between it wasn't always one grand slam after another with new products. Nobody knows (including myself) what Apple would have out there today if Steve were still here. It could be the same thing...it could be another grand slam hit, or it could be absolutely nothing with people saying Steve needs to go.
Nothing has really changed...people are just looking for anything and everything to put Tim down.
Jobs, a CEO who noticed an icon off by 1 pixel and told the engineer to fix it doesn't accept the notch.
The uncompromising vision of what could be when others could not see, the power and force of conviction that inspired those who worked for him, the unwillingness to give up in the face of setbacks. These are some of the qualities Steve had that powered Apple to become the exceptional company it is today.
Let’s remember him today not by lamenting his passing and second guessed the current leadership, but by reminding ourselves that any one of us can possess those qualities if we believe in ourselves strongly enough. If we can harness even one of those qualities we can better ourselves and change the world in our own small way.
It's not like there were ever stupid design decisions under Steve. Still don't know where this notion comes from that basically Apple was absolutely 100% perfect under Steve and now its all gone to hell in a hand basket under Tim.
I got a lump in my throat seeing how genuinely choked Tim was at the beginning of the Keynote last month. He really was missing Steve.
As for the guys who say "Steve would never..", I guess they expect Tim and Jony to take an Ouija Board and sit with the latest Apple product next to a photo of Steve and ask him his opinions.
Steve didn't have any unshakeable belief in himself. He knew he had failed in the past and would fail in the future. He knew that mistakes and failures were inherent in striking a new path.
But, he had unshakeable belief in the products that he produced -- because he knew how hard he and others had worked to make them as nearly perfect as possible. He knew that they were "insanely great" products -- not because of any blind faith or irrational exuberance. But because of the fact that they were insanely great products.
Some people believe that all it takes is being smart.
Some people believe that all it takes having faith in one's self
Some people believe that all it takes is hard work
... Steve knew that it took all three to make an insanely great product.