Apple Founder Steve Jobs Was A Technological Pioneer

When Apple CEO Steve Jobs retired earlier this year, everyone knew his health was failing, but it still feels shocking that such an innovative, energetic and accomplished individual would die so young at the age of 56. People can see how influential Jobs was as a business man, pitchman, investor, dreamer and a thought leader from the numerous online tributes.

Where Jobs excelled, and why he has engendered such a large fanbase, is in his conviction that technology could be not only useful and powerful, but also beautiful, intuitive and almost counter-intuitively human. His computers and the gadgets that followed brought new people to the latest technology. From personal computers, to media players, smartphones to tablet computers, Apple was never first, but it brought each of these technologies into the mainstream. His leadership at Pixar brought the idea of computer animation out of the “gee whiz corner” into the blockbuster realm. The technology was amazing and groundbreaking, but it was the humanity of the story that drove people to fall in love with Toy Story.

The amount of tributes online in response to his death is staggering and the breadth of the praise coming from a diverse crowd is something that would surely make him smile. His authorized biography, Steve Jobs, coming this fall will likely become a model for business classes and a great holiday present.

What was the secret to his success? Was it his education (even as a college dropout) or was it being exposed to the many ideas that were permeating the air of the Bay area during his young adulthood (from the New Age to the birth of Silicon Valley)? Perhaps the answer is in a commencement speech he gave to Stanford University students:

"If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do, today. And whenever the answer has been "no" for too many days in a row I know I need to change something. 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. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked there is no reason not to follow your heart."