Ordinary To Extra-Ordinary

Someone asked me today how I could possibly describe Steve Jobs as an ordinary guy when clearly his impact on the world has been so extraordinary.

And yet if you look at where he came from, his upbringing, his schooling, his family background, there are very few clues that could have told us someone amazing was evolving. His early history is really quite mundane and boring, and if anything he was a bit of an under-achiever in his school years. So much for the theory that success leaves clues.

So what changed?

I believe what changed was he found his passion very early on. And unlike most people he decided to go after it and ignore anyone who told him he was barking up the wrong tree, or just simply barking! And I’m pretty sure there were plenty of them.

Imagine then, what your life would look like if you took the same single-minded attitude to pursuing your passion. When was the last time you even thought about what your really, truly, deeply, passionately want? Many of us bury these ideas quite early on. How would things change if you unburied them? Would you be prepared for the changes? Or would you find that degree of change too difficult, too challenging? What would your life be like if you followed your wildest dreams?

Most people live comfortable mediocre lives doing what people expect of them. And many of them are very content with those lives and that is a good thing.

But a few ordinary people follow their passion to become extra-ordinary. Its just a choice.

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A Sad Day

Its always sad when the world loses someone special. Yes, I know millions of people died today and most of them, I hope, were special to someone. But some people manage to touch the lives of people far beyond their families and friends and even though we don’t know them, we feel connected to them.

I blogged about Steve Jobs here when he retired. I wished him long life and happiness and sadly it was not to be. But what a magnificent life he lived. He inspired, encouraged, evolved, entertained, changed lives, changed the world, and showed us all what one ordinary person with a fabulous vision and a passion for doing what he loved could achieve.

Godspeed Steve on your next big adventure. I guess the angels are going to get some really cool toys to play with!

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Inspiration

Warning – rant coming up!

So today’s big news today is Steve Jobs‘ retirement as CEO of Apple and speculation on his health. As usual there’s all sorts of meaningless discussion about how much of a visionary he really is, mostly from people who have achieved absolutely nothing in their own lives!

But one of the most inane comments was from someone on the BBC website who said they were pretty sure he would give up his incredible wealth and everything he has achieved just to get his health back.

I guess it says something about the mentality of the commenter that he would prefer to live a long life of mediocrity than a shortish one of immense achievement and contribution.

Here’s what the great man himself says:

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Steve, thank you for making my life brighter, more fun and more interesting. Thank you for your genius and your vision and most of all thank you for being an inspiration to everyone who aspires to make a difference. I wish you long life, health and happiness.

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Inspiration

Its always great to look at the real high achievers, and high contributors in the world and get a glimpse into where they came from. So this speech may be a few years old now but its still worth really paying attention to. Success leaves clues!

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