SteveJobs:AVisionaryandInspirationalLeader
SteveJobswasaremarkableentrepreneurandinventorwhorevolutionizedthetechnologyindustry.BornonFebruary24,1955,inSanFrancisco,California,heco-foundedAppleInc.withSteveWozniakin1976,andwentontocreateahostofgroundbreakingproductsthathavetransformedtheworldofcomputing,music,andmobiletechnology.ThisarticleisabriefoverviewofJobs'sfascinatinglifeandenduringlegacy.
EarlyLifeandCareer
JobswasadoptedatbirthbyPaulandClaraJobs,andgrewupinMountainView,California,notfarfromtheheartofSiliconValley.Hisloveforelectronicsandcomputerswasapparentfromanearlyage,andhespenthisteenageyearstinkeringwithgadgetsandattendingmeetingsoftheHomebrewComputerClub.Afterdroppingoutofcollegein1972,hetraveledtoIndiaandexperimentedwithdrugs,beforereturningtoCaliforniaandtakingajobatAtariasatechnician.
In1976,JobsandWozniakstartedAppleComputerinJobs'sparents'garage,andthecompanytookoffwiththelaunchoftheAppleIIpersonalcomputerin1977.Jobsquicklybecameknownforhischarismaticleadershipstyle,hismarketinggenius,andhisuncompromisingattentiontodetail.HeconvincedJohnSculleytojoinAppleasCEOin1983,andlaunchedtheMacintoshcomputerin1984,whichhadamajorimpactonthecomputerindustry.
LegacyandImpact
JobswasforcedoutofApplein1985duetodisagreementswiththeboardofdirectors,buthewentontofoundNeXTComputer,whichproducedinnovativeworkstationsthatinfluencedthedevelopmentoftheWorldWideWeb.HealsoboughttheanimationstudioPixarin1986,whichwentontocreatehitmoviessuchasToyStory,FindingNemo,andTheIncredibles.
In1997,JobsreturnedtoApplewhenthecompanyacquiredNeXT,andwentontotransformthecompanyagainwiththelaunchoficonicproductssuchastheiPod,iTunes,iPhone,andiPad.Hisemphasisondesign,userexperience,andelegantsimplicityhassetanewstandardforthetechnologyindustry,andhisvisionandcreativitycontinuetoinspiremillionsofpeoplearoundtheworldevenafterhisdeathin2011.
PersonalLifeandPhilosophy
Jobswasknownforhisuncompromisingpersonality,hisperfectionisttendencies,andhissharpnessofmind.HewasadevotedBuddhistandapractitionerofZenmeditation,whichhecreditedwithhelpinghimstayfocusedandcentered.HewasmarriedtoLaurenePowellJobsfrom1991untilhisdeath,andhadfourchildren.Hewasaveganandaproponentofalternativemedicine,andwasoftencriticizedforhisharshtreatmentofemployeesandhisaggressivebusinesstactics.
Nevertheless,Jobs'slegacyisoneofinnovation,creativity,andinspiration.Hisfocusoncreatingproductsthatarebothfunctionalandbeautifulhasimpactedcountlessindustries,andhisideascontinuetoshapethefutureoftechnology.Heoncesaid,\"Yourworkisgoingtofillalargepartofyourlife,andtheonlywaytobetrulysatisfiedistodowhatyoubelieveisgreatwork.Andtheonlywaytodogreatworkistolovewhatyoudo.Ifyouhaven'tfoundityet,keeplooking.Don'tsettle.Aswithallmattersoftheheart,you'llknowwhenyoufindit.\"
SteveJobswasamanofvision,creativity,andpassion.Hisunwaveringdedicationtoexcellenceandhisabilitytoinnovateandtransformindustrieswillberememberedforgenerationstocome.