I have probably mentioned before that I have been an Mac girl for most of my life – possibly longer than I haven't been. My dad has been an unwavering supporter of Apple since the beginning and so, inevitably, I grew up using a Mac back when it was called a Macintosh, before the word iDevice was a twinkle in Steve's eye.
The first computer I was allowed to have in my room was a Mac, as was the first computer I coveted – the brightly coloured clam shell – and the first that I bought with my own money. I may appear to some a victim of the 'cool factor' that Apple strives for, but I think that the vision of Steve Jobs and what he dreamed for himself and his company to be so much more than a computer, genius branding, and good advertising.
With the announcement of Steve Jobs' sad, but not surprising death this week, it is only fair that we stop and think of what he has achieved and the contribution he has made to our lives – it's only human. He has left behind a legacy that companies and CEOs and humans will never forget. He helped to transform the way we communicate and operate in our everyday lives; how we do business, how we listen to music, and how we make and create in the digital world. And, let's not forget the side-project, Pixar, that is not single-handedly Steve, but exists thanks to his foresight, creativity and passion.
Today is a sad day as we say goodbye to one of the true geniuses of our lifetime.
As Steve once said, live each day as if it were your last and, some day, you will be right. I hope that he passed away having lived as much as he could and I feel compelled to make sure that I always try to remember this. He is proof that life is too short and sometimes there is nothing we can do to change the cards we have been dealt, but we can make the time that we're here extraordinary.
If you've never seen his Standford Commencement Speech (or it's been a while since you last saw it), I urge you to watch it and see the genius at work, inspiring the next generation:
RIP Steve Jobs and thank you for giving us an alternative to the super dull, over complicated PC – and so much more.
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