One of the Greatest Speeches Ever | Steve Jobs

Motivation Ark
21 Oct 202010:31
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn this inspiring speech, the speaker shares three pivotal life stories that shaped his journey. The first illustrates the importance of following one's passion, even when it leads to unconventional paths, as seen through his experience dropping out of college and later integrating calligraphy into the design of the Macintosh computer. The second story highlights the value of resilience and creativity after a professional setback, leading to the creation of Pixar and a renewed role at Apple. Lastly, he emphasizes the significance of living life authentically by confronting mortality, urging listeners to pursue their dreams without fear of failure, and to remain open to new experiences.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 The speaker dropped out of college after six months but stayed on campus to take classes that interested him, which led to valuable experiences.
  • 💼 The speaker's biological mother wanted him to be adopted by college graduates, and this influenced his decision to attend college, despite later dropping out.
  • 📚 The speaker discovered a love for calligraphy while at college, which later influenced the design of the Macintosh computer, demonstrating the value of seemingly unrelated interests.
  • 💡 The importance of trusting that life experiences will connect in the future, even if they don't seem to have immediate practical applications.
  • ❤️ The speaker founded Apple at a young age and experienced a deep sense of loss when he was later fired from the company he created.
  • 🔄 Being fired from Apple led to the speaker starting new ventures, including NeXT and Pixar, and eventually returning to Apple, showing that setbacks can lead to new opportunities.
  • 💔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of loving what you do, as this passion helped him to persevere through professional challenges.
  • 💔 The speaker encourages the audience to find what they love, both in work and in life, as this is the key to true satisfaction.
  • ⏳ The speaker reflects on a quote about living each day as if it were the last, which has influenced his approach to life and decision-making.
  • 💀 The inevitability of death is presented as a motivator to live life to the fullest and to pursue one's true passions without fear of failure.
  • 🚀 The speaker advises to have the courage to follow one's heart and intuition, as these inner guides can lead to fulfilling one's true potential.
Q & A

  • Why did the speaker drop out of Reed College?

    -The speaker dropped out of Reed College because he couldn't see the value in the education he was receiving, as he had no clear idea of what he wanted to do with his life or how college would help him figure it out. Additionally, the cost of tuition was depleting his working-class parents' life savings.

  • What was the significance of the calligraphy class the speaker took at Reed College?

    -The calligraphy class was significant because it introduced the speaker to various typefaces and design principles that later influenced the typography of the first Macintosh computer, which became the first computer with beautiful typography.

  • How did the speaker's biological mother's decision impact his life?

    -The speaker's biological mother decided to put him up for adoption with the condition that he be adopted by college graduates. This led to his adoptive parents promising to send him to college, which eventually led to his attending Reed College and the subsequent events in his life.

  • What was the turning point in the speaker's life after being fired from Apple?

    -The turning point was the realization that despite being fired, he still loved what he did. This led him to start over, which included founding a company named NeXT and Pixar, and eventually returning to Apple.

  • What role did love and loss play in the speaker's second story?

    -Love and loss played a significant role as the speaker experienced the heartbreak of being fired from Apple, a company he co-founded. However, this loss led to a period of immense creativity and the founding of successful companies like NeXT and Pixar.

  • How did the speaker's perspective on death influence his approach to life?

    -The speaker's perspective on death, viewing each day as if it were the last, helped him make important life choices by focusing on what truly mattered and avoiding the trap of thinking he had something to lose.

  • What was the impact of the speaker's approach to life on his professional success?

    -The speaker's approach to life, driven by love for his work and the courage to follow his heart, led to the creation of innovative companies and products, and ultimately, his return to a revitalized Apple.

  • What advice does the speaker give about finding and pursuing what you love?

    -The speaker advises to find what you love, whether it's work or a relationship, and not to settle until you find it. He emphasizes that loving what you do is the key to doing great work and having a truly satisfying life.

  • How does the speaker describe the importance of following one's heart and intuition?

    -The speaker describes following one's heart and intuition as crucial for personal fulfillment and success. He believes that they somehow already know what you truly want to become, and everything else is secondary.

  • What was the speaker's initial reaction to being fired from Apple?

    -The speaker initially felt devastated and publicly embarrassed. He thought he had let down the previous generation of entrepreneurs and considered running away from the valley.

  • What did the speaker mean by 'Stay hungry, stay foolish'?

    -The phrase 'Stay hungry, stay foolish' encapsulates the speaker's belief in the importance of maintaining a beginner's mindset, being eager to learn and take risks, and not being afraid to look foolish in the pursuit of innovation and personal growth.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Dropping Out and the Value of Education

The first story revolves around the speaker's decision to drop out of Reed College after the first six months, a choice that was influenced by his biological mother's desire for him to be adopted by college graduates and his own uncertainty about the value of college in shaping his future. Despite the initial fear and the financial burden it placed on his working-class parents, the decision turned out to be one of the best he ever made. It allowed him to follow his interests, such as attending a calligraphy class that later influenced the design of the Macintosh computer with its advanced typography features. The speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting that life's experiences will connect in ways that may not be apparent at the time, encouraging the audience to have the confidence to follow their hearts even when it leads them off the beaten path.

05:01
❤️ Love, Loss, and Creative Resurgence

The second story details the speaker's experience of being fired from Apple, the company he co-founded, at the age of 30. Initially devastating, this event led to a period of self-reflection and eventually to the realization that his passion for his work remained unchanged. This realization prompted him to start over, leading to the creation of two successful companies, NeXT and Pixar, and a fulfilling personal life. The speaker credits his resilience and ability to innovate during this period to the freedom that came from being a beginner again. He concludes by stressing the importance of loving what you do, as it is the key to both personal satisfaction and professional success, and encourages the audience to continue searching for what they love and not to settle for less.

10:02
⚰️ Embracing Mortality as a Catalyst for Life

In the third story, the speaker reflects on the impact of contemplating death as a daily practice, which has influenced his approach to life and decision-making for over 33 years. He shares a quote that inspired him to live each day as if it were his last, leading him to question his daily activities and make significant life changes when necessary. The speaker views death as a natural and essential part of life, a force that clears away the old to make room for the new. He advises the audience not to waste time living someone else's life, to avoid being trapped by dogma or the noise of others' opinions, and to have the courage to follow their hearts and intuitions, which already know what they truly want to become.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Connecting the dots
The phrase 'connecting the dots' refers to the process of making sense of past experiences and how they lead to the present or future. In the video, it is used to illustrate how seemingly unrelated events or decisions in one's life can later be seen as crucial steps that have shaped one's current situation. The speaker talks about dropping out of college and taking a calligraphy class, which at the time seemed irrelevant, but later became instrumental in the development of the Macintosh computer's typography.
💡Adoption
Adoption is the act of taking someone else's child and raising it as one's own. In the context of the video, the speaker's biological mother was a young, unmarried graduate student who decided to put him up for adoption with the hope that he would be raised by college graduates. This decision and the subsequent events surrounding his adoption set the stage for the speaker's life journey and the values instilled in him.
💡Drop out
To 'drop out' typically means to leave a formal education or activity before it is completed. The speaker shares his experience of dropping out of college after six months, which was a pivotal moment that allowed him to follow his interests rather than prescribed courses. This decision is portrayed as a significant one that led to a series of events contributing to his success.
💡Calligraphy
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting. In the video, the speaker recounts how he took a calligraphy class out of interest after dropping out of college. This seemingly unrelated course later influenced the design of the Macintosh computer, emphasizing the importance of following one's curiosity and the unforeseen connections between life experiences.
💡Intuition
Intuition refers to the ability to understand or know something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. The speaker mentions following his curiosity and intuition after dropping out of college, which led him to take the calligraphy class. This concept is central to the theme of trusting one's inner guidance, even when it leads to unconventional paths.
💡Love and loss
The concept of 'love and loss' encompasses the deep affection for something or someone and the pain of losing it. The speaker talks about his passion for what he does and the devastating experience of being fired from Apple, the company he co-founded. This narrative highlights the emotional journey of starting over after a significant setback and the importance of maintaining love for one's work despite hardships.
💡Creativity
Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to produce something new and valuable. After being fired from Apple, the speaker entered one of the most creative periods of his life, starting new companies and projects. This part of the video underscores the idea that adversity can sometimes lead to new opportunities and creative breakthroughs.
💡Death
In the video, 'death' is presented as a universal experience and a powerful motivator for living life authentically. The speaker shares a quote that influenced him to live each day as if it were his last, prompting reflection on what truly matters and the courage to pursue one's own path. This concept is integral to the video's message about valuing one's time and making meaningful choices.
💡Fear of failure
Fear of failure refers to the anxiety or apprehension about not achieving success or making mistakes. The speaker mentions that remembering his mortality helps him make important life choices by eliminating external expectations and the fear of embarrassment or failure. This concept is used to encourage the audience to disregard societal pressures and follow their own path.
💡Stay hungry, stay foolish
This phrase, often attributed to the ethos of Silicon Valley, encourages a mindset of continuous learning, curiosity, and the willingness to take risks. The speaker uses it as a closing remark to inspire the audience to maintain a sense of wonder and the courage to pursue their dreams, even if it means going against conventional wisdom or facing criticism.
Highlights

Dropped out of Reed College after six months but stayed for another 18 months.

Biological mother wanted him to be adopted by college graduates.

Adoption was almost canceled due to parents' education not meeting expectations.

Attended a college as expensive as Stanford, burdening his working-class parents.

Decided to drop out of college to avoid wasting parents' life savings.

After dropping out, pursued classes out of interest rather than requirement.

Lived frugally, returning Coke bottles for deposits and walking for meals.

Enrolled in a calligraphy class which later influenced the Macintosh design.

Designed the first Macintosh with beautiful typography, influenced by calligraphy.

Personal computers might not have advanced typography without his design choices.

Emphasizes the importance of trusting the connection of life's dots in retrospect.

Founded Apple at 20, which grew into a $2 billion company in 10 years.

Fired from Apple, which led to a period of reflection and reevaluation.

Founded Next and Pixar after leaving Apple, entering a creative period.

Pixar became the most successful animation studio, starting with Toy Story.

Apple's acquisition of Next led to a return and a technological renaissance.

Being fired from Apple was a catalyst for significant personal and professional growth.

Lives by the philosophy that doing what you love is essential for satisfaction.

Encourages continuous search for what one truly loves in life and work.

At 17, adopted the philosophy of living each day as if it were the last.

Uses the inevitability of death as a tool for making life's big choices.

Death is described as life's change agent, clearing the old for the new.

Advises not to waste time living someone else's life or being trapped by dogma.

Encourages having the courage to follow one's heart and intuition.

Ends with the advice to 'stay hungry, stay foolish'.

Transcripts

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