10 Golden Lessons from Steve Jobs

“I think we’re having fun. I think our customers really like our products. And we’re always
trying to do better.” - Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs has created a niche with his creations at Apple, went through various diversities, he was
kicked out of his own company, had cancer and he was a drop out of school. He made it with hard
work and vision. He has said so many things in his speech and interviews.

Here are some of the great statements he made which we may find it useful and be successful in
life.

1. Steve Jobs said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Innovation has no limits. Anything we dream it is possible to create. Everyone will remember
YouTube more than other clones for a long time to come; they will say in the future the video
revolution all started from a YouTube concept. When one enters in any business or field, they
should be leaders or differentiate themselves from others to succeed. The ones that imitate others
won’t survive long.

2. Steve Jobs said: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment
where excellence is expected.”

There is no shortcut to excellence. Half hearted efforts give half hearted results, so to succeed the
only way is to excel. It may take a long time to succeed but that is the only way to succeed. Read
“Pilgrims Progress by Bunyan” it is a Christian book but anyone can read it, shows a variety of
lessons one has to undergo in life.

3. Steve Jobs said: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t
found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you
find it.”

This is true, if you love what you do, every day will look like a minute, and if you hate it every minute
will look like a day. Instead of grumbling do the things you love.

4. Steve Jobs said: “You know, we don’t grow most of the food we eat. We wear clothes
other people make. We speak a language that other people developed. We use a
mathematics that other people evolved… I mean, we’re constantly taking things. It’s a
wonderful, ecstatic feeling to create something that puts it back in the pool of human
experience and knowledge.”
He says we all have a moral responsibility to contribute to others not just money. He is taking $1 a
year salary, they give him generous stock options, others get it too plus a huge salary. He practices
what he preaches. Give more to the world; you get more from various sources.

5. Steve Jobs said: “There’s a phrase in Buddhism, ‘Beginner’s mind.’ It’s wonderful to have
a beginner’s mind.”

Children have innocence when they start a project and they are full of hope, never a failure. We
should have that kind of hope when we start a project free from expectations, judgments and
prejudices. You can see that approach in what they do with iPods, the iPhone, everyone else say
they will fail, but Apple goes about with the “Beginner’s mind”.

6. Steve Jobs said: “We think basically you watch television to turn your brain off, and you
work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on.”

It is true with TV we are sort of in a relaxed mood, whereas with the computer we interact and learn.
But even that needs moderation, we have to interact more with the people around us. Save some
time for them, it will be enriching.

7. Steve Jobs said: “I’m the only person I know that’s lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one
year…. It’s very character-building.”

Everyone makes a mistake, but if they learn from it, they don’t repeat it, but every failure leads them
to a success. Thomas Alva Edison said “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain
way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

8. Steve Jobs said: “I would trade all of my technology for an afternoon with Socrates.”

Books are treasure troves of knowledge we don’t have to undergo to experience it. Reading lot of
philosophy and literature will be a good one for business and life.

9. Steve Jobs said: “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be
here?”

Create an impact with everything you do or just don’t do it.

10. Steve Jobs said: “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 other’s 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.”
Everyone will criticize anything you do, if we listen to all the criticisms we have to live a thousand
lives to fulfill them, since we just have one life let us follow our heart and mind; they are the biggest
critics and cheerleaders.

These are excellent lessons, even if you don’t like Steve Jobs, these things have been said by
many philosophers, scientists and successful business people and you will find they are true for a
successful and happy life. Money alone won't take one there.